2.   Flatworm  unsegmented body  No body cavity; nutrients diffuse across body surface =acoelomate  >11,000 species  Affect >300 million people each year (mostly in Africa and Asia)  Most are obligate parasites  Live in intestines, tissue, or blood  Distinctive mouth part (sucker)  Intermediate stages are asexual whereas adults are either male or female  Complex life cycle Facts about Flukes

3.  1.Intestinal Fluke 2. Liver Fluke- this species actually eats your liver and blood causing problems with fat metabolism and systemic inflammation. 3. Blood Fluke - causes infection in the blood that can cause fever and also can spread throughout the bloodstream to affect other organs and glands of the body. 4.Lung Fluke Different kinds of flukes

4.   Responsible for Schistosomiasis  considered by WHO as the 2 nd most socioeconomically devastating parasitic disease (after malaria)  the worms are not found in US  >200 million people are infected worldwide.  one of the NTD  Parasitic larvae live in certain types of freshwater snails. Shistosoma: Blood Flukes

5.  Life Cycle  Male and female adult worms  Eggs released in bladder or intestines  excreted w/ urine or feces to fresh water  Larvae pass through intermediate host = snail  Larvae can survive outside snail for ~48 hrs  2 nd larval stage completed and parasite can directly penetrate skin of human host  Parasite mates in host  Eggs are passed out through urine or fecal matter

6.  Where is it found?

7.  Common Symptoms  Symptoms are caused by the body’s reaction to the eggs.  Can cause inflammation and scarring of bladder or intestines  Within days of infection host may develop a rash or itchy skin.  Within 1-2 months of infection, symptoms may develop including fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches. Symptoms

8.   Chronic schistosomiasis  Without treatment, schistosomiasis can persist for years. Signs and symptoms of chronic schistosomiasis include : abdominal pain enlarged liver blood in the stool or blood in the urine problems passing urine.  Chronic infection can also lead to increased risk of bladder cancer.  Rarely, eggs are found in the brain or spinal cord and can cause seizures, paralysis, or spinal cord inflammation. Symptoms

9.   No vaccine available  Drink and bathe in fresh water that is not contaminated  Minimize intermediate host population  Difficult b/c harmful to other fresh water organisms  Certain species of blood flukes can also infect cattle  Runoff into freshwater source can lead to further contamination Prevention

10.   Anti-parasitic medication  Anti-inflammatory medication  Eradication efforts Eradication efforts Treatment