Sparganosis occurs when the larva of the cestode genus Spirometra invades a human as a dead-end host. The larva may be acquired from a number of sources.
Sources of larvae:
(1) drinking contaminated water (with ingestion of an infected Cyclops, a minute crustacean)
(2) eating an infected creature raw
(2a) frog or tadpole
(2b) bird
(2c) snake
(2d) small mammal
(2e) fish
Prevention:
(1) Filter and boil drinking water.
(2) Avoid eating or handling raw flesh of any kind.
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