Definition
noun
A liver fluke species belonging to the family Opisthorchiidae of the Class Trematoda, and endemic in Japan, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia
Supplement
Clonorchis sinensis is one of the trematode species that parasitize humans. Other parasitic trematode species of humans are Paragonimus westermani and Fasciola hepatica. These three species are classified as tissue flukes to separate them from the blood flukes, e.g. Schistosoma spp. Clonorchis sinensis is a tissue fluke that infests the liver of its definitive host. It is endemic in Japan, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia. Hence, it is commonly referred to as oriental liver fluke.
Clonorchis sinensis is also found in the gall bladder and the common bile duct, feeding on the bile. It is the causative agent of clonorchiasis to its definitive host. In humans, this parasite can cause liver enlargement, diarrhea, edema, cholangitis, cholangiocarcinoma, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, etc.
Apart from humans, fish-eating animals are also its host. The species makes use of operculate snails as its primary intermediate hosts and Cyprinoid fish as its second intermediate host.
Clonorchis sinensis is also called Opisthorchis sinensis.
Scientific classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Platyhelminthes
- Class: Trematoda
- Order: Opisthorchiida
- Family: Opisthorchiidae
- Genus: Clonorchis
- Species: C. sinensis
Other common name(s):
See also:
