Heterophyes heterophyes

Is a parasitic
flatworm of Class
Trematoda.
It is a minute
teardrop-shaped flukes
that infects small
intestine of various fish
eating mammals
including humans.
It causes a
disease known as
heterophyiasis.
DH: Humans
IH: Snail
Geographic Distribution
Egypt, the Middle East, and Far
East. Common in North Africa,
Asia Minor, Korea, China,
Japan, Taiwan, and the
Philippines
Origin
H. Heterophyes belong to the family Heterophyidae.
Measuring 1.4 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, they are
among the smallest digeneans infecting humans .

Heterophyes heterophyes
Hetero= different
Phyes= shapes
Adult:
Size: 1.1 mm to 1.7 mm long and 0.35 mm width
Shape: pyriform or pear shape, spines cover the cuticle
anterior
Suckers: three suckers
-Oral: small
-Ventral: large
-Genital
2 testes, 1 ovary
Egg
Size: 30 x 15
Shape: Oval
Shell: thick
Special character: operculum
at one pole and a small knob
at the other
Color: Golden yellow
Content: mature (miracdium)
Disease: Heterophyiasis

Symptoms:
Diarrhea
Brain and spinal cord
Neurological disorders
Heart
Heart failure
Laboratory Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is based on the microscopic
identification of eggs in the stool. However, the eggs
are indistinguishable from those of Metagonimus
yokogawai and resemble those
of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis.

Treatment

Praziquantel is the drug of choice.

Summary:

It is a minute teardrop-shaped flukes that

infects small intestine of various fish eating
mammals including humans
Adult: pyriform shape, has 3 suckers and 2
testes and 1 ovary.
Eggs: oval and golden yellow.
Causes Heterophyiasis
 Haplorchis taichui
a species of intestinal fluke
in the family
Heterophyidae
NH: Small intestine
1st IH: Freshwater snails
2nd IH: Freshwater fish
DH: Dogs, Humans
Has a wide distribution
throughout Asia and the
Mediterranean
Eggs:
24 to 28 m by 12 to 15 m

Adult:
Small fluke that is rather wide
Ventral sucker is covered with a small number
(12 to 16) of large spines (25 to 30 m long)
0.45 to 0.89 mm long by 0.21 to 0.32 mm wide
Life Cycle
The life cycle has elucidated by the feeding of
infected brackish-water mullet to human beings,
dogs, and cats (Faust and Nishigori, 1926). The
snail host in Taiwan is Melania reiniana. The fish
hosts in Taiwan with members of the Cyprinidae,
Siluridae, and Colitidae. In Palestine, Witenberg
(1929) found the infected fish to be of the
genera Barbus, Tilapia, and Mugil.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND
PATHOGENESIS: Not reported but thought to
be asymptomatic.

TREATMENT:
Oxyresveratrol, a stilbenoid found in extracts
of Artocarpus lakoocha is effective
against Haplorchis taichui.
 Metagonimus Yokogawai
A genus of flukes
(superfamily
Heterophyundea) that
encyst on fish and infect
various fish-eating animals,
including humans.
DF: humans and various
fish-eating mammals,
primarily dogs, cats, and
pigs.
IH: 1st IH are freshwater
snails. 2nd are freshwater
fish.
Metagonimus yokogawai, an
intestinal fluke widely
distributed in the Far East and
the Balkans

In addition to humans, fish-eating mammals (e.g.,

cats and dogs) and birds can also be infected by M.
yokogawai .
Adult:
Shape: 1-2.5 mm in length (resembles Heterophyes
heterophyes.
Sucker: Ventral sucker (genitoacetabulum)- to side of
the midline and closely associated with the genital
pore.
Habitat: Small intestine
Egg:
Small, and indistinguishable from those of another
intestinal fluke
Eggshells: thinner than those of H. heterophyes
Disease: Metagonimiasis

Symptoms:
The main symptoms are diarrhea and colicky
abdominal pain. Migration of the eggs to extraintestinal
sites (heart, brain) can occur, with resulting symptoms.
Laboratory Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on the microscopic

identification of eggs in the stool. However, the eggs are
indistinguishable from those of Heterophyes heterophyes
and resemble those of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis.
Specific diagnosis is based on identification of the adult
fluke evacuated after antihelminthic therapy, or found at
autopsy.

Treatment
Praziquantel 75mg/kg/day divided into 3
doses for 1 day (adult and pediatric dose are the
same). Praziquantel should be taken with liquids
during a meal.
Summary

Belong to superfamily Heterophyundea that

encyst on fish and infect various fish-eating
animals, including humans.
Adult: resembles H. heterophyes
Egg: Small, and indistinguishable from those of
another intestinal fluke
Causes Metagonimiasis