Parasites

It is an amoeboid organism. The ameboid trophozoite form reproduces by binary fission and also gives rise to the encysted (when nutrients are limited) and flagellated forms (for swimming), which do not reproduce. It can be found all over the world. In the United States, it is mostly found in southern states usually in warm bodies of water. Several drugs have been found to be effective against the organism in the lab; however, most individuals die from infections even when treated such drugs.

Schistosoma mansoni

It is a trematode. It is also known as a fluke worm or flatworm. Eggs of the parasite that is infecting a human are released into fecal water, the miracidium hatches out of the egg. The form then searches for a suitable fresh water snail and penetrates it. After this, the parasite develops by a mother-sporocyst and daughter-sporocyst generation into the cercaria. This allows multiplication. From a single miracidium results a few thousand cercaria. Each of these can infect a human. They then migrate through the body in the blood. They try to find a partner of the opposite sex to reproduce. It occurs in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Southern China, and Southeast Asia. Anthelmintic drugs are used for treatment.

Trichinella spiralis

It is a nematode parasite. This is also known as a roundworm. The adult worm lives in the intestines of animals such as swine, bears, walrus, and rodents. Male and females mate. The male dies and the female develops offspring. The embryonic stage is in the uterus of the female. The larvae then make their way striated muscle. Those larvae will coil and enclose themselves in a cyst. These cysts can live up to 10 years in this form. It is more common in Europe, Asia, and Southeast Asia than in the United States. It is now considered endemic in Japan and China.Thiabendazole and Mebendazole can be given. However, these do not work on cysts. Corticoids can be used to reduce symptoms.

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