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The broad moth like other tapeworms is a parasite of the small intestine. It is the largest of them all, as older specimens can be up to 15-20 m long. The sulcus has a specific head with longitudinal catching furrows located on the sides and from the neck and several thousand members (3-4 thousand). In humans, it causes a disease in the form of diphylobotriosis.
Large furrowthroat – characteristics and development
The broad moth is a tapeworm that can stay in the human body for several or several dozen years. It differs from other types of tapeworms in that the mature eggs leave the tapeworm members already in the intestine and with the faeces freely (and not in the tapeworm’s body members) are excreted outside the human body. In order for their further development to be possible, they have to get into the water, to get successively to two intermediate hosts (and more precisely to a variety of freshwater crayfish, called an eyelid) and to selected freshwater fish (e.g. perch, pike) feeding on, among others . eyelets. The redfish larvae are characterized by low resistance to salt and temperature, therefore frying, cooking or salting the fish destroys the larvae contained in them.
Mechanism of infection with broad knotworm
A person can become infected with broad-necked fish as a result of eating a fish that has been infected by it, which has been too little cooked, not fried or not smoked enough. Eating live larvae with the fish causes them to attach to the intestinal mucosa and begin to develop. In about six weeks, the larvae develop into adult parasites that produce up to several hundred thousand eggs each day. This type of tapeworm is rare in our country.
In conclusion, people who regularly eat raw fish are at risk of being infected with broad knotworm. For example, in Japanese cuisine, raw fish (popular sushi) or in Italian cuisine (carpaccio) are used. Due to migration, these dishes are not limited only to a given region, but spread all over the world. For this reason, more and more people are at risk of getting infected.
Symptoms of infection with broad knotworm
During infection with broad knotworm, there are general gastrointestinal symptoms due to the toxicity of the parasite, but also a characteristic anemia that resembles pernicious anemia due to vitamin B deficiency.12.
The general symptoms of broad knotworm are:
- abdominal pain,
- general weakness
- significant weight loss,
- lack of appetite
- sometimes overweight,
- diarrhea,
- rash,
- allergy,
- nausea,
- when,
- obstruction of the biliary and gastrointestinal tract.
In a large number of patients, broad keratocephalus infection does not cause any symptoms, and therefore often goes undiagnosed for many long years.
Diagnosis and treatment of the broad moth
Diagnostics is based on finding specific tapeworm eggs or members in the stool – this type of test is painless and very simple. Disease diagnosis is the basis for administering anti-parasitic drugs: nicklosamide or praziquantel (which may cause side effects). Despite the high effectiveness of these two drugs, prazicantel can cause headache, nausea, high temperature and even allergic (skin) reactions. As for nicosamide – here the side effects are rather negligible, as this preparation is not absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. In patients suffering from anemia, it is enough to eliminate the parasite and compensate for the deficiency of vitamin B. Note! Tapeworm treatment should be carried out by a doctor!
Large moth – can it be prevented?
Tapeworm prevention is relatively difficult because man has no influence on the parasites in the water, animals and fish. However, in prophylaxis, it is important to properly protect the faeces and sewage, thanks to which the likelihood of the spread of the tapeworm is significantly reduced. In addition, individual prevention plays a large role, i.e. avoiding eating raw fish and their products (e.g. roe). However, if you want to eat raw fish – make sure that it is well prepared (proper cooking, frying or smoking).
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