Clonorchis sinensis is found in Asia only. When the eggs reach water, they are eaten by a freshwater snail. Out of the snail, the miracidia emerges>becomes free swimming cercariae where it enters the scales of freshwater fish.
- Clonorchis sinensis is found in Asia only. When the eggs reach water, they are eaten by a freshwater snail. Out of the snail, the miracidia emerges>becomes free swimming cercariae where it enters the scales of freshwater fish.
- A cyprinoid fish is the second intermediate host. People get infected with Clonorchis by eating raw or poorly cooked , smoked or pickled fish.
- The adult flikes live in the bile ducts. They are 1-2 cm long and 3-5 mm wide. It is estimated that 4000 eggs are produced per day per worm. They can live 30-40 years in the host.
- The characteristic C. sinensis egg as seen in feces. Note operculum and aboopercilar knob. Infection with Clonorchis sinensis has been associated with bile duct cancer.
- The adult Fasciola hepatica also known as the sheep liver fluke. It is found in sheep raising countries worldwide. It is an important disease in parts of Latin America and Europe. It can cause massive economic loss in the livestock industry.
- The eggs of Fasciola are difficult to differentiate from Fasciolopsis buski. People get infected by eating uncooked watercress and water lettuce in salads for example. Heavy infections can cause bile duct obstruction and cirrhosis.
- In the life cycle of the giant intestinal fluke, Fasciolopsis buski's life cycle includes a snail and then the cercariae in water encysts on certain water plants. Found in China, Taiwan, Thailand and India.
- The most important water plant for transmission of F. buski is the water caltrop. These are taken out of the water and peeled with the teeth where the infectious metacercariae are released in the mouth.
- The adult F. buski are large and can cause intestinal bleeding and ulceration. Large amounts of worms can block the intestines. Toxemia is also a problem when the worms are absorbed. They can live for 1 year in the human host.
- Large oval, thin shelled unembryonated eggs are difficult to differentiate from F. hepatica.
- Eggs of Paragonimus westermani (oriental lung fluke) are either find there way to water through feces or passed in sputum. The eggs hatch>snail>miricidium. free swimming cercariae> second intermediate host: crustaceans like crabs or crayfish.
- People get infected by eating raw or incompletely cooked crabs or crayfish Juice from crab used for seasoning, traditional medicine China- drunken crabs Korea- soak in soy sauce Thai- raw crayfish salad Philippines- incomplete roasting Africa- raw crabs and juice for fertility
- Adult flukes are found in pairs in the lungs. They are coffee bean in appearance. A rusty-brown sputum and chest pain are characteristic symptoms.
- The characteristic eggs can be found in stool and sputum. Paragonimus westermani is found throughout Asia.
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