Page 209 - parasitology for medical and clinical laboratoryprofessionals

Intestinal Trematodes 189

OPISTHORCHIS FELINEUS
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) frequently infect humans and is spread largely around the
This organism is known as a “cat liver fluke,” hence the
name of “felineus” from the word feline. The disease does

world. It was not until 1931 that the life cycle of this or-
ganism was defined but it was first discovered in 1884 by
Sebastiano Rivolta of Italy (Figure 8-4). K. N. Vinogradov,
a Russian scientist, in 1891 found the disease in a human
victim and named the parasite after the region where he
was performing his work by giving it the common name
of “Siberian liver fluke.” O. felineus is found mainly in
Europe and Asia, including the former Soviet Union.
FIGURE 8-3 Structural features of a Clonorchis
sinensis egg
Morphology
Treatment and Prevention
Opisthorchis felineus adult flukes are 5.5 to 10 mm in
The administration of praziquantel is the basic drug length and 0.8 to 1.5 mm in width, and the testes of this
used for this infection. Prevention, as in most parasitic species are not as deeply branched as those of C sinensis.
infections, requires good personal and food prepara- The ova of Opisthorchis spp. range from 19 to 30 μm
tion sanitation, and the ingestion of only thoroughly in length by 10 to 20 μm in width. They are often in-
cooked fish. distinguishable from the eggs of Clonorchis sinensis.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

FIGURE 8-4 Life cycle of Opisthorchis felineus