Schistosomiasis
The infection schistosomiasis is caused by trematodes, or flukes. These parasitic flatworms, or schistosomes as they are often known as blood flukes, are members of the Schistosoma genus. Usually, the parasite lives in the host and consumes the food from it, but in the case of schistosomiasis, the flukes that cause schistosomiasis stay in the snail and grow inside the snail then discharged into the water. If the person is in contact with this contaminated water, it may be affected by a parasite. The parasite head looks like a fork.,due to this shape, the parasite penetrates into the skin.
Urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis are the two main types of the disease, and they are caused by the three main species of Schistosomes. This disease also called snail fever and bilharzia. These three main types ofSchistosomes are Schistosoma haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni. The worm of S.haematobium move to the bladder and urethra vein where they produce egg sand make the polys and damage the tissue or causes the bladder cancer. The worms S. japonicum and S. mansoni causes the intestinal schistosomiasis. It moves to the liver and intestine where they produce eggs and create a gastrointestinal disease.The most common regions for the disease to occur are South America, Asia, and Africa. The Chinese natives are affected by S. japonicum. Acute schistosomiasis develops within weeks and months. Patients who have chronic schistosomiasis, S. japonicum also causes the acute schistosomiasis in chronic schistosomiasis suffered people.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Muscle aches and pain
- Pain in stomach
- Enlarged liver
- Blood in urine (pee), also called hematuria
- Difficulty or pain while urinating (dysuria)
- Blood in feces (poop), also called hematochezia
Causes/Risk factors
- Contaminated water
- Poor sanitation
- Agriculture practice
- Poor hygiene
- Geographical factors
Diagnosis
Microbiology Department:
Microscopy examination is a fundamental method for diagnosing schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma spp. Parasites. A small amount of fecal samples is collected from the patient. The sample is processed using a concentration technique like the Kato-Katz method or the formalin-ether sedimentation technique.The concentrated sediment is examined under a microscope for the presence of Schistosoma mansoni or Schistosoma japonicum eggs, which are characterized by their distinctive shape and appearance.
Schistosomia flukes under the microscope
Reference:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis#Diagnosi
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22631-schistosomiasis
0 comments