CLONORCHIS BIOLOGY

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Biology
Resouces for Health Professionals
Heterophyes Species
Metagonimus Species

Clonorchis is a liver fluke that can infect the liver, gallbladder and bile duct in humans. Found across parts of Asia, it is also known as the Chinese or oriental liver fluke. Humans become infected when eating the parasite containing cysts within infected raw or undercooked fish, crabs, or crayfish. Clonorchis can be treated by medication through your health professional.

BIOLOGY

Causal Agent
The trematode Clonorchis sinensis (Chinese or oriental liver fluke).

Life Cycle:

Embryonated eggs are discharged in the biliary ducts and in the stool. Eggs are ingested by a suitable snail intermediate host. Each egg releases a miracidia, which go through several developmental stages, and cercariae. The cercariae are released from the snail and after a short period of free-swimming time in water, they come in contact and penetrate the flesh of freshwater fish, where they encyst as metacercariae. Infection of humans occurs by ingestion of undercooked, salted, pickled, or smoked freshwater fish. After ingestion, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum and ascend the biliary tract through the ampulla of Vater. Maturation takes approximately 1 month. The adult flukes (measuring 10 to 25 mm by 3 to 5 mm) reside in small and medium sized biliary ducts. In addition to humans, carnivorous animals can serve as reservoir hosts.

Life cycle image and information courtesy of DPDx.

For more information view the source: Center for Disease Control

Recommended Test: Full GI Panel

Recommended Product: Freedom Cleanse Restore Parasite Cleanse