Paper Contents
Abstract
The sources of human fascioliasis infection are analyzed for the first time in light of the evolving global context of this disease. Key infection sources include food, water, and combinations of both. The primary source is the ingestion of freshwater wild plants, particularly watercress, followed by other vegetables. Concerns regarding vegetables sold in unregulated urban markets are highlighted. A distinction is made between infection sources from freshwater-cultivated plants, terrestrial wild plants, and terrestrial-cultivated plants. Risks associated with consuming traditional local dishes made from wild plants and raw liver are also addressed. Contaminated water is increasingly implicated, including its use in drinking, preparing beverages and soups, and washing vegetables, fruits, tubers, and kitchen utensils.Three methods for assessing infection sources are identified: detecting metacercariae on plants or in freshwater, conducting anamnesis in individual patients, and using questionnaire surveys in endemic areas. The infectivity of metacercariae is reviewed under field conditions and in experiments involving various physicochemical factors. Preventive measures, both individual and general, are found to be more complex than previously thought. The high diversity of infection sources and their variability across countries contribute to the significant epidemiological heterogeneity of human fascioliasis worldwide.
Copyright
Copyright © 2024 Tejswee Ashok Patil. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
