S. japonicum hepatosplenic disease — DTM&H MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: D — Schistosoma japonicum
The organism is Schistosoma japonicum. The key discriminators are residence/exposure in the Philippines, intestinal schistosomiasis with bloody diarrhoea, and hepatosplenic disease causing periportal fibrosis, hepatosplenomegaly and portal hypertension. S. japonicum is the schistosome classically endemic in the Philippines and its eggs are passed in stool; they are oval/rounded with a small, often inconspicuous lateral spine/knob. S. mansoni also causes intestinal/hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and has a prominent lateral spine, but its geographical distribution is not the Philippines. S. haematobium causes urinary schistosomiasis and has terminal-spined eggs. Fasciola hepatica and Clonorchis sinensis are biliary/liver flukes with operculated eggs, not schistosome eggs with spines.
Reference: National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC/TravelHealthPro). Schistosomiasis factsheet, current online guidance: states that Schistosoma japonicum occurs in China, Indonesia and the Philippines, and that chronic S. mansoni/S. japonicum infection can cause liver scarring and portal hypertension. https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/28/schistosomiasis