Human Intestinal Flukes (eBook)

This book provides up-to-date information on the characteristics of each species of intestinal fluke found in humans and on the management of infections caused by these trematodes. Biology, epidemiology, host-parasite relationships, pathogenicity, clinical aspects, diagnosis, and treatment are all reviewed in detail. The zoonotic intestinal flukes comprise 38 genera belonging to 16 families. They are morphologically diverse and each species has a characteristic life cycle and geographical distribution.  Intestinal fluke infections are commonly considered as tropical endemic diseases in Asian countries, where 6 million people are infected, but the geographical limits and populations at risk are expanding and changing owing to a range of factors, including growing international markets, improved transportation systems, changes in eating habits, demographic trends, and climate change. While the pathogenicity of intestinal flukes is generally mild, the impact in immunocompromised individuals requires clarification and some diagnostic problems remain to be solved. In exploring all aspects of human intestinal fluke infections, this book will be invaluable for clinicians and researchers alike.

Jong-Yil Chai is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Professor Chai has been investigating diseases caused by intestinal parasites, including flukes, roundworms, and protozoans, for more than 40 years in the Republic of Korea. He has also worked in other Asian countries, including China, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia, as well as in Africa, especially Tanzania. He has published ten books and more than 560 original research papers on parasitology. Professor Chai has served as editor of the Korean Journal of Parasitology since 2006. He has been President of the World Federation of Parasitologists since 2018 and Treasurer of the International Federation for Tropical Medicine since 2012. In addition, he has served as President of the Korea Association of Health Promotion since January 2016.

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This book provides up-to-date information on the characteristics of each species of intestinal fluke found in humans and on the management of infections caused by these trematodes. Biology, epidemiology, host-parasite relationships, pathogenicity, clinical aspects, diagnosis, and treatment are all reviewed in detail. The zoonotic intestinal flukes comprise 38 genera belonging to 16 families. They are morphologically diverse and each species has a characteristic life cycle and geographical distribution.  Intestinal fluke infections are commonly considered as tropical endemic diseases in Asian countries, where 6 million people are infected, but the geographical limits and populations at risk are expanding and changing owing to a range of factors, including growing international markets, improved transportation systems, changes in eating habits, demographic trends, and climate change. While the pathogenicity of intestinal flukes is generally mild, the impact in immunocompromised individuals requires clarification and some diagnostic problems remain to be solved. In exploring all aspects of human intestinal fluke infections, this book will be invaluable for clinicians and researchers alike.