Problem

Sparganosis

Other Names:
Larval diphyllobothriasis
Spargana
Nature:

Sparganosis is maintained in nature primarily by contamination of natural or artificial bodies of water (lagoons, marshes, lakes, and others) with faeces from cats and dogs and infected with Spirometra spp. Secondary and intermediate hosts are aquatic crustaceans and other aquatic animals that ingest them, such as frogs. Then various mammal and bird species become infected by feeding on parasitized frogs or snakes.

The infection rate in humans is low, compared to the rate in other animals. Humans acquire sparganosis mainly by ingesting larvae contained in raw or undercooked meat of animals infected with spargana, such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and wild mammals. Another mode of infection, also by larval transfer, is by contact. In Vietnam and Thailand, frog muscles are applied as poultices. This custom is responsible for ocular sparganosis. It is also probable that humans can acquire sparganosis via drinking-water by ingesting copepods infected with procercoids (first larvae).

Incidence:

Sparganosis is found throughout the world, but human infection is not common. Just over 450 cases are known, mostly from Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Subject(s):
Medicine Specific diseases
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
Problem Type:
G: Very specific problems
Date of last update
16.10.2020 – 17:34 CEST