Opisthorchis

Epidemiology

• inhabits the biliary system of humans & other fish-eating animals including dogs & cats
• acquired through ingestion of infectious metacercariae in raw or undercooked freshwater fish
• larvae migrate up into the liver bile ducts where they grow up to 25 mm in length
• the parasites may live 20 years
• they produce small eggs which are shed into the bile & subsequently passed in the stools

Clinical manifestations

• infections are often asymptomatic
• large numbers of flukes may cause inflammation of the bile ducts, hyperplasia, fibrosis & hepatic cirrhosis

Diagnostic criteria

• recovery of small, brown, embryonate, operculate eggs from feces
• eggs are 30 x 12 um

Complications

cholangiocarcinoma linked to longterm infection

Management

• praziquantel 25 mg/kg TID for 1 day

More general terms

• Opisthorchidae

More specific terms

• opisthorchiasis
• Opisthorchis felineus
• Opisthorchis guayaquilensis (Amphimerus pseudofelineus)
• Opisthorchis viverrini