Monsters in our food: Foodborne trematodiasis in the Philippines and beyond

Abstract

Foodborne trematodiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by zoonotic trematodes that persist mainly in impoverished areas in the Asia-Pacific region. Globally, about 2 million disability life years (DALYs) are lost due to these parasitic infections. Four groups of foodborne trematodes are known to cause significant illness: fish-borne liver fluke infections caused by Opisthorchis and Clonorchis spp.; water vegetable-borne Fasciola spp. infections; crustacean-vectored paragonimiasis; and those caused by intestinal trematodes. In the Philippines, endemic foodborne trematodes of public health concern include Paragonimus westermani, some members of Heterophyidae and Echinostomatidae, and Fasciola hepatica/ F. gigantica. Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis have also been reported in the country. Data on the epidemiology of these zoonotic illnesses remain scarce and in need of research attention in the Philippines. Culturally rooted eating behaviors in endemic areas are important risk factors to acquiring and perpetuating foodborne trematodiasis. The combination of mass drug administration (MDA), provision of clean water and maintenance of good sanitation and hygiene (WASH), community health education towards modification of risky behaviors, surveillance, and veterinary public health interventions have been shown to be effective in combatting these zoonotic parasitoses. An integrated control and prevention program anchored on the One Health paradigm is a must to address these illnesses. This paper aims to review the biology and epidemiology of, and public health interventions against zoonotic foodborne trematodiasis in the Philippines and its neighboring countries.

Lung flukes of the genusParagonimus: ancient and re-emerging pathogens

“…( 2018 ) and Rabone et al . ( 2021 ) (both focused on Africa); Tenorio and Molina ( 2021 ) (Philippines); Coogle et al . ( 2021 ) (North America); Calvopiña et al .…”

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of pets: Retrospective study at the veterinary teaching hospital, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

“…Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, and vice versa, from humans to animals [7][8][9][10]. Animals can carry parasites, including helminths [11][12][13], that can be transferred to humans through contaminated food [14][15][16] or contact with contaminated environments [17][18][19]. Many intestinal parasites in dogs and cats can infect humans if they come into contact with them directly or if people are exposed to areas polluted by their feces [12,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

“…Efforts to prevent human disease include the appropriate treatment of pets [12,28] and public education about the zoonoses of parasites [16]. In particular, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Indonesia plays a key role in preventing zoonotic parasite transmission, as they treat animals and provide public education, particularly for pet owners.…”

High prevalence of liver fluke infestation, Fasciola gigantica, among slaughtered cattle in Boyolali District, Central Java

“…Cercariae larva will have tail and become metacercariae, thereafter, leave the snail’s body to attach to aquatic plants. Cattle will consume plants contaminated with metacercariae, then the metacercariae penetrates the intestinal wall and reaching adult in the cattle liver ( Bogitsh et al ., 2013 ; Tenorio and Molina, 2021 ).…”