The Role of Zoonotic Helminths in Causing Cancer

Helminths infection is very significant worldwide, so millions of people worldwide are currently infected or exposed to these infection. The carcinogenicity of parasites is difficult to demonstrate because of their complex life cycle and asymptomatic latent period.This study examines the role of zoonotic worm infections in carcinogenesis. Both parasitic infections and cancer has complex natural histories and long latent periods in which multiple exogenous and endogenous factors work to obscure causation. While only three worms, Schistosoma haematobium, Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis are definitively carcinogenic to humans, other parasites play a role in facilitating malignant transformation. Helminth-induced cancer is caused through mechanisms that involve modulation of chronic inflammation of the host immune system, inhibition of intracellular communication, disruption of proliferative-antiproliferative pathways, induction of genomic instability, and malignant stimulation.Despite the fact that the information available indicates that this helminths are carcinogenic, the main cause and connection between worms and cancer are still unknown.