Hymenolepis diminuta Інфекція

Hymenolepis diminuta infection is rare in humans.

H. diminuta, rat tapeworm, has a life cycle similar to the indirect cycle of Hymenolepis nana in grain insects. Rodents (primarily rats) serve as the definitive host of H. diminuta and beetles (flour and grain beetles) serve as the intermediate host. Humans can serve as definitive hosts after eating food containing infected grain insects. H. diminuta is 20 to 60 cm in length.

Human infection is usually asymptomatic, it but can cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms.

Diagnosis is by finding characteristic eggs in stool.

Treatment of H. diminuta infection is with praziquantel (1). Alternatives include nitazoxanide and, outside of the United States, niclosamide.

A stool sample should be repeated 1 month after therapy is completed to verify cure.