Trichostrongyliasis is a parasitic infection caused by Trichostrongylus worms that infects humans through consumption of raw vegetables contaminated with infective larvae. The worms have a direct lifecycle within herbivorous mammals and humans can become infected by ingesting filariform larvae from contaminated food or soil. Most infections are asymptomatic but heavy infections can cause gastrointestinal issues. Diagnosis is made by finding eggs in feces and treatment involves anthelmintic drugs like pyrantel pamoate. Prevention relies on thoroughly cleaning and cooking vegetables to kill any infective larvae.

1. Trichostrongyliasis
FOOD AND WATERBORNE PARASITIC DISEASES (PARA-704)
SUBMITTED TO: DR. M. KASIB KHAN
SUBMITTED BY: TANZEELA NUREEN(2021-AG-379)

2. INTRODUCTION:
• Trichostrongyliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the intestinal
nematodes, Trichostrongylus spp.
• The most common Trichostrongylus species infecting humans were T.
colubriformis and T. orientalis
• These parasites are ubiquitous among herbivores, including cattle,
sheep, goats, and deer, worldwide
• Human infections occur mostly by consumption of raw vegetables
contaminated with infective filariform larvae
• It is estimated that 5.5 million people are infected globally

3. LIFE CYCLE:
• The life-cycle of Trichostrongylus spp. is direct, simple and without an
intermediate host.
• Eggs are passed in the stool of the definitive host (usually a
herbivorous mammal
• under favorable conditions (moisture, warmth, shade), and larvae
hatch within several days. The released rhabditiform larvae grow in
the soil or on vegetation

4. • after 5 to 10 days (and two molts) they become filariform (third-
stage) larvae that are infective
• Infection of the human host occurs upon ingestion of these filariform
larvae
• The larvae reach the small intestine, where they reside and mature
into adults.
• Adult worms inhabit the digestive tract of their definitive hosts and
may occur as incidental infections in humans

6. CLINICAL FINDING:
• Most infections are asymptomatic
• Heavy infections can cause
• gastrointestinal problems
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• anorexia
• headache
• fatigue
• anemia
• eosinophilia

7. DIAGNOSIS:
• Clinical diagnosis of infection is based on the finding of eggs in the
feces of humans and herbivores.
• Because eggs may be difficult to find in light infections, a
concentration or flotation procedure is recommended
• Several DNA based techniques can discriminate different species
of Trichostrongylus, including all life-cycle stages and sexes, e.g. PCR-
restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)

8. Treatment and prevention:
• Since the use of herbivore manure as fertilizer is a common practice
preceding infection, thorough cleaning and cooking of vegetables is
required for the prevention of infection.
• Treatment with pyrantel pamoate is recommended as the first-line
drug.
• Alternative agents include mebendazole and albendazole. Successful
treatment with ivermectin has also been reported.
• Another way of avoiding these free-swimming stages of infective
larvae is to wear protective footwear when walking in areas of
parasite prominence and maintain general sanitary practices
throughout the day.

9. THANK YOU