Do liver flukes cause cancer?

If yes, what kind of cancers do they induce and what type of liver flukes are carcinogens?

You will find the answers in this article.

What is a liver fluke?

The liver fluke is a type of flatworm (trematode) that lives in the bile ducts, gallbladder, and liver of humans and some other mammals.

It causes lesions in these organs, resulting in parasitic disease.

Furthermore, the liver fluke has a complex life cycle that involves at least two hosts: an intermediate host (a snail) and a final host (a vertebrate).

What are the different types of human liver flukes?

There are two families of liver flukes: the Opisthorchiidae and the Fasciolidae, characterized by different life cycles and pathogeneses¹.

Do liver flukes cause bile duct cancer?

When liver flukes infect humans, they migrate from the duodenum to the liver before settling in the biliary ducts^1,2,3.

Long-lived flukes cause obstruction and chronic inflammation of the bile duct system, known as cholangitis³.

In heavy infections, this inflammation develops into a cancer of the biliary tract, known as cholangiocarcinoma^2,3,4.

Which liver flukes cause bile duct cancer?

The following liver flukes can induce cholangiocarcinoma:

• Opisthorchis viverrini^3,4,5
• Clonorchis sinensis^3,5,6
• Opisthorchis felineus^3,7

Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by WHO^8,9.

By contrast, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica have not been reported to cause cholangiocarcinoma.

Do liver flukes cause liver cancer?

Researchers have presented the case of a woman who suffered from multiple liver tumors caused by Fasciola hepatica¹³.

They did, however, not mention if the tumors were malignant or not.

Also, a study revealed that, in addition to inducing bile duct cancer, Opisthorchis viverrini may also cause liver cancer, including¹⁰

• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma

Furthermore, Clonorchis sinensis has been shown to cause hepatocellular carcinoma^11,12.

Do liver flukes cause pancreatic cancer?

Clonorchis sinensis has been shown to induce adenoma-carcinoma of the pancreas⁴.

Related: An Easy Way To Know If You Have Liver Flukes

What is ectopic fascioliasis?

Fasciola‘s migration out of the intestine and up into the liver is not always successful².

Sometimes, the parasite gets lost and ends up in other organs, such as the^{2,17,18,19,20}:

• Intestine
• Lungs
• Heart
• Brain
• Muscles
• Eyes
• Ovaries
• Lymph nodes
• Colon

A Fasciola infection that occurs outside the hepatobiliary system is known as ectopic fascioliasis^2,14.

Does ectopic fascioliasis cause breast and colon cancer?

Researchers have reported the cases of patients suffering from breast^14,15 and colon¹⁶ cancer who also had liver lesions caused by Fasciola hepatica.

They did, unfortunately, not try to identify a causal link between both diseases and a potential case of ectopic fascioliasis.

Can liver flukes cause cancer outside the hepatobiliary system?

Fasciola parasites have been described as the less harmful types of liver flukes.

However, if they could cause cancer, it would explain why some patients had breast, or colon, cancer in addition to Fasciola hepatica liver lesions.

Moreover, if Fasciola parasites can migrate to other organs than Opisthorchis or Clonorchisn that are carcinogens could possibly also do so.

Yet, at the current state of research, it has not been shown that liver flukes cause other cancers than hepatobiliary or pancreatic cancer.

Anti-liver flukes drugs have anti-cancer properties

Albendazole and mebendazole are two drugs used to treat parasites, including liver flukes^21,22,23.

These drugs are active against several types of cancers, such as²⁴

• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Ovary cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Melanoma

It suggests a potential role of liver flukes in these cancers.

Related: How To Get Rid Of Liver Flukes Naturally

Summary

Amongst the different types of liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Opisthorchis felineus, are the most aggressive ones, as they can cause bile duct, hepatocellular, and pancreatic carcinoma.

On the other hand, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica can induce lesions and tumors in the liver but have not been reported to cause carcinoma.

At the current state of research, a direct causal link between liver flukes and cancers outside of the hepatobiliary and hepatopancreatic systems has not been demonstrated.

However, the fact that:

• Liver flukes can migrate to other organs
• Several patients with breast or colon cancer also had fascioliasis
• Drugs for liver flukes have anti-cancer effects

suggests that liver flukes may cause cancers other than hepatobiliary or hepatopancreatic cancers.

Nevertheless, further research is needed to confirm or rule out this hypothesis.

The post Do Liver Flukes Cause Cancer? appeared first on Cilantro News.

You will find how to get rid of liver flukes in humans naturally in this article.

What are liver flukes?

Liver flukes belong to a group of parasitic flatworms known as trematodes^3,4.

These parasites live principally in the liver of various mammals, including humans⁴.

They also colonize the bile ducts, gallbladder, and pancreas of their host^4,5 .

Liver flukes affect millions of people worldwide, causing severe health problems¹.

Historically, these parasites have been overlooked as far as human infections are concerned¹.

However, liver fluke infection is now considered a neglected disease^1,2.

Are there different types of liver flukes?

There are two families of human liver flukes^1,6:

Fasciolidae, which comprise:

• Fasciola hepatica
• Fasciola gigantica

Opisthorchiidae, which include:

• Clonorchis sinensis
• Opisthorchis viverrini
• Opisthorchis felineus

What damage do liver flukes do?

Liver flukes can mechanically obstruct your bile ducts, causing chronic inflammation (cholangitis)^2,7.

These parasites are classified as Type 1 carcinogens, as infection can lead to bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)^1,2,8,9.

Furthermore, chronic bile duct obstruction may also lead to pancreatitis^5,7,9,10.     

Related: Do Liver Flukes Cause Cancer?

What are the symptoms of liver fluke infection?

The main symptoms of liver fluke disease are chronic fatigue and abdominal complaints².

Nevertheless, these parasites can induce a variety of other symptoms in humans.

Also, find out *HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE LIVER FLUKES*.

What is the treatment for liver flukes?

Is there a vaccine for liver flukes?

There is no vaccine against liver flukes available for humans^9,11.

What medicine kills liver flukes?

The classic treatment for liver flukes consists in taking an anthelmintic drug.

An anthelmintic drug is a medicine that expels parasitic worms from your body by either stunning or killing them^12,13.

Anthelmintic drugs for the treatment of liver flukes in humans include:

• Triclabendazole^7,14,15
• Albendazole^15,16
• Mebendazole¹⁷
• Praziquantel^18,19,20

Disadvantages of anthelmintic drugs

The downsides of anthelmintic drugs are that:

1. Praziquantel^{7,9,10,14,15,21,22}, albendazole^9,21, and mebendazole⁹ are ineffective against Fasciola species.
2. Praziquantel is also ineffective against the juvenile form of Opisthorchis viverrini²³.
3. Liver flukes show resistance to praziquantel¹⁸, triclabendazole^1,21,24 and albendazole^1,25
4. These drugs can cause moderate or serious adverse effects and toxicity^15,20,26.

Liver flukes and heavy metals

Studies have shown that heavy metals bio-accumulate in liver flukes²⁷.

Furthermore, levels of heavy metals found in liver flukes are higher than in their hosts^27,28.

Benefits of a heavy metal cleanse

Natural remedies that remove heavy metals (such as cadmium, thallium, and arsenic) from the human body have anti-liver fluke properties.

The possible underlying mechanism is that once freed from these heavy metals, the host’s immune system is more effective.

High concentrations of heavy metals have, namely, adverse effects on the immune system^28,30.

As such, the proliferation of parasites is likely due to an impaired host immune response in polluted conditions.

Related: 10 Best Heavy Metal Detox Supplements

How to get rid of liver flukes naturally in humans

Some herbal medicines, foods, and nutritional supplements have shown anti-liver flukes properties in studies.

The benefit of these natural remedies is that they don’t cause any side effects and, as such, can be taken long-term.

If you wonder how to get rid of liver flukes naturally in humans, here is a list of the best remedies to do a cleanse:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are among the strongest liver fluke killer remedies.

They, namely, increase glutathione levels³¹.

Glutathione, in turn, helps your body to get rid of heavy metals³².

Dietary supplements and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include:

Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil is an edible oil obtained by pressing flax seeds.

This oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids essential in the human diet^33,34.

Furthermore, flaxseed oil removes heavy metals from your body.

Studies have shown that dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil reduces the number of Fasciola hepatica worms and eggs thanks to its omega-3 fatty acids content³⁵.

This is because these fatty acids boost your immune response and target pathogens directly³⁵.

Related: 20 Health Benefits Of Flaxseed Oil And Its Side Effects

Spinach juice

Spinach leaves, like other green leafy vegetables, are a good source of alpha-linolenic acid³⁶.

Just like flaxseed oil, spinach juice has anti-fascioliasis properties thanks to its high omega-3 fatty acids content.

Moringa powder

Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, small tree native to the Indian subcontinent³⁷.

Studies have shown that moringa seeds and leaves reduce the number of Fasciola hepatica worms and eggs^38,39,40.

Moringa seeds⁴¹ and leaves^41,42 are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Moreover, the anti-fascioliasis effects of moringa might also be attributed to tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and saponins^38,39,40.

2. Methyl donors

The methylation cycle is a process in your body that, among others, neutralizes heavy metals via the production of glutathione^43,44.

Furthermore, methyl donors are substances that can transfer a methyl group.

Methyl donors and co-factors of the methylation cycle need to be present in sufficient amounts to keep the cycle running.

Hence methyl donors and co-factors of the methylation cycle have anti-liver fluke properties.

They include^45,46,70,71

• Methionine
• Folate (not toxic folic acid)
• Betaine/choline
• Vitamin B2, B3, and B6
• Zinc

3. Vitamins

The use of natural antioxidants, including minerals and vitamins as anthelmintic agents has recently begun to be studied⁴⁷.

Some of them show good anti-parasitic potential.

The possible underlying mechanism is that liver flukes need high levels of vitamins to survive and proliferate⁴⁸.

As a result, they deplete the host’s vitamin A⁴⁹, C⁵⁰, and E⁵¹, diminishing its immune response.

As such, dietary supplementation with high doses of these vitamins restores the host’s defense mechanisms and its ability to get rid of liver flukes.

Vitamin E

A study has shown that vitamin E, α-tocopherol, reduces the number of Fasciola hepatica worms³⁵.

Also, it decreases bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) caused by Opisthorchis viverrini liver flukes⁵¹.

Fresh spinach juice is a rich source of natural vitamin E^68,69.

Vitamin C

Research revealed that vitamin C kills liver fluke-induced bile duct cancer cells⁵².

Consequently, high doses of vitamin C can help you get rid of liver fluke disease.

4. Goldenseal (berberine)

Goldenseal, which scientific name is Hydrastis canadensis, is a perennial plant native to North America.

It is a rich source of isoquinoline alkaloids, including berberine and hydrastine.

A study has shown that berberine has protective effects against blood flukes, another type of flukes⁵³.

Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it increases glutathione levels⁵³.

The herbal medicine goldenseal or its extract berberine are both effective for the treatment of liver flukes.

5. Artemisinin

Artemisia annua and Artemisia ludoviciana are two flowering plants that belong to the Asteraceae family^54,55.

A study has shown that Artemisia annua kills Fasciola hepatica liver flukes⁵⁶.

It also helps to cleanse intestinal and blood flukes⁵⁶.

Furthermore, research revealed that Artemisia ludoviciana (mexicana) has fasciolicidal effects^57,58.

The active component of both plants is artemisinin^56,57.

As a consequence, artemisinin can be used to get rid of liver flukes naturally.

Related: 7 Foods To Avoid When You’re Infected With Parasites

6. Quercetin

Natural antioxidants found in plants such as polyphenols and terpenes have anti-liver fluke effects⁵⁹.

Quercetin is a plant flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables⁶⁰.

Research indicates that quercetin has anthelmintic activity against Opisthorchis felineus⁴⁷.

Also, leaves of the tropical plant bitter melon (momordica charantia) have anti-helminthic activity against Fasciola hepatica eggs thanks to their quercetin content⁶¹.

The herbal medicine bitter melon or quercetin alone can be used for the treatment of liver fluke disease.

Related: Top 13 Foods That Kill Parasites In Humans

7. Turmeric root

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a flowering plant of the Zingiberaceae family^62,63.

The main active substances of turmeric root are curcumin and turmerone^63,64.

Studies have shown that curcumin eliminates Fasciola giganta⁶⁵.

Curcumin also prevents and decreases Opisthorchis viverrini-induced bile duct cancer^66,67.

Related: 17 Health Benefits Of Turmeric And Curcumin

Dosage

• Choose one of the supplements mentioned above.
• Take the smallest possible dosage.
• Wait a few days to see how your body reacts.
• Gradually, increase the amount.
• Later, switch to another supplement.
• Regularly take a break from the treatment to allow your body to evacuate the dead flukes and their toxins.

Related: Pumpkin Seeds For Intestinal Parasites

Liver flukes treatment and side effects

Dead liver flukes tend to remain blocked in your digestive tract if you don’t eat enough fiber.

Good sources of fiber are: plums/prunes or psyllium husk.

Dietary supplements for liver fluke infection may cause a Herxheimer reaction.

Here Is How To Get Rid Of A Herxheimer Reaction Naturally.

Summary: How to get rid of liver flukes naturally

Anthelmintic drugs such as praziquantel, albendazole, mebendazole, and triclabendazole have disadvantages.

Their major drawbacks are inefficacy, resistance, side effects, and toxicity.

If you wonder how to get rid of liver flukes naturally in humans, several remedies can help you.

They work by boosting your immune system or attacking the parasites directly.

Here are the best natural remedies for the treatment of liver flukes in humans:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids
2. Methyl donors
3. Vitamin E and C
4. Artemisinin
5. Quercetin
6. Goldenseal (berberine)
7. Turmeric

Related: An Easy Way To Know If You Have Liver Flukes

The post How To Get Rid Of Liver Flukes Naturally appeared first on Cilantro News.

Find out about 17 symptoms of liver flukes in humans in this article.

Also, discover how to know if you have these parasites.

Liver flukes affect more than 10% of the population¹.

These parasites can wreak havoc on your body with severe possible clinical consequences².

Yet, liver fluke infection remains a neglected disease¹.

What are liver flukes?

Liver flukes are a group of flatworms in the class Trematoda.

They occur in the bile ducts, gallbladder, and liver of various mammals, including humans³.

These parasites are also capable of moving along the blood circulation³.

The two main species of liver flukes are Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica¹.

Together with lung flukes and intestinal flukes, liver flukes form a group known as the “food-borne trematodes”¹.

Geographic distribution

Fasciola hepatica has a wide geographic distribution occurring in all continents except Antarctica and is present in temperate regions of the world¹.

Fasciola gigantica, on the other hand, occurs in more tropical areas of Africa and Asia¹.

What is the most widespread human disease caused by flukes?

Adult liver flukes settle in the bile ducts where they live for about 20 to 30 years².

They cause chronic inflammation of the bile duct system, known as cholangitis^2,4.

This inflammation, in turn, produces epithelial cell proliferation, fibrosis, and bile duct dilatation^2,5.

Most patients are asymptomatic, but individuals with heavy infection suffer from fatigue and nonspecific abdominal complaints².

The complications of liver fluke disease are gallstone formation and biliary tract cancer, known as cholangiocarcinoma^2,5,6.

Related: Do Liver Flukes Cause Cancer?

The function of the gallbladder

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped hollow organ, which lies beneath the liver.

It receives and stores bile, produced by the liver, and releases it into the duodenum, where it helps in the digestion of fats.

Consequences of bile duct obstruction

When liver flukes mechanically obstruct your bile ducts^2,5, bile can no longer run normally from your liver into your gallbladder and duodenum.

Instead, it stagnates in your liver, resulting in a fatty liver.

Also, excess bile then circulates in your bloodstream, causing, sometimes, jaundice and changing the pH environment of other organs.

What are the symptoms of liver flukes in humans?

Although most liver fluke infections are asymptomatic^2,9,10, here are some of the symptoms of this disease in humans:

• Chronic fatigue^2,7,8,9
• Vertigo¹⁰
• Lack of concentration (brain fog), ADHD⁹
• Diarrhea^5,8,9, IBS (constipation/diarrhea)⁹, and flatulance⁸
• Abdominal pain^5,9,11,12
• Instability, irritability, and delusional disorders¹⁰
• Insomnia^9,10
• Anxiety and depression⁹
• Headache (cephalalgia)^9,10,12
• Bile duct stones and gallstones^2,13
• Jaundice^5,12,13,14
• Anorexia^5,8,12,15 and weight loss^11,12,15
• Anemia^5,7,10,15
• Fatty liver⁶
• Esophagitis (GERD)^9,5
• Nausea and vomiting⁵
• Decreased libido⁹

Related: 10 Strongest Candida Killer Supplements

What are the clinical signs of liver flukes in humans?

The clinical signs of liver flukes in humans include:

• A rise in eosinophils (eosinophilia)^5,8,10,12,15
• An increase in liver enzymes¹⁵
• (Low grade) fever^8,12
• Bile duct dilatation^2,5

Characteristics of liver flukes

What are the different stages in the life cycle of the liver fluke?

Fasciola hepatica being a hermaphrodite, it reproduces by itself or with another adult fluke in the bile ducts or gallbladder of its definite host¹⁵.

The parasite then releases its eggs, which escape the host’s body via the feces¹⁵.

When the eggs are laid and come into contact with freshwater, they hatch and release free-swimming larvae, known as miracidia¹⁶.

The miracidia search for a snail and enter into the intermediate host for asexual reproduction¹⁶.

After asexual multiplication, tailed larvae, known as cercariae, emerge from the snail and swim through the water until they locate vegetation¹⁵.

The cercariae encyst on aquatic vegetation, such as watercress, becoming metacercariae, a resting type of larvae^15,17.

The metacercariae are ingested by their definite host through eating or drinking^5,15.

How many hosts will the liver fluke have during its life cycle?

At least two:

1. The intermediate host (the snail)
2. The final host (the mammal or the human)

How many metacercariae does one liver fluke produce?

Adult liver flukes lay between 8000 and 25 000 eggs per day¹⁵.

A single miracidium, in turn, can produce from 10 to 700 metacercariae¹⁵.

What do liver flukes look like?

Adult Fasciola hepatica liver flukes have a flat and leaf-shaped (oval) body^3,5.

They are hermaphrodites, having complete sets of both male and female reproductive systems³.

What do liver flukes feed on?

Liver flukes feed primarily on blood^3,15 but also on bile and liver tissue¹⁵.

They have, therefore, a red color, which turns brown when they die.

What size are liver flukes?

The three main types of liver flukes are the following size^5,9:

Species	Length (in)	Width (in)
Fasciola hepatica	1,2	0,6
Fasciola giganta	3	0,6
Clonorchis sinensis	1	0,2

Do liver flukes have suckers?

The liver fluke has two suckers⁵:

1. A large one on the ventral side that allows it to suction itself to the wall of the bile duct.
2. Another sucker, smaller and more anterior, which it may use to feed on the bile.

Can liver flukes be seen in stool?

When liver flukes are passed in the stool they look like red pieces of rolled up tomato skins.

When the flukes are freshly dead, these “rolled up tomato skins” can be seen, given that they are bright red. They are sometimes mistaken for blood.

However, when the flukes have been dead for a while, these “rolled up tomato skins” are light brown and may, therefore, not be visible in the stool.

Symptoms of liver flukes in humans

*How do I know if I have liver flukes?*

Stools from a healthy individual are brown.

The reason is that when the two pigments of bile, bilirubin, and biliverdin, are mixed with the intestinal content, they give the brown color of feces¹⁸.

On the contrary, if your stools are pale (beige, yellow, or green), it could be a sign of bile duct obstruction¹¹.

Related: 7 Foods To Avoid When You’re Infected With Parasites

How do you get liver flukes?

You can get infected with liver flukes from:

1. Eating uncooked aquatic food, such as watercress^{5,10,12,15,19}.
2. The consumption of raw vegetables and fruits^5,20.
3. Drinking natural water^10,12,15,20.
4. Eating raw or poorly cooked fish^{2,8,9,13,14,15,21}.
5. Eating undercooked meat from herbivorous mammals (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer)^1,5,10,12 .

Related: Top 13 Foods That Kill Parasites In Humans

What are the symptoms of halzoun in humans?

Halzoun syndrome is a rare form of liver fluke disease that occurs in an unusual place, namely, the pharynx.

It is seen in the Middle East, in areas where people eat raw liver⁵.

In this case, the liver flukes attach themselves to the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract causing pharyngitis and, rarely, asphyxia⁵.

How To Get Rid Of Liver Flukes Naturally

Here Is How To Get Rid Of Liver Flukes Naturally.

Summary: Symptoms of liver flukes in humans

Liver flukes are a type of parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda.

The vast majority of individuals infected with this worm are asymptomatic².

Nevertheless, heavily infected individuals may suffer from a wide range of symptoms.

The main symptoms of liver flukes in humans are chronic fatigue and abdominal complaints².

Other symptoms of liver flukes in humans include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Vertigo
• Lack of concentration (brain fog), ADHD
• Diarrhea, IBS (constipation/diarrhea), and flatulance
• Abdominal pain
• Instability, irritability, and delusional disorders
• Insomnia
• Anxiety and depression
• Headache (cephalalgia)
• Bile duct stones and gallstones
• Jaundice
• Anorexia and weight loss
• Anemia
• Fatty liver
• Esophagitis (GERD)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Decreased libido

Related: Pumpkin Seeds For Intestinal Parasites

The post 17 Symptoms Of Liver Flukes In Humans appeared first on Cilantro News.