Review

Parasitosonography: Appearances of Ascaris lumbricoides, Colon taeniasis, Cysticercus cellulosae Schistosoma haematobuim, Drancunculus medinesis and Echinococcus granulosus infestations

A. C. Ugwu¹, C. C. Ohagwu², A. C. Anakwue³ and O. F. Erondu⁴

¹Radiography Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Radiography, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

³Department of Medical Radiography, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Physics, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: tonybullng@yahoo.ca. Tel: 0807624 1297.

Accepted 24 October, 2008

This paper is intended to improve the knowledge of sonographers and clinicians on the potentials of ultrasound in the assessment of appearances and immunopathological reactions that are caused by parasitic infestations. Sonograpic appearances in and of Schistosoma haematobium, Ascaris lumbricoides, Colon taeniasis, Cysticercus cellulosae, Dracunculus medinesis and Echinococcus granulosus infestation were reviewed. Pertinent sonographic features were pointed out. Ultrasonography plays an important role in establishing the diagnoses of S. haematobium, A. lumbricoides, C. taeniasis and C. cellulosae infestation. Ultrasonography is used in visualizing calcified D. medinesis in muscles and evaluation of echinococcal infestations. The use of ultrasonography in evaluation of some parasitic infestation benefits from an understanding of multiple sonographic appearances (echinococcosis) and the immunological changes associated with the death of parasites in the muscle (cysticercosis)

Key words: Parasitosonography, Schistosoma haematobium, Ascaris lumbricoides, Colon taeniasis, Cysticercus cellulosae, Dracunculus medinesis, Echinococcus granulosus.