Infectious Disease Compendium

Heterophyes heterophyes

Microbiology

Small intestinal fluke found in the Nile, SE Asia, and the far East. It is an echo-y kind of organism. It takes up residence in the small bowel. Look for eggs in the stool but the eggs are indistinguishable from those of Metagonimus yokogawai, Clonorchis, and Opisthorchis.

Epidemiologic Risks

Eating contaminated raw freshwater fish.

Syndromes

Abdominal pain with eosinophilia and diarrhea. Sometimes the organism spreads outside the bowel.

Treatment

Praziquantel 25mg/kg q 8 over one day

Notes

Last update: 05/05/18