1. Diphyllobothrium Latum
Ian Moreau

2. Morphology & Physiology
Diphyllobothrium latum is in the class Cestoda and in the order Pseudophyllidia
The scolex is very small, only about 1mm wide and 9~20mm long, with bothria on either side
Gravid proglottids are wider than they are long and can be as wide as 2cm
The Adult worm can reach up to 15m and 4000 proglottids long

3. Morphology & Physiology (cont)
Rosetta shaped ovary
The proglottids change genders as they grow, first male, then female
Although the worm can inseminate itself, it often mates with other worms in its habitat (i.e. your gut) which makes it a reciprocally inseminating hermaphrodite
D. nihonkaiense

4. Life Cycle D. latum follows the standard pseudophyllidia life cycle
Primary intermediate host is a copepod, the secondary is a freshwater fish, usually trout, salmon, perch or pike
Definitive host is usually a human or bear

5. Pathology
Causes diphyllobothriasis, also known as Jewish (or Scandinavian) housewife’s disease
Most infestations are asymptomatic, but you might feel: abdominal discomfort, abdominal cramps, intestinal obstruction, abdominal distension, diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss.
Another affect is loss of vitamin B-12, which can lead to pernicious anemia like symptoms

6. Diagnosis Proglottids observed in stool Eggs in stool
Numerous enough, no concentration needed

7. Prevention and Treatments
Prevention- thoroughly cook all fish or don’t eat fish
Treatments
Praziquantel-evidence that it increases permeability of schistisome membrane to calcium ions
Niclosamide-lethal on contact with tapeworm cells

8. References
Diphyllobothriasis. CDC DPDx. 13 Dec <
Five Cases of Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense Infection with Discovery of Plerocercoids from an Infective Source, Oncorhynchus masou Ishikawae. by Katsuhiko Ando; Ken Ishikura; Tetsuya Nakakugi; Yoshiki Shimono; Takuya Tamai; Masahiro Sugawa; Wutipong Limviroj; Yasuo Chinzei. The Journal of Parasitology © 2001 The American Society of Parasitologists
Diphyllobothrium Latum Infection. 6 June <
Diphyllobothrium latum. Web Atlas of Medical Parisitology <
Diphyllobothrium spp.. U.S. FDA Bad Bug Book. 14 June <