Diphyllobothriasis (Dibothriocephalus latum)

David Riedel, M.D.
Diphyllobothriasis (Dibothriocephalus latum) is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

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MICROBIOLOGY

  • Cestode (tapeworm) parasite, found worldwide but concentrated in certain endemic areas.
  • Recent genus name change from Diphyllobothrium to Dibothriocephalus.
  • The most important fish-borne zoonosis with a complex 3-host life cycle:
    • Eggs ingested by crustacean and form first larval stage → crustacean ingested by a freshwater fish where plerocercoid (second larval stage) develops → humans contract infection by eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish, and the parasite matures rapidly in the intestine [Figure 1].
    • Major species are D. latum (U.S. Great Lakes region and Alaska, Scandinavia, Russia), D. nihonkaiense (Japan), D. pacificum (Pacific coast of South America), D. dendriticum (Europe).
      • Cases also reported after eating imported fish.
      • At least 10 other species reported occasionally in humans.

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MICROBIOLOGY

  • Cestode (tapeworm) parasite, found worldwide but concentrated in certain endemic areas.
  • Recent genus name change from Diphyllobothrium to Dibothriocephalus.
  • The most important fish-borne zoonosis with a complex 3-host life cycle:
    • Eggs ingested by crustacean and form first larval stage → crustacean ingested by a freshwater fish where plerocercoid (second larval stage) develops → humans contract infection by eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish, and the parasite matures rapidly in the intestine [Figure 1].
    • Major species are D. latum (U.S. Great Lakes region and Alaska, Scandinavia, Russia), D. nihonkaiense (Japan), D. pacificum (Pacific coast of South America), D. dendriticum (Europe).
      • Cases also reported after eating imported fish.
      • At least 10 other species reported occasionally in humans.

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Last updated: October 21, 2019