Liver flukes and frequency therapy

Definition:

Liver flukes are parasitic flatworms that belong to the class of trematodes. They infest the livers of various vertebrates, including humans, and cause liver fluke infections known as fasciolosis.

Species:

The best known species of liver flukes that can infect humans are:

Fasciola hepatica: Also known as the large liver fluke, mainly infects sheep and cattle, but can also infect humans.
Fasciola gigantica: Similar to F. hepatica, but larger and widespread in tropical regions.
Clonorchis sinensis: Also known as Chinese liver fluke, occurs mainly in East Asia.
Opisthorchis viverrini: Distributed in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand and Laos.

Life cycle:

Liver flukes have complex life cycles that involve multiple hosts:

Eggs: Excreted in the faeces of the definitive host.
Larvae (miracidia): Hatch in the water and infect aquatic snails, which serve as intermediate hosts.
Cercariae: Develop in the snails and are released into the water.
Metacercariae: Settle on aquatic plants or in fish and are ingested by final hosts when they consume contaminated plants or raw fish.

symptoms:

The symptoms of a liver fluke infection can vary, but often include:

Fever, abdominal pain and nausea.
Liver enlargement and jaundice.
Chronic infections can lead to liver cirrhosis and bile duct cancer.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is made by detecting eggs in the stool or by serological tests that detect antibodies against the parasite.

Treatment:

Drugs: Triclabendazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of infections with Fasciola species. Praziquantel is used to treat infections with Clonorchis and Opisthorchis.

Prevention:

Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked aquatic plants and fish in endemic areas.
Improve sanitation and control snail populations.

worth knowing:

Liver fluke infections are endemic in many parts of the world, especially in regions with intensive livestock and fish farming.
The infection can cause economic losses in agriculture as well as health problems in humans.

Research:

Research is focussed on developing better diagnostic methods, more effective treatments and vaccines, and strategies to control the spread of liver fluke infections.