Distomatosis

Distomatosis, also known as trematode infection or fluke infection, is a group of parasitic diseases caused by trematode flatworms (flukes) that infect various organ systems in the human body. This condition encompasses several distinct infections depending on the causative organism and the organ affected, including opisthorchiasis (liver flukes such as Opisthorchis felineus and Opisthorchis viverrini), clonorchiasis (Clonorchis sinensis), dicrocoeliasis (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), fascioliasis (Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica), fasciolopsiasis (Fasciolopsis buski), and other fluke infections. Humans typically acquire these infections through consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish, aquatic plants, or contaminated water containing encysted larvae (metacercariae). The body systems most commonly affected include the hepatobiliary system (liver and bile ducts), the intestinal tract, and in some species the lungs or blood vessels. Hepatic flukes cause inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis), hepatomegaly, biliary obstruction, and in chronic cases may lead to cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), particularly with Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis infections. Intestinal flukes such as Fasciolopsis buski cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, malabsorption, and intestinal obstruction. Key symptoms across the group include fever, abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, eosinophilia, jaundice, fatigue, and gastrointestinal disturbances. During the acute migratory phase of fascioliasis, patients may experience high fever, urticaria, and marked eosinophilia. Treatment is available and generally effective. The antiparasitic drug praziquantel is the mainstay of therapy for most fluke infections, including opisthorchiasis, clonorchiasis, and intestinal fluke infections. Triclabendazole is the drug of choice for fascioliasis, as Fasciola species do not respond well to praziquantel. Supportive care may be needed for complications such as biliary obstruction or secondary bacterial cholangitis. Prevention strategies focus on food safety measures, including thorough cooking of freshwater fish and aquatic vegetables, and public health interventions in endemic regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and parts of South America and Africa.

Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.

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