Anisakis From Molecular Identification to Omic Studies

The genus Fasciola consists of two zoonotic trematode species that disseminate between ruminants and snails. Fasciola infection affects more than 700 million domestic ruminants worldwide and causes significant economic losses through liver condemnation, high mortality, and reduced production of meat, milk, and wool. Given our limited understanding about the molecular mechanisms of Fasciola pathogenesis, metabolomic analysis has a critical role in helping decipher the intricacies between the parasite and the host and identify new biomarkers for improved diagnosis and control. Fasciola has a complex lifecycle involving seven stages in definitive mammal hosts and intermediate snail hosts. About 50% of patients with Fasciola infections are asymptomatic while others may develop acute, chronic, halzoun, and ectopic diseases, with clinical manifestations ranging from abdominal pain, fever, constitutional symptoms, urticaria, itching, respiratory symptoms, headache, and cardiac symptoms, in addition to blood, microscopic, and imaging abnormalities.