Opisthorchis sinensis

 

 Chinese liver fluke

 

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/lunarcaustic/2246777715/

 

Physiology and Structure

  • Its lifecycle involves 2 intermediate hosts.
  • It differs from other fluke cycles.
  • Its hosts would mainly be freshwater fish. 
  • Upon consumption, flukes develop first in the duodenum and migrate to the bile ducts where they become adults.
  • They are able to live in the binary tract for up to 50 years and produce approximately 2000 eggs per day.

 

Life cycle

 

 

 

https://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5970e/y5970e04.jpg

 

Clinical Syndromes

  • Infection in humans is usually mild and asymptomatic.
  • Severe infection with many flukes in the bile duct would lead to fever, diarrhea, epigastric pain, hepatomegaly, anorexia and occasionally jaundice.
  • Biliary obstruction, chronic infection may occur.

 

Treatment, Prevention and Control

  • Prevention of infection is done by not consuming uncooked fish, having proper sanitation and the proper disposal of feces.

 

 

 

 

 

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Parasite is defined as an organism that derives its nutrients from another living organism, the host. Parasitic diseases are usually referred to those caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods which love at the expense of their host. Successful parasites are the ones who are able to maintain their own life processes without killing their host.

Several ways to distinguish parasites infection and bacteria/viruses infection:

  1. Parasites have a complex life cycle that involves the formation of resistant cyst in the organism. (it can usually survive for long periods outside the host.)
  2. Life cycle might involve an insect vector (carrier) that is important for the transmission of disease. In most cases, it is impossible to eliminate the vector effectively.
  3. Some parasites are capable of infecting both humans and animals, thus both can act as reservoirs for the infection. This is true for most protozal infections carried by insects.
  4. Many parasites has life cycle that requires enough time to allow for the various stages to mature, either in soil or in an insect or host.