Capillaria hepatica - Blood & Tissue Nematodes

Morphology:
-Adult: Male->15~30mm Female->10cm

Adult worms live in the liver.

Life cycle:
-Final Host: Rodents, lagomorpha, human.
-Transport Host: Earthworms.

Epidemiology:
-An occasional parasite of humans.

Pathology & Symptomatology:
-Adult:
--Loss of liver cells -> loss of normal function
-Eggs:
--Replace large areas of parenchyma
--Carried to lungs or other organs by the bloodstream.
-Causing liver disorders, hepatitis with eosinophilia.

Diagnosis:
-Liver biopsy.
-Discovery of eggs in human feaces.

Treatment:
-Poorly known.
-Albendazole.