Echinostoma revolutum

Echinostoma revolutum

Parasite210057-fig9 Diversity of echinostomes (Digenea Echinostomatidae) in their snail hosts at high latitudes

Echinostoma revolutum is a species of trematode (fluke) in the family Echinostomatidae. It is a parasitic flatworm that infects a variety of hosts, including mollusks, birds, and mammals. This species is of particular interest in the field of parasitology due to its complex life cycle and its impact on both wildlife and human health.

Taxonomy and Classification

Echinostoma revolutum belongs to the genus Echinostoma, which is characterized by the presence of a collar of spines around the oral sucker. The species was first described by Friedrich Küchenmeister in 1838.

Morphology

The adult Echinostoma revolutum is typically elongated and dorsoventrally flattened. It possesses a distinctive collar of 37-45 spines around its oral sucker, which is used for attachment to the host's tissues. The body is covered with a tegument that contains sensory papillae and spines.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Echinostoma revolutum involves multiple hosts. The primary hosts are typically waterfowl and other birds, but the parasite can also infect mammals, including humans. The life cycle includes the following stages:

• Eggs are released in the feces of the definitive host.
• Eggs hatch into miracidia in water.
• Miracidia infect the first intermediate host, usually a snail.
• Inside the snail, the miracidia develop into sporocysts, then rediae, and finally into cercariae.
• Cercariae are released from the snail and encyst as metacercariae on vegetation or in a second intermediate host, such as another snail or an amphibian.
• The definitive host becomes infected by ingesting metacercariae.

Pathogenesis and Symptoms

Infection with Echinostoma revolutum can cause echinostomiasis in humans and animals. Symptoms in humans may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malabsorption. In birds and other animals, the infection can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in young or immunocompromised individuals.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of Echinostoma revolutum infection is typically made by identifying eggs in the feces of the host. Treatment usually involves the administration of anthelmintic drugs such as praziquantel.

Prevention and Control

Preventive measures include proper sanitation, avoiding the consumption of raw or undercooked aquatic plants and snails, and controlling snail populations in endemic areas.

Related Pages

• Trematode
• Echinostomatidae
• Parasitology
• Echinostomiasis
• Praziquantel