Lancet flukes (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) start life as eggs found in the dung of cattle. This dung is fed upon by snails which allow the eggs to enter a snail’s intestine. Once inside, the eggs hatch and burrow into the digestive gland of the snail. The flukes reproduce in this gland and are expelled from the snail in slime trails.
Ants happen upon the slime and consume it as a source of moisture thus taking the new flukes into their system. Once inside, the parasite shows an interesting tactic. By controlling nerve centres of the ant, they are able to control its behaviour.
When the sun sets and temperatures drop the ant is compelled to attach itself to a tall blade of grass by its mandibles. Here it waits to be ingested by some grazing animal. If the ant survives the night the sun prompts it to return to the colony and live its life normally, until the next night.
Flukes living within ants are eaten by cattle while grazing. The flukes will enter the digestive system and force their way into the cow’s liver, where they will grow to adults capable of producing eggs. These eggs are then expelled in the dung of cattle to begin their life cycle.
To evidence the presence of flukes in humans a blood test will reveal an elevated white blood cell (eosinophil) count. This is only a general indicator that the host may have other parasites such as roundworm, hookworm, toxocara, pinworms and strongyloides.
Even certain drugs will raise the white blood cell count. Many doctors dismiss the elevated eosinophil count as being caused by allergies, not realising that the primary allergen is the parasite itself.
Urine testing will also evidence blood fluke eggs in the urine sediment. Since the female adult fluke lays her eggs around the anal area, the application of clear tape to the anal area first thing in the morning will recover the eggs of the blood fluke as well as those from beef and pork tapeworm.
Symptoms of lancet fluke infection
- Abdominal pain
- Aching
- Cough
- Diabetes
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Fibrosis
- Hepatitis
- Dizziness
- Jaundice in the case of the liver flukes
- Lethargy
- Liver problems such as abscesses
- Swollen glands
- Urinary problems
Natural remedies for lancet fluke infection
- Black seed
- Cloves
- Gentian root
- Fennel seeds
- Garlic: Take four cloves per day. Crush or finely chop and leave to stand for ten minutes then take with a glass of water or juice or add to a meal.
- Ginger can be grated or sliced and added to herbal teas made from any of the other herbal remedies.
- Grapefruit seed extract
- Green/black walnut husks
- Hyssop leaves
- Oregano
- Peppermint leaves
- Pumpkin seeds
- Thyme leaves
For more natural remedies see: Parasites
Related subjects
- A-Z of antimicrobial plants
- Anaemia
- Dientamoeba fragilis
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Filarial worms
- Flat worm blood fluke
- Giardia lamblia
- Hook worms
- Lyme disease
- Mosquito-borne infections
- Pinworms (threadworms)
- Roundworms
- Skin parasites (lice)
- Tapeworms
- Trichinella spiralis
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