helminth

Helminths are parasitic worms that can infect humans and animals. They are broadly categorized into three groups: cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (roundworms), and trematodes (flukes). These are multicellular organisms with complex body structures, possessing partial or complete organ systems.1

Many helminth species are parasitic, causing various diseases. For instance, tapeworm infestations, while reduced in some regions due to meat inspection, remain common where sanitation is poor and meat is undercooked. Larval stages of some helminths can cause severe damage to hosts; for example, hydatid cysts from Echinococcus can be fatal if they lodge in the liver, brain, or lungs. Blood flukes, such as those in the genus Schistosoma, cause schistosomiasis, a major human disease prevalent in Africa, Asia, and South America. Hookworms, belonging to the Nematoda class, infest the intestines of humans and animals, leading to anemia and other debilitating symptoms, particularly in tropical climates.23

Treatment for helminth infections involves anthelmintic drugs, which target the parasite's nervous system, glucose uptake, or muscle function.1