Heterophyidae

JACQUIELYN A. BAYDO, DVM

 Family Heterophyidae
Intestines of mammals and birds
Small trematodes, usually not over 2 mm long
Wider posteriorly than anteriorly
Genital pore and the ventral sucker: located in a ventro-genital sac

Life cycle: generally involves 2 IHs: freshwater snails and fishes or frogs
 Family Heterophyidae
Heterophyes heterophyes
◦ Small pear-shaped fluke; wider
posteriorly
◦ Measures 1–1.7 mm by 0.3–0.7 mm
VS: anterior to the middle of the body
GS: bears an incomplete circle of 70-80 rods
Testes: oval and horizontal
Ova: thick shells with an operculum which
fits into a thickened rim
 Heterophyes heterophyes
Predilection site: Small intestine
Geographical distribution: Egypt, Asia,
Middle East, Far East
DH: Dog, cat, fox, human

1st IH: Snail

◦ Pirenella conica
◦ Cerithideopsilla cingulata (in Asia)
2nd IH: Fish
◦ Mugil cephalus, M. japonicus
 Heterophyes heterophyes
Pathogenicity
◦ Ingestion of raw/salted fish.
◦ Fesikh – Egypt
◦ Severe human cases may show hemorrhagic diarrhea

Treatment
◦ Carbon tetrachloride

Prevention
◦ Do not eat fish that is salted <10 days