Is Ligula intestinalis Really a Probable Threat for Public Health

Ligulosis is occurred by a pseudophyllidean cestoda and cosmopolitan fish tapeworm named Ligula intestinalis. The parasite is a permanent pathogen for native as well as wild fish as intermediate host in which the parasite usually develops to a plerocercoid. If the piscivorous birds as final hosts ingest the infected fish, the parasites are located in their intestines (Ahmadiara, 2013). Despite high prevalence of ligulosis that has beenreported in different water resources (lake, river, etc.) of Iran from variant fish host (Ahmadi Ara et al., 2013; Bozorgnia et al., 2016; Rahmati-Holasoo et al., 2011), there is still no convenient control programs by health organizations. Therefore, it assumed to be too necessaryto find an appropriate solution to control this widespread freshwater resource parasite. If L. intestinalis is really a food-borne parasite or not isnot exactly clear. Anyway, since there are few reports of human ligulosis infection (Eslami, 2006), more attempts by researchers should be remarked to evaluate its pathogenicity in human and probable role of fish and freshwater resources in transmission of the parasite to human. Tothis purpose, animal and experimental trial studies are recommended.