Opisthorchis felineus (syn. tenuicollis)

Name

Greek: opisten = posterior position; orchis = testis. Latin: felis = catfish. English: cat liver fluke; however, several other fish eating animals are infected, too.

Geographic Distribution/Epidemiology

North East Europe, focally: in countries of the former UDSSR, India, Indo-China, Japan. In total about 10 millions of humans are infected; the parasite was already found in fresh water fish ponds around Berlin, Germany.

Morphology/Life Cycle

The adult hermaphroditic worms measure 8–12 mm × 2–3 mm and are able to stretch themselves in length and width (Fig. 1). These worms can be easily differentiated from Clonorchis sinensis by help of their two testes, which are lobulated without deep imaginations. The anterior testis forms four lobes, and the posterior five (Fig. 1). The life cycle runs like that of Clonorchis sinensis or O. viverrini; however, snails of the genus Bythinia (syn. Bulimus) are first intermediate hosts, and carps and related species act as second intermediate hosts...