Trematode Infection Medication

  • Author: Subhash Chandra Parija, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCPath; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 1, 2011
 

Medication Summary

Chemotherapy objectives in trematode infections are to cure the disease, to reduce morbidity, and to prevent transmission of parasitic infection in endemic areas.

Bithionol (Lorothidol, Bitin) is the drug of choice for Fasciola infections; however, it is an investigational drug with distribution limited to physicians with patients who are unable to take praziquantel. Doses of 30-50 mg/kg/d PO for 5-15 days have been used to treat Fasciola infections. Repeat doses may be administered to some patients. Pediatric patients have been administered the same weight-based dosing used in adults. Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

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Anthelminthics

Class Summary

Parasite biochemical pathways are different enough from the human host to allow selective interference by relatively small doses of chemotherapeutic agents.

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Praziquantel (Biltricide)

 

DOC in most trematode infections. Safe and effective (less effective against Fasciola infections; reserved for situations in which bithionol is not available).

Increases cell membrane permeability in susceptible worms, resulting in loss of intracellular calcium, massive contractions, and paralysis of musculature. In addition, produces vacuolization and disintegration of schistosome tegument. This is followed by attachment of phagocytes to parasite and death.

Tab should be swallowed whole with some liquid during meals. Keeping tab in mouth may reveal bitter taste, which can produce nausea or vomiting.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Subhash Chandra Parija, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCPath  Director-Professor of Microbiology, Head of Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute, Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India

Subhash Chandra Parija, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCPath is a member of the following medical societies: Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists, Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists, Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists, Indian Medical Association, Indian Society for Parasitology, National Academy of Medical Sciences, India, and Royal College of Pathologists

Disclosure: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education & Research , Pondicherry , India Salary Employment

Coauthor(s)

Thomas J Marrie, MD  Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine, Canada

Thomas J Marrie, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, Canadian Infectious Disease Society, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Shekhar Koirala  MBBS, Vice Chancellor, Department of Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health, Dharan, Nepal

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Larry I Lutwick, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical School; Director, Infectious Diseases, Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Health Care System, Brooklyn Campus

Larry I Lutwick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Ronald A Greenfield, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Ronald A Greenfield, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Central Society for Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Mycology Society of the Americas, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, and Southwestern Association of Clinical Microbiology

Disclosure: Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Gilead Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ortho McNeil Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Abbott Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Astellas Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Cubist Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Pharmaceuticals Speaking and teaching

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Trematode infection. Adult worms in humans reside in the veins in various locations: Schistosoma mansoni in the superior mesenteric veins, Schistosoma japonicum in the inferior mesenteric veins, and Schistosoma haematobium in the vesical veins (these locations are not absolute). The females (size 7-20 mm; males slightly smaller) deposit eggs in the small venules of the portal and perivesical systems. The eggs are moved progressively toward the lumen of the intestine (S mansoni and S japonicum) and of the bladder and ureters (S haematobium), and they are eliminated with feces or urine, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the eggs hatch and release miracidia, which swim and penetrate specific snail intermediate hosts. The stages in the snail include 2 generations of sporocysts and the production of cercariae. Upon release from the snail, the infective cercariae swim, penetrate the skin of the human host, and migrate through several tissues and stages to their residence in the veins. Human contact with water is thus necessary for infection by schistosomes. Various animals serve as reservoirs for S japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi. Image courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trematode infection. Clonorchis sinensis egg. These are small operculated eggs. Size is 27-35 μm X 11-20 μm. The operculum, at the smaller end of the egg, is convex and rests on a visible "shoulder." At the opposite (larger, abopercular) end, a small knob or hooklike protrusion is often visible (as here). The miracidium is visible inside the egg. Image courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trematode infection. Fasciola hepatica eggs. Wet mounts with iodine. The eggs are ellipsoidal. They have a small, barely distinct operculum (upper end of the eggs in panel A). The operculum can be opened (egg in panel B), for example, when slight pressure is applied to the coverslip. The eggs have a thin shell that is slightly thicker at the abopercular end. They are passed unembryonated. Size range is 120-150 μm X 63-90 μm. Image courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trematode infection. Adult fluke of Fasciolopsis buski. Adult flukes size range is 20-75 mm by 8-20 mm. Image courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trematode infection. Eggs are excreted unembryonated in the sputum, or, alternately, they are swallowed and passed with stool (1). In the external environment, the eggs become embryonated (2), and miracidia hatch and seek the first intermediate host, a snail, and penetrate its soft tissues (3). Miracidia go through several developmental stages inside the snail (4): sporocysts (4a), rediae (4b), with the latter giving rise to many cercariae (4c), which emerge from the snail. The cercariae invade the second intermediate host, a crustacean such as a crab or crayfish, in which they encyst and become metacercariae. This is the infective stage for the mammalian host (5). Human infection with Paragonimus westermani occurs by eating inadequately cooked or pickled crab or crayfish that harbor metacercariae of the parasite (6). The metacercariae excyst in the duodenum (7), penetrate through the intestinal wall into the peritoneal cavity, and then through the abdominal wall and diaphragm into the lungs, where they become encapsulated and develop into adults (8) (7.5-12 mm X 4-6 mm). The worms can also reach other organs and tissues, such as the brain and striated muscles, respectively. However, when this occurs, completion of the life cycle is not achieved because the eggs laid cannot exit these sites. Time from infection to oviposition is 65-90 days. Infections may persist for 20 years in humans. Animals such as pigs, dogs, and a variety of feline species can also harbor P westermani. Image courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trematode infection. Paragonimus westermani egg. The average egg size is 85 μm by 53 μm (range, 68-118 μm X 39-67 μm). They are yellow-brown, ovoidal or elongate, have a thick shell, and are often asymmetrical with one end slightly flattened. At the large end, the operculum is clearly visible. The opposite (abopercular) end is thickened. The eggs of P westermani are excreted unembryonated. Image courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Table 1. Comparative Features of Major Human Schistosoma Species
S haematobiumS mansoniS japonicum
Adult
Body surface of maleFinely tuberculateGrossly tuberculateNontuberculate (smooth)
Testes4-6, in a cluster6-9, in a cluster7, in a linear series
Position of ovaryPosterior to middle of bodyAnterior to middle of bodyPosterior to middle of body
Number of eggs in uterus20-301-450-300
Egg
Size and shape110-170 μm long



40-70 μm wide



Terminal spine



114-175 μm long



45-68 μm wide



Lateral spine



70-100 μm long



50-65 μm wide



Central spine



Cercaria
Cephalic glands2 pairs, oxyphilic2 pairs, basophilic4 pairs, oxyphilic
Table 2. Vectors and Geographical Areas Associated With Certain Trematode Types
VectorGeographical AreaType of Trematode
Biomphalaria glabrataBrazilS mansoni
Bulinus globosaNigeriaS haematobium
Bulinus truncateIranS haematobium
Oncomelania hupensis nosophoraJapanS japonicum
Thiara graniferaChinaP westermani; M yokogawai
Semisulcospira libertineChinaP westermani; M yokogawai
Polypylis hemisphaerulaChinaF buski
Parafossarulus manchouricusChinaC sinensis
Bithynia leachiGermanyO felineus
Pirenella conicaEgyptH heterophyes
Lymnaea truncatulaEnglandF hepatica
Table 3. List of Definitive and Intermediate Hosts and Sources of Infection of Major Trematodes
TrematodeDefinitive HostIntermediate Host



1st 2nd



Source of Infection
S haematobiumHumansFreshwater snails (genus Bulinus)AbsentContact with water contaminated by cercariae
S mansoniHumans, occasionally baboons and rodentsFreshwater snails (genus Biomphalaria)AbsentPenetration of skin by cercariae
S japonicumHumans, dogs, pigs, cattle, mice, mustelids, and monkeysAmphibian snails (Oncomelania species)AbsentPenetration of skin by cercariae
S mekongiHumans and dogsAquatic snails (Tricula aperta)AbsentPenetration of skin by cercariae
F hepaticaSheep, goats, cattle, and other herbivorous animalsAmphibian snails (family Lymnaeidae)Aquatic vegetations and watercressIngestion of aquatic plants and watercress infected with metacercariae
C sinensisHumans, dogs, pigs, cats, rats, and several species of wild animalsFreshwater snails (family Bulinidae)Freshwater fish (family Cyprinidae)Eating raw or partially cooked freshwater fish or dried, salted, or pickled fish infected with encysted metacercariae
O felineusHumans and other fish-eating mammalsAquatic snailsFreshwater fishEating fish infected with metacercariae
P westermaniHumans, wolves, foxes, tigers, leopards, lions, cats, dogs, and monkeysFreshwater snails (family Pleuroceridae and Thiaridae)Freshwater crab or crayfishIngestion of freshwater crabs or crayfish infected with metacercariae
F buskiPigs and humansPlanorbid snails of the genera Segmentina, Hippeutis, and PolypylisFreshwater plants such as water caltrops, water chestnut, water bamboo, water hyacinth, and lotusIngestion of freshwater aquatic plants that harbor metacercariae
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