Several parasites can infect the human liver, including helminths like Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni, protozoa like Plasmodium spp. and Leishmania spp., and arthropods. These parasites may cause hepatomegaly, portal hypertension, hepatic dysfunction, splenomegaly, ascites, and jaundice during their maturation stages in the liver or as adult worms. Common symptoms include right hypochondrial pain and fever, epigastric pain, enlarged liver, bilious vomiting, and jaundice.

1. DiNa Maklad
471
Introduction to parasites affecting
liver

2. to Parasites affecting the LiverIntroduction
Parasites are defined as those organisms living on or within another
organismknown as its hostat whoseexpense it obtains food and
protection.
There are three main classes of parasites that can cause diseasein
rthopodsAelminths, andHrotozoa,Phumans:
either-zoaainly helminthes and protom-Several parasites infect liver
, for example (Fasciola,wormsduring their maturation stages or as adult
s granulosus, Toxocara species,, EchinococcumansoniSchistosoma
-, PlasmodiumspeciesvisceralLeishmania,Entamoeba histolytica
.and Toxoplasma gondii)-Malaria parasites
ing human liver.Here are a classification of Parasites mainly those affect
Parasitic organisms
Helminths
Protozoa
Arthropods

3. Helminths
Phylum platyhelminthes Phylum Nematoda
Class
Trematoda
Class
Cestoidea
Pseudophyllidea
Cyclophyllidea
Fasciola hepatica/
gigantica
Right hypochondrial pain
& fever (during migratory
stage ) .
Acute epigastric pain
/Hepatomegaly/repeated
attack of Jaundice &
fever ( whenestablished
infection)
Schistosoma mansoni
Hepatomegaly/portal
hypertension/Hepatic
dysfunction /splenomegaly/
Ascites/Haematemesis/Melena
Echinococcus granulosus
Hydatiddisease Hydatid
Cyst in the liver ( commonest
site 70% ) / painless
enlargement inthe abdomen
withright hypochondrial
pain .

4. Phylum Nematoda
Class
Adenophorea
Class
Secernentea
Toxocara Canis / Cati
Larva Migrans (Visceral )
Hepatomegaly

5. Protozoa
Sarcodina
Phylum Sarcomastigophora
Phylum Ciliophora
Phylum Apicomplexa
Mastigophora
Leishmania species
(Visceral )
leishmania donovani
complex ( old world ) &
L.chagasi (new world )
Hepatomegaly
Plasmodium Species
(Malaria Parasites)
Slight enlargement and
tenderness of the liver ( during
exoerythrocytic cycle )
Localizedpernicious syndromes
Hepatobiliary :Epigastric pain/
enlargedliver /bilious vomiting
/ jaundice .
Toxoplasma gondii
(Toxoplasmosis )
Hepatosplenomegaly /Jaundice
Entamoeba
histolytica
Extraintestinal
amoebiasis ( Ameobic
hepatitis /Amoebic
liver abscess )

6. References :
1) Medical parasitology Notes
2) Centre for disease control and prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html
3) Pubmed : Parasitic disease of the liver and biliary
tree http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19864809