DiphyllobothriasisFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchMedicalconditionDiphyllobothriasisSpecialtyInfectiousdisease,helminthologist DiphyllobothriasisistheinfectioncausedbytapewormsofthegenusDiphyllobothrium(commonlyD.latumandD.nihonkaiense).Diphyllobothriasismostlyoccursinregionswhererawfishisregularlyconsumed;thosewhoconsumerawfishareatriskofinfection.Theinfectionisoftenasymptomaticandusuallypresentsonlywithmildsymptoms,whichmayincludegastrointestinalcomplaints,weightloss,andfatigue.Rarely,vitaminB12deficiency(possiblyleadingtoanaemia)andgastrointestinalobstructionsmayoccur.Infectionmaybelong-lastinginabsenceoftreatment.Diphyllobothriasisisgenerallydiagnosedbylookingforeggsortapewormsegmentsinpassedstool.Treatmentwithantiparasiticmedicationsisstraightforward,effective,andsafe.Contents1Signsandsymptoms1.1Complications1.1.1VitaminB12deficiencyandanaemia1.1.2Gastrointestinalobstructions2Cause2.1Transmission3Pathophysiology3.1Host-parasiteinteractions4Diagnosis4.1Microscopy4.2Geneticidentification4.3Radiography5Prevention6Treatment7Epidemiology7.1Geographicaldistribution7.1.1Japan7.1.2UnitedStates8History9References10ExternallinksSignsandsymptoms[edit]Symptomsofparasiteinfectionbyrawfish:Clonorchissinensis(atrematode/fluke),Anisakis(anematode/roundworm)andDiphyllobothriuma(cestode/tapeworm),[1]allhavegastrointestinal,butotherwisedistinct,symptoms.[2][3][4][5]Mostinfections(~80%[6])areasymptomatic.[6][7][8]Infectionsmaybelong-lasting,[7]persistingformanyyears[6]ordecades(upto25years)[7]ifuntreated.Symptoms(whenpresent)aregenerallymild.[9][8]Manifestationsmayinclude:abdominalpainanddiscomfort,diarrhoea,vomiting,constipation,weightloss,andfatigue.[9]Additionalsymptomshavebeenreported/described,including:dyspepsia,abdominaldistension(commonlyaspresentingcomplaint),headache,myalgia,anddizziness.[8]Complications[edit]Whiletheinfectionisgenerallymild,complicationsmayoccur.Complicationsarepredicatedonparasiteburden,andaregenerallyrelatedtovitaminB12def