feed home

What are worm infections?

Worm infections are human diseases caused by platyhelminthes (flatworms) or nematodes (roundworms).

What are the most important worm infections?

The most important human worm infections are schistosomiasis, taeniasis, cysticercosis, ascariasis and ancylostomiasis (hookworm infection).

Other important worm infections caused by platyhelminthes are: fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica, that attacks the liver and the bile ducts; hydatid disease, also known as echinococcosis, caused by a taenia-like parasite and transmitted by feces of dogs that contact sheep, with clinical picture similar to cysticercosis. Other important infections caused by roundworms are: strongyloidiasis, agent Strongyloides stercoralis, a common opportunistic disease in AIDS; filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, transmitted by mosquitoes of the Culex genus, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and other thread-like worms and manifested by obstruction and fibrosis of lymphatic vessels that cause swelling (lymphedema) of limbs; enterobiasis (pinworm infection), caused by Enterobius vermicularis, a worm that parasites the colon and the human perianal region; cutaneous larva migrans, an ancylostomiasis of the skin caused by Ancylostoma braziliensis.

What is schistosomiasis?

Schistosomiasis is a worm infection caused by schistosomes, species of flatworms (platyhelminthes). The disease is prevalent in Latin America and in the Far East. The main species of schistosome found in Latin America is Schistosoma mansoni.