Fascioliasis is an infectious disease caused by Fasciola hepatica, the sheep liver fluke
-it is prevalent in sheep-raising areas
-it results from ingestion of encysted metacercariae on aquatic vegetables or water plants such as watercress
Symptoms & Signs
Fever, malaise, abdominal pain, weight loss, urticaria, marked eosinophilia, leukocytosis, tender hepatomegaly, cholangitis
CT and other imaging studies show hypodense migratory lesions of the liver.
Diagnosis
Definitive diagnosis: Identification of characteristic eggs in stool, duodenal or biliary aspirates
CT/imaging studies: hypodense nodules in the liver; tracts or tunnels (representing the migration of larvae)
Treatment
The treatment of choice is triclabendazole
Other effective agents: Bithionol, emetine, dehydroemetine, nitazoxanide
-it does not respond well to praziquantel