Diphyllobothrium latum Sushi

itadakimasu!

TAPE WORMS: Diphyllobothrium latum. Ugh. I always found it kind of gross that these tape worm segments (proglottids) break off into your stools, releasing all those little eggs. We were told by our hematopathologist professor that you can get this tapeworm from eating raw fish. Because I really like sushi, this kind of disturbs me. It doesn't stop me from eating sushi though, just like how all the coronary artery disease lectures haven't stopped me from eating fried chicken and pizza.

The relevance behind Diphyllobothrium is its relationship to vitamin B12 deficiency (vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin). This tape worm will end up absorbing all the body's B12, which will eventually lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency induced macrocytic anemia characterized by the presence of megaloblasts and hypersegmented neutrophils. Remember, B12 is an important for DNA synthesis and is needed in the enzymes L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase. You will see elevated levels of both L-methylmalonyl-CoA and homocysteine in a vitamin B12 deficient patient.