Metagonimiasis

Alternate names

Metagonimus yokogawai infection

Definition

Metagonimiasis is a disease caused by an intestinal trematode, most commonly Metagonimus yokagawai.

Causal Agents

Metagonimus yokogawai, a minute intestinal fluke (and the smallest human fluke).

Epidemiology

Mostly the Far East, as well as Siberia, Manchuria, the Balkan states, Israel, and Spain.

Signs and symptoms

• The main symptoms are diarrhea and colicky abdominal pain.
• Migration of the eggs to extraintestinal sites (heart, brain) can occur, with resulting symptoms.

Diagnosis

• The diagnosis is based on the microscopic identification of eggs in the stool.
• However, the eggs are indistinguishable from those of Heterophyes heterophyes and resemble those of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis.
• Specific diagnosis is based on identification of the adult fluke evacuated after antihelminthic therapy, or found at autopsy.

Treatment

• Praziquantel is recommended in both adult and pediatric cases with dosages of 75 mg/kg/d in 3 doses for 1 day.
• Another possible drug option is Tetrachloroethylene, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, but its use has been superseded by new antihelminthic drugs (like Praziquantel).

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Metagonimiasis

Metagonimiasis is a rare disease.

Metagonimiasis Resources
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