Most infections are light, almost asymptomatic. In heavy infections, symptoms can include abdominal pain, chronicdiarrhea, anemia, ascites, toxemia, allergic responses, sensitization caused by the absorption of the worms' allergenic metabolites can lead to intestinal obstruction and may eventually cause death of the patient.[2]
Microscopic identification of eggs, or more rarely of the adult flukes, in the stoolorvomitus is the basis of specific diagnosis. The eggs are indistinguishable from those of the very closely related Fasciola hepatica liver fluke, but that is largely inconsequential since treatment is essentially identical for both.[citation needed]
Infection can be prevented by immersing vegetables in boiling water for a few seconds to kill the infective metacercariae, avoiding the use of untreated feces ("nightsoil") as a fertilizer, and maintenance of proper sanitation and good hygiene. Additionally, snail control should be attempted.[citation needed]
F. buski is endemic in Asia including China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. It has an up to 60% prevalence in worst-affected communities in southern and eastern India and mainland China and has an estimated 10 million human infections. Infections occur most often in school-aged children or in impoverished areas with a lack of proper sanitation systems.[7]
A study from 1950s found that F. buski was endemic in central Thailand, affecting about 2,936 people due to infected aquatic plants called water caltrops and the snail hosts which were associated with them. The infection, or the eggs which hatch in the aquatic environment, were correlated with the water pollution in different districts of Thailand such as Ayuthaya Province. The high incidence of infection was prevalent in females and children ages 10–14 years of age.[8]
^Bhattacharjee HK, Yadav D, Bagga D (2001). "Fasciolopsiasis presenting as intestinal perforation: a case report". Trop Gastroenterol. 30 (1): 40–1. PMID19624087.
^Mas-Coma S, Bargues M, Valero M (October 2005). "Fascioliasis and other plant-borne trematode zoonoses". International Journal for Parasitology. 35 (11–12): 1255–1278. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.010. PMID16150452.
^Weng YL, Zhuang ZL, Jiang HP, Lin GR, Lin JJ (1989). "Studies on ecology of Fasciolopsis buski and control strategy of fasciolopsiasis". Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi (in Chinese). 7 (2): 108–11. PMID2805255.
^Rabbani GH, Gilman RH, Kabir I, Mondel G (1985). "The treatment of Fasciolopsis buski infection in children: a comparison of thiabendazole, mebendazole, levamisole, pyrantel pamoate, hexylresorcinol and tetrachloroethylene". Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 79 (4): 513–5. doi:10.1016/0035-9203(85)90081-1. PMID4082261.
^Probert AJ, Sharma RK, Singh K, Saxena R (1981). "The effect of five fasciolicides on malate dehydrogenase activity and mortality of Fasciola gigantica, Fasciolopsis buski and Paramphistomum explanatum". J Helminthol. 55 (2): 115–22. doi:10.1017/S0022149X0002558X. PMID7264272. S2CID23797188.
^Sadun EH, Maiphoom C (1953). "Studies on the epidemiology of the human intestinal fluke, Fasciolopsis Buski in Central Thailand". American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2 (6): 1070–84. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1953.2.1070. PMID13104816.
Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD, Valero MA (2005). "Fascioliasis and other plant-borne trematode zoonoses". International Journal for Parasitology. 35 (11–12): 1255–78. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.010. PMID16150452.
