Opisthorchis felineus

{{Short description|Species of fluke}}

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{{Speciesbox

| image = Opisthorchis felineus Korea.jpg

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| genus = Opisthorchis

| species = felineus

| authority = (Rivolta, 1884) Blanchard, 1895

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Opisthorchis felineus, the Siberian liver fluke or cat liver fluke, is a trematode parasite that infects the liver in mammals. It was first discovered in 1884 in a cat's liver by {{ill|Sebastiano Rivolta|it}} of Italy. In 1891, Russian parasitologist, {{ill|Konstantin Nikolaevich Vinogradov|ru|Виноградов, Константин Николаевич}} (1847–1906){{cite journal |pmid=4573523 |year=1972 |last1=Ageev |first1=A. K. |title=Konstantin Nikolaevich Vinogradov (on the 125th anniversary of his birth) |journal=Arkhiv Patologii |volume=34 |issue=10 |pages=85–9 }} found it in a human, and named the parasite a "Siberian liver fluke". In the 1930s, helminthologist Hans Vogel of Hamburg published an article describing the life cycle of Opisthorchis felineus.[https://web.archive.org/web/20030923204125/http://www15.bni-hamburg.de/bni/bni2/neu2/getfile.acgi?area_engl=history&pid=132] Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine

Felineus infections may also involve the pancreatic ducts. Diagnosis of Opisthorchis infection is based on microscopic identification of parasite eggs in stool specimens. Safe and effective medication is available to treat Opisthorchis infections. Adequately freezing or cooking fish will kill the parasite.

Distribution

Distribution of Opisthorchis felineus include: Spain, Italy, Albania, Greece, France, North Macedonia, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Russia, Turkey, and Caucasus.{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.013 |pmid=16143336 |title=Fish-borne parasitic zoonoses: Status and issues |journal=International Journal for Parasitology |volume=35 |issue=11–12 |pages=1233–54 |year=2005 |last1=Chai |first1=Jong-Yil |last2=Darwin Murrell |first2=K. |last3=Lymbery |first3=Alan J. }}

Life cycle

File:Opisthorchis LifeCycle.gif of the cat liver fluke]]

The first intermediate hosts of the parasite are freshwater snails:

The second intermediate hosts are freshwater fish: Leuciscus idus, Tinca tinca, Abramis brama, white-eye bream Ballerus sapa, Barbus barbus, common carp Cyprinus carpio, Blicca bjoerkna, Leuciscus idus, Alburnus alburnus, Aspius aspius, and common rudd Scardinius erythropthalmus.

The definitive hosts are fish-eating mammals such as dogs, foxes, cats, rats, pigs, rabbits, seals, lions, wolverines, martens, polecats and humans.

Effect on human health

It is estimated that 1.5 million people in Russia are infected with the parasite. Inhabitants of Siberia acquire the infection by consuming raw, slightly salted and frozen fish.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Opisthorchiasis, the disease caused by Opisthorchis felineus, ranges in severity from asymptomatic infection to severe illness. Patient outcome is dependent on early detection and treatment.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Human cases of opisthorchiasis may affect the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder. If not treated in the early stages, opisthorchiasis may cause cirrhosis of the liver and increased risk of liver cancer, but may be asymptomatic in children.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Two weeks after flukes enter the body, the parasites infect the biliary tract. Symptoms of infection include fever, general felling of tiredness, skin rash, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Severe anemia and liver damage may also incapacitate the infected person for 1–2 months. Treatment of opisthorchiasis is generally with a single dose of praziquantel.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|refs =

Blanchard, R. (1895). Séance du 26 Novembre 1895. Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France 20: 217. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3083730 Text] on biodiversitylibrary.org.

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