PLATYHELMINTHES

-COMMONLY KNOWN AS FLATWORMS

-CHARACTERISTICALLY LEAF SHAPED
-MOSTLY MONOECIOUS OR HERMAPHRODITIC
-LAY OPERCULATED EGGS
-CLASSIFIED INTO FLUKES OR TAPEWORMS
TREMATODES OR FLUKES
 Schistosoma japonicum
- Commonly known as Oriental blood fluke
- Causes Katayama’s disease/Oriental Schistosomiasis
- Intermediate host is the snail (Oncomelania quadrasi)
- Infective stage is the cercaria
- Transmitted through skin penetration
- Invades the blood, lungs, liver
- S/Sx: begins w/ pruritic papular rash at the site of entry,
cough, fever, malaise if it invades the lungs,
hepatosplenomegaly, portal cirrhosis if w/ liver
involvement, lethargy, coma, seizures if w/ brain
involvement
- Dx: fecal smear, rectal and liver biopsies
- Treatment: Praziquantrel
Schistosoma japonicum (ova)
Schistosoma Japonicum
 Fasciolopsis buski
- Commonly known as giant intestinal fluke
- Intermediate host are snails and water
plants
- S/Sx: gland abscess, intestinal
obstruction, allergic reactions
ADULT
 Hetrophyes heterophyes
- Heterophyid fluke
- Intermediate host are snails and tilapia
- S/Sx: mucoid diarrhea, colicky abdominal
pain and tenderness
 Metagonimus yukogawai
- Far East Intestinal fluke
- Intermediate host are salmon and
crypionoid fish
 Paragonimus westermani
- Oriental lung fluke
- Endemic in Cotobato, Davao, Leyte, Samar,
Sorsogon
- Intermediate host is snail and talangka
- Metacercaria is the infective stage
- S/Sx: fibrotic encapsulation in the lungs, cyst
formation, hemoptysis, dyspnea, may also cause
signs of meningoencephalitis
- Dx: sputum exam, CXR
- Treatment: Praziquantrel, Bithionol
Paragonimus westermani (ova)
Paragonimus westermani egg
METACERCARIA STAGE
Paragonimus westermani adult
 Chlonorchis sinensis
- Chinese or Oriental liver fluke
- S/Sx: liver hyperplasia, periductal fibrosis
w/c leads to cholangiocarcinoma
 Fasciola hepatica
- Sheep liver fluke
- Intermediate host is kuhol and kangkong
- Causes Halzoun’s disease
- S/Sx: fibrosis, pharyngeal fasciolasis w/c
causes suffocation, prostration, anorexia,
sweating, fever, vomiting
Fasciola hepatica (egg)
Fasciola hepatica

EGG
MIRACIDIUM STAGE
CERCARIA STAGE
METACERCARIA STAGE
ADULT
Fasciola hepatica (adult)
Fasciola heaptica
CESTODES OR TAPEWORMS
- Inhabit the intestinal tract
- Possess a scolex w/ hooks (in a retractile
proboscis)
- Possess a long ribbon-like body
composed of proglottids or segments
complete w/ reproductive organs of both
sexes
 Diphyllobothrium latum
- Fish tapeworm
- Largest human tapeworm measuring 3-10
meters w/ a lifespan of 20 years
- Intermediate host is salmon and trout (lapu-lapu)
- Definitive host are man, dog, cat
- S/Sx: pernicious anemia, hunger symptoms
- Treatment: Niclosamide
ADULT
Diphyllobothrium latum (adult)
 Hymenolepis nana
- Dwarf tapeworm
- No intermediate host
- Definitive host are man and rats
- Ingestion of food contaminated w/ eggs
- S/Sx: usually asymptomatic, diarrhea,
abdominal pain
 Hymenolepis nana

CYST

EGG
Hymenolepis nana (adult)
Scolex (holdfast) of Hymenolepis nana.  The scolex has
four suckers which are not visible in this plane of focus
(two are marked by *), and an armed rostellum that is
clearly visible.
 Taenia saginata
- Beef tapeworm
- Intermediate form is cysticercus bovis
found in the muscles of cattle
- S/Sx: usually asymptomatic, vague
abdominal discomfort, chronic indigestion,
anemia, alternating diarrhea and
constipation
- Treatment: Niclosamide, Praziquantrel
4. Taenia saginata

EGG
Taenia egg
Taeniidae cyst
Taenia adult
Taenia saginata
(Gravid Proglottid)
 Taenia solium
- Pork tapeworm
- Intermediate form is cysticercus cellulosae
- S/Sx: usually asymptomatic, vague
abdominal discomfort, chronic indigestion,
anemia, alternating diarrhea and
constipation
- Treatment: Niclosamide, Praziquantrel
Taenia solium (ova)
Taenia solium (adult)