Imported Human Fascioliasis, United Kingdom

Human liver flukes

“…Liver fluke infection may be diagnosed in those with a travel history to endemic areas. Primary infection may also occur in areas where these trematodes do not live if metacercariae in fish or vegetable products are imported (8) . There are also reports of liver fluke transmission via infected liver transplants (9) .…”

“…Metecercariae are also found on water surfaces, and use of contaminated water for drinking, or washing food or kitchen utensils may result in human infection (7) . Outbreaks have also been seen in chewers of Khat, a narcotic leaf which may become contaminated by water used to keep it fresh during transport (8) .…”

An Overview of Khat

“…26 Severe cases of chronic khat use has been found to cause hemorrhoids. [28][29][30] An unusual case of autoimmune hepatitis-A chronic inflammatory disease of the liver, characterized by the presence of hepatitis, circulating antibodies, and hypergammaglobulinemia, has been reported by D'souza et al 31 Increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection has been suspected by some researchers. 27 Liver also seems to be particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of khat use.…”

Fascioliasis: An Ongoing Zoonotic Trematode Infection

“…Europe has also had a long history of the disease in Italy [ 33 , 34 ] and Spain [ 1 , 11 ], Turkey [ 35 – 37 ], Britain [ 38 , 39 ], France [ 6 ], and Greece [ 40 ]. Scattered cases have also been reported from North America [ 41 ] and Cuba [ 42 , 43 ].…”

“…However, because of easy and fast global travel currently prevailing, open markets and free trade, cultural tourism, and massive cultural and national integration, the problems of the developing countries may spill to more developed countries [ 39 , 45 , 46 ]. The dawn of unpredictable climate changes and their effect on ecobiology, civil unrest, and the simple natural laws of evolution are factors that have altered the patterns of spread of zoonoses [ 47 , 48 ].…”