WEEK 3 (LEC-LAB) MLS 306** CLINICAL PARASITOLOGY BSMLS 3A

TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS - Fever, weakness, pain and other symptoms start to abate
- TRICHINA WORM; GARBAGE WORM; TISSUE in convalescent phase
ROUNDWORM; MUSCLE WORM - Full recovery is expected
MALES - Prognosis is good
- 0.62 to 1.58 by 0.025 to 0.033 mm; with - Death is uncommon
single testis DIAGNOSIS:
- Delicate anteriorly and rounded posteriorly - Muscle biopsy. Histological
- The cloaca which is situated at the caudal exam of 0.2 to 0.5 g of muscle tissue (gold standard)
portion is guarded by 2 conspicuous papillae ◼ Digestion of muscle samples with pepsin and HCl can
that holds the female during copulation be done to determine the # of larvae but limited to
FEMALE muscle larvae that are about 10 to 12 days old ( 2-3
weeks post infection)
- Non specific lab test to detect eosinophilia, muscle
enzymes ( creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase
and myokinase) and total IgE in serum
- Serological test:
- 1.26 to 3.35 mm ◼ BENTONITE Flocculation Test
by 0.029 to 0.038mm ◼ Latex flocculation test ; IFAT; ELISA
with the vulvae opening situated at the anterior 5th of the ◼ Bachman intradermal test
body with a single ovary found near the caudal end; blunt ◼ Xenodiagnosis (BECK’S test)
rounded posterior end --Use of test animals like albino mice
- With club-shaped uterus EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Produces approximately 1500 larvae in its lifetime and - Documented in 55 countries worldwide
lives for 30 days - About 10,000 cases reported each year
LARVA - Rarely reported in tropics
- Encysted (infective, pathogenic and diagnostic stage) - Found worldwide
- Has a spearlike burrowing tip at its anterior end - Resistant to colder regions
- Measures 80 to 120um by 5.6um at birth - Has never been documented in the Philippines
- Enters a muscle fiber where it attains a size of 0.65 to 1.45 TREATMENT
mm in length and 0.026 to 0.040 in width - Bed rest and supportive treatment
- A fully developed larva may reached up to 1 mm - Thiabendazole
PATHOGENESIS - Mebendazole
- Albendazole
PREVENTION
- Destruction of all cadavers and viscera of hogs dying in the
farm
- Elimination of garbage feeding, extermination of rats and
mice around farms
- Thorough cooking and deep freezing -15C for 20 days or -
30C for 6 days of all pork
- Health education

3 phases of clinical conditions

- Enteric phase
- Invasion phase
- Convalescent phase
- Corresponds to 3 stages
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Incubation & intestinal invasion
- The host is both the intermediate and definitive host.
- Larval and muscle invasion - Zoonotic parasite
- Encystment and encapsulation
- The infection is propagated by RATS
PATHOLOGY: - Man is the DEAD-END-HOST of this parasite.
- Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, malaise, constipation,
- To destroy larva, one can freeze the meat at 15 degrees
vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms with or Celsius for 20 days because larva is destroyed by freezing.
without fever
- Final Habitat of Adult Worms: Small Intestine (Larva :
- Migration and penetration of muscle is frequently fatal Muscles)
- Puffiness under the eyes or lids, retinal hemorrhage
- Eosinophilia and facial edema
- Muscular pains
- Arms, legs and abdominal walls are swollen
- With high remittent fever & chills, headache, dyspnea,
dysphagia & difficulty in chewing
- With occasional paralysis of extremities and
splenomegaly, gastric & intestinal bleeding
- Pericardial pain, tachycardia and electrocardiogram
abnormalities
- Meningitis & meningoencephalitis may develop
- In heavy infections, ocular disturbances, diplegia,
deafness, epileptiform attacks and coma may occur

LPU-BATANGAS TAMAYO, H.B.A RMT 2023