Trichinella pseudospiralis
Trichinella pseudospiralis is a member of the Nematoda phylum. The parasitic worm is common worldwide for causing a disease called Trichinosis in both animals and humans (Wang et al., 2017, p. 2). The parasites are small-sized, measuring between 1.5 and 4 millimeters, with the females being larger than males. Their bodies are flat towards their anterior end. Gravid females have a uterus towards the posterior part and contain eggs (CDC, 2019). However, the organism cannot be gram stained for further analysis. The parasite enters the cells of its hosts and tries to manipulate it. In the long run, it also starts manipulation of the host’s immune system. It uses the host’s intestinal bile to activate its larvae to invade more cells (Wang et al., 2017, p. 2-3). Given they are not susceptible to antibiotics, Trichinella pseudospiralis may be controlled using anti-inflammatory and antipyretics agents in mild infections. However, when complications are severe, the parasite is controlled using anti-parasitic agents.
Adult worms feed on the host’s intestinal epithelium, while the juveniles have to infiltrate individual fibers located in a host’s skeletal muscle. They feed on all nutrient types in a host, making them malnourished using stylets (Wang et al., 2017, p. 2-3). They also feed on the body fluids of a given host they infest. To achieve this, they produce digestive enzymes from pharyngeal glands on the intestinal epithelium. There has to be pepsin and gastric acid, which activate the larvae, which has been ingested as cysts (Wang et al., 2017, p. 2). Therefore, there has to a host for Trichinella pseudospiralis to grow. Rodents are identified as the main hosts which maintain the worm’s endemicity. After ingestion, the parasite’s larvae enter the small intestine’s mucosa, where they achieve sexual maturity after several molts (CDC, 2019). The female worm may penetrate up to the submucosa and, eventually, the lymphatic ducts where they get transported to the lymph nodes. The larvae are then transported to the heart and enter the host’s circulation where their dissemination to different body parts occurs.
The presence of the worms in the various parts of the body results in a disease commonly called Trichinosis. Its symptoms may be severe or mild depending on the number of parasites one ingested, and that caused the disease (CDC, 2019). The first symptom is always gastrointestinal and occurs between two and seven days after the ingestion of the worm. Other common symptoms include fever, myalgias, chills, facial edema, fatigue, weakness, and the development of an itchy rash (CDC, 2019). Muscle pains are also observed, especially in the face, chest, and mid-abdomen. The disease diagnosis involves laboratory tests using the Trichinella tests for infection with the worm and muscle biopsy in some cases. Following diagnosis, therapy is initiated immediately. Recent advancements in technology have made it possible for ELISA to be used in Trichinella diagnosis (Wang et al., 2017, p. 2-3). The diagnosis occurs through the identification of the proteins associated with the parasite. Preparations containing electrolyte and protein combinations are given to compensate the ones lost during the disease (CDC, 2019). Antihelminthic agents are assigned to manage the disease. Besides, glucocorticosteroids are used in muscle therapy after one has completed the treatment for this disease.
Trichinellosis mainly affects adults, with close to 11 million people reported to have the disease worldwide. Yearly, there are approximately 10,000 cases of new infections for the disease(CDC, 2019). Given it has a global distribution, people with the disease can be found in any part of the world (Wang et al., 2017, p. 2). Therefore, there is a need for vaccine development for this disease. Recent studies have shown that a vaccine for the illness may function differently with people from different geographical locations. Hence, Trichinella pseudospiralis needs to be thoroughly studied if the disease it causes is to be understood.