Fascioliasis Control Program
Fascioliasis Control Program in Bolivian Altiplano Communities of South America
HOME FASCIOLIASIS TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF FASCIOLIASIS INFECTION
In humans, diagnosis of fascioliasis is usually achieved parasitologically by finding fluke eggs in stool. However, coprological examinations of stool alone are generally not adequate, because infected humans have important clinical symptoms for weeks to months before eggs are found in the stools. Therefore, other serological methods are also important methods in diagnosis of F. hepatica infection. Ultrasounds of the abdominal cavity and liver tissue biopsies can also be used. However, in many countries, including Bolivia, coprological examination is the only available diagnositic method. In addition, many cases go undiagnosed due to asymptomatic presentation of disease or incorrect diagnosis of symptomatic cases.
Human fascioliasis infection is successfully treated using a single dose of the drug triclabendazole. In severe cases, two doses may be required, 12 hours apart. Triclabendazole (10 mg/kg) is effective against both adult and immature worms. The drug previously used, bithionol, had to be administered over at least five days making it an undesirable choice due to its prolonged treatment course; another drug, praziquantel, which is effective against some similar parasitic organisms, is not effective against the Fasciola species.
Albendazole is a proven treatment for veterinary fascioliasis infection however it is not effective for human infection. This is important when considering evolutionary medicine principles for preventing development antibiotic resistant strains. Any resistance that develops in the livestock will not effect the ability of drugs to treat the human infection acquired from the livestock reservoir.
Fasciola hepatica
egg.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Egg_of_Fasciola_hepatica_08G0041_lores.jpg)
){kind=link}