FEU MedTech 2nd Semester AY 2019-2020

Prepared by LrcCo for class use only Unathorized use, distribution, and
publication of this document is prohibited.

GAOAT, Jurel John G.

Section – 12
Capillaria philippinensis

Human infection with C. philippinensis was first reported by Chitwood et.al. in 1963 in a 29-year-old male
from Northern Luzon.

Common name: Pudoc worm

Mode of transmission: Ingestion
Infective stage: Larvae
Diagnostic stage: Ova in stool
Habitat of the adult: Small intestine
Describe the egg: peanut-shaped, striated shells, flattened bipolar plug
Natural host: fish-eating water birds
Incidental host: humans
Treatment of choice: mebendazole or albendazole

Mind

exercise:

In Monkayo,
Compostela Valley Province, an outbreak described as a “mystery disease” in 1998 resulted in the
death of villagers due to misdiagnosis. Intestinal capillariasis was diagnosed in 17% of the cases
presenting with chronic diarrhea.
 FEU MedTech 2nd Semester AY 2019-2020
Prepared by LrcCo for class use only Unathorized use, distribution, and
publication of this document is prohibited.

Discuss the possibilities as to how a disease in Northern Luzon was transmitted in Compostela Valley
Province.

One possibility is that the eating habits of those from Compostela Valley Province is not much different
from the provinces in Northern Luzon. In both areas described, people are fond of eating raw fish. The
people may have also defecate in the field or in the same body of water where they get the fishes that
they eat, completing the cycle of Capillaria philippinensis.

Dracunculus medinensis

Common name: Guinea worm

Mode of transmission: Drinking of contaminated water
Infective stage: Larvae
Diagnostic stage: adult female worm
Habitat of the adult: Subcutaneous tissues
Intermediate host: cyclops / copepods / freshwater crustaceans
Definitive host: Humans
Treatment of choice: worm removal
 FEU MedTech 2nd Semester AY 2019-2020
Prepared by LrcCo for class use only Unathorized use, distribution, and
publication of this document is prohibited.
Mind exercise:
When the Guinea worm is ready to come out of the
body, it creates a painful burning blister on the skin. The
blister eventually ruptures, exposing the worm.

Discuss the management and treatment of Guinea worm

disease.

The process of treatment takes several steps.

First is placing the affected body part in cool water.
Contact with water creates an environment of interest to
the underlying adult worm. Next, adult worm breaks
through the blister and is eager to explore the outside. It
is important at this juncture to clean the resulting wound thoroughly. Manual extraction of the entire worm
by winding it around a stick or a similar item that creates tension. Once the worm is removed, topical
antibiotics is applied to the wound site as a protective measure against the emergence of secondary
bacterial infection.

Trichinella spiralis

Common name: Trichina worm

Mode of transmission: Ingestion of contaminated meat
Infective stage: Larvae
Diagnostic stage: encysted larva in striated muscle
Habitat of the adult: Small intestine
Incidental host: Humans
Final and intermediate host: humans or any carnivore or omnivore
Treatment of choice: mebendazole or albendazole
 FEU MedTech 2nd Semester AY 2019-2020
Prepared by LrcCo for class use only Unathorized use, distribution, and
publication of this document is prohibited.

Mind exercise:
What are the different diagnostic tests to confirm trichinosis?
Examination of the affected skeletal muscle is the method of choice for recovery of encysted
larvae. Serologic methods are also available. Other laboratory findings such as eosinophilia and
leukocytosis may also serve as indicators for disease. Elevated serum muscle enzyme levels, such as
lactate dehydrogenase, aldolase, and creatinine phosphokinase may also aid. It is important to note that
several tests may be required to confirm the presence of Trichinella spiralis.

References:
• Zeibig, Elizabeth A. (2013). Clincal Parasitology: A Practical Approach. 2 nd Edition
• Belizario, Vincent Jr., (2013). Medical Parasitology in the Philippines. University of the Philippines Press
 FEU MedTech 2nd Semester AY 2019-2020

Prepared by LrcCo for class use only Unathorized use, distribution, and
publication of this document is prohibited.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DPDX – Laboratory Identification of Parasitic Diseases of
Public Health Concern, http://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/