Opisthorchis felineus

The cat liver fluke ( Opisthorchis felineus ) is a parasite that infects fish-eating mammals, including cat, otter, fox. He is disease-inducing for humans.

Dissemination

He is often to be found in Russia and Eastern Europe to standing and slowly flowing waters. In some areas it is endemic; it affects up to 80% of the population. In Germany it is found throughout the eastern Brandenburg.

Features

Like all flukes he is oval and quite wide and reaches a length of up to 13 millimeters.

Life cycle

The eggs must be after the departure reach into the water and there are already embryoniert. They sink to the bottom and be of a front gills snail ( Bithynia leacti ) was added. In the snail make it through a redia development. After immature cercariae are formed which remain some time in the screw before they leave them. In the water they occupy a floating position. The body depends on the stationary tail like a pendulum. In this position, quick on and off and so attract fish (mostly carps) to. These fish are now the second intermediate host. There they encapsulate a connective tissue in the skin and muscle tissue. If the fish is now taken up by the definitive host, the Metacercarie in the intestine can be free and wander through the duodenum through the ductus cholchedochus in liver, bile and pancreatic ducts.

Harmful effect

Symptoms occur only at infestation of over a hundred leeches. The bile ducts are thickened, there is deposition of connective tissue in the region of the portal vein. Bile duct inflammation, gallstones, and jaundice have been observed. He is also considered a factor in the onset of bile duct cancer.

Prevention

The encysted metacercariae are quite resistant to salting, marinating or drying and even survive at refrigerator temperatures. Therefore, by cooking the fish is essential in risk areas.