Q. What are the most important worm infections?

The most significant human worm infections are taeniasis, schistosomiasis, cysticercosis, ascariasis and ancylostomiasis (hookworm infection). Other significant worm infections caused by platyhelminthes are fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica, which attacks the liver and the bile ducts hydatid disease, as well known as echinococcosis, caused by a taenia-like parasite and transmitted by feces of dogs in contact with sheep, with a clinical picture similar to cysticercosis. Other significant infections caused by roundworms are strongyloidiasis, agent Strongyloides stercoralis, a common opportunistic disease in AIDS filariasis, as well known as elephantiasis, transmitted by mosquitoes of the Culex genus, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and other thread-like worms and manifested by obstruction and fibrosis of lymphatic vessels that cause swelling (lymphedema) of limbs enterobiasis (pinworm infection), caused by Enterobius vermicularis, a worm that parasites the colon and the human perianal region cutaneous larva migrans, an ancylostomiasis of the skin caused by Ancylostoma braziliensis.