MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT NAME: Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Fascioliasis, sheep liver fluke disease, halzoun, marrara, Human Fascioliasis (HF) CHARACTERISTICS: Trematode; relatively flat and leaf-like, fleshy, measures 20-30 mm in length by 8-13 mm wide; distinct cephalic cone gives a characteristic shouldered appearance; eggs are large (130-150 µm by 60-90 µm), ovoid and unsegmented when laid SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD PATHOGENICITY: Acute symptoms may persist from several weeks to months and include acute dyspepsia, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, prolonged high fever, abdominal pains and sometime hepatomegaly, hepatic tenderness and urticaria; ectopic infection sites including the lungs, intestinal wall, heart, brain, biliary duct and skin can occur; in endemic areas, acute nasopharyngitis can occur EPIDEMIOLOGY: World wide human infections reported in sheep and cattle raising areas (in South America, Caribbean, Europe, Australia and Middle East and Asia); cases documented in USA; F. gigantica restricted to mainly Africa, western Pacific and Hawaii HOST RANGE: Humans, sheep, cattle, snails, cattle, water buffalo, llama, emus INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Eating uncooked aquatic plants (such as watercress) containing encysted forms (metacercariae) of the parasite, contaminated water, eating parasitised cattle or sheep liver INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable; depends on the dose of flukes COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person-to-person SECTION III - DISSEMINATION RESERVOIR: Humans are accidental hosts; infection in nature maintained by cattle, sheep and snails (Family: Lymnaeidae); cattle, water buffalo and other herbivorous mammals harbors F. gigantica ZOONOSIS: Yes - infections acquired indirectly through cattle, sheep, water buffalo VECTORS: Snails ( family lymnaeidae) SECTION IV - VIABILITY DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to bithionol, praziquantel, nitazoxanide, albendazole, triclabendazole (TCBZ - test for strain resistance) DRUG RESISTANCE: TCBZ resistant striains SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Sensitive to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heat SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Encysted form can survive for prolonged periods in the environment, resistant to drying SECTION V - MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by serology , indirect haemagglutination test (IHAI), and microscopic examination of flukes, eggs in feces FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy IMMUNIZATION: None available PROPHYLAXIS: None available SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Not reported to date SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Tissue biopsy specimens, feces, bile aspirated from duodenum PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion; accidental parenteral inoculation SPECIAL HAZARDS: None SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving the infective stages of the parasite, and potentially infectious body fluids and tissues PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat: gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Work with this agent should be conducted in a biological safety cabinet or its equivalent SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION Date prepared: March, 2001 Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date. Copyright © [Material Safety Data Sheets - Index]
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Last Updated: 2001-05-15 |