Examination of the original descriptions of genera placed within the family Opisthorchiidae has revealed that only 33 of the original 43 genera are valid members of this family. Further study of these descriptions should also reveal that many of the subfamilies are also invalid. With reference to the original descriptions of these genera, and subsequent literature, a brief survey of the family has been compiled. Information on the spectrum of definitive hosts that these helminths parasitize is provided, as well as information on the life cycles, geographic distribution, and socioeconomic impacts of the family. More in-depth information is given on those species that are of particular medical importance; namely, Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, and O. felineus. The final aims of this review are to provide information on the entire genera of the family Opisthorchiidae, which will aid understanding of the phylogenetic relationships not only within the family, but also within the Class Trematoda.

Institute of Parasitology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Branisovská 31 37005 Ceské Budĕjovice Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Adam R, Arnold H, Hinz E, Storch V. Morphology and ultrastructure of the redia and pre-emergent cercaria of Opisthorchis viverrini (Trematoda: Digenea) in the intermediate host Bithynia siamensis goniophalus (Prosobranchia: Bithyniidae) Appl Parasitol. 1995;36:136–154. PubMed

Bisseru B, Chong LK. Opisthorchis viverrini (Poirer, 1886) a trematode parasite of man in west Malaysia. Trop Geogr Med. 1969;21:138–146. PubMed

Brooks DR, O'Grady RT, Glen DR. Phylogenetic analysis of the Digenea (Platyhelminthes: Cercomeria) with comments on their adaptive radiation. Can J Zool. 1985;63:411–443.

Cribb TH, Bray RA, Littlewood TJ, Pichelin SP, Herniou EA. Interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes. UK: Taylor & Frances; 2001. The Digenea.

Cable RM. Behavioural aspects of parasite transmission. London, UK: Academic Press Inc.; 1972. Behaviour of digenetic Trematodes.

Chen M, Hua X, Wan Z, et al. Praziquantel in 237 cases of clonorchiasis sinensis. China Med J. 1983;96:935–940. PubMed

de Queiroz A, Donoghue MJ, Kim J. Separate versus combined analysis of phylogenetic evidence. Annu Rev Ecol Sys. 1995;26:657–681.

Ditrich O, Giboda M, Štrba J. Species determination of eggs of opisthorchiid and heterophyid flukes using scanning electron microscopy. Angew Parasitol. 1990;31:3–9. PubMed

Ditrich O, Scholz T, Giboda M. Occurrence of some medically important flukes (Trematoda: Opisthorchiidae & Heterophyidae) in Nam Ngum water reservoir, Laos. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1990;21:482–488. PubMed

Ditrich O, Giboda M, Scholz T, Beer SA. Comparative morphology of eggs of the Haplorchiinae (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) and some other medically important heterophyid and opisthorchiid flukes. Folia Parasitol. 1992;39:123–132. PubMed

Ditrich O, Našincova V, Scholz T, Giboda M. Larval stages of medically important flukes (Trematoda) from Vientiane Province, Laos. Part II. Cercariae. Ann Parasit Hum Comp. 1992;67:75–81. PubMed

Fan PC. Viability of metacercaria of Clonorchis sinensis in frozen or salted freshwater fish. Int J Parasitol. 1998;28:603–605. PubMed

Haswell-Elkins MR, Sithithaworn P, Elkins D. Opisthorchis viverrini and cholangiocarcinoma in Northeastern Thailand. Parasitol Today. 1992;8:86–89. PubMed

Hong ST, Yoon K, Lee M, et al. Control of clonorchiasis by repeated praziquantel treatment and low diagnostic efficacy of sonography. Korean J Parasitol. 1998;36:249–254. PubMed PMC

Ivanov VM, Semenova NN. Parasitological consequences of animal introduction. Russ J Ecol. 2000;31:281–283.

Joo CY, Chung MS, Kim SJ, Kang CM. Changing patterns of Clonorchis sinensis infections in Kyongbuk, Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 1997;35:155–164. PubMed

Kassai T. Veterinary Helminthology. UK: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1999.

La Rue GR. Host-parasite relations among the digenetic trematodes. J Parasitol. 1951;37:333–342. PubMed

Lee JH, Yang HM, Bak UB, Rim HJ. Promoting role of Clonorchis sinensis infection on induction of cholangiocarcinoma during two-step carcinogenesis. Korean J Parasitol. 1994;32:13–18. PubMed

Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD. Human liver flukes: a review. Rev Iber Parasitol. 1997;57:145–218.

Murrell KD, Cross JH, Harinasuta C. A landmark in food-borne parasitic zoonoses. Parasitol Today. 1991;7:68–69.

Pearson JC. On the position of the digenean family Heronimidae: an inquiry into a cladistic classification of the Digenea. Syst Parasitol. 1992;21:81–166.

Radomyos B, Wongsaroj T, Wilairatama P, et al. Opisthorchiasis and intestinal fluke infections in northern Thailand. Southeast Asian J Tropl Med Public Health. 1998;29:123–127. PubMed

Rim HJ, Farag HF, Sornmani S, Cross JH. Food-borne trematodes: Ignored or emerging. Parasitol Today. 1994;10:207–209.

Rim HJ, Lyu KS, Lee JS, Joo KH. Clinical evaluation of the theraputic efficacy of praziquantel (Embay 8440) against Clonorchis sinensis infection in man. Annal Trop Med Parasitol. 1981;75:27–33. PubMed

Roberts LS, Janovy J., Jr . Foundations of Parasitology. 5th Edition. USA: Wm C Brown Publishers; 1996.

Shimalov VV, Shimalov VT, Shimalov AV. Helminth fauna of otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758) in Belorussian Polesie. Parasitol Res. 2000;86:528. PubMed

Skrjabin KI, Petrov AM. Osnovy trematodologii. Vol. 4. Moscow: Nauka; 1950. Superfamily Opisthorchoidea Faust, 1929. Trematodes of man and animals.

Sornmani S, Vivantanaseth P, Bunnag T, Intarakhao C, Harinasuta C. A study on the pattern of socioeconomic and health status in relation to parasitic diseases in the inhabitants around Ubolratana Dam in Northeast Thailand. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1973;4:421–434. PubMed

Smyth JD. The Physiology of Trematodes. UK: University Reviews in Biology; 1973.

Smyth JD. Introduction to Animal Parasitology. 3rd Edition. UK: Cambridge University Press; 1994.

Tinga N, Van De N, Viet Vien H, et al. Little effect of praziquantel or arteminisinin on clonorchiasis in northern Vietnam. A pilot study. Trop Med Int Health. 1999;4:814–818. PubMed

Yamaguti S. Systema Helminthum Vol I Digenetic Trematodes. New York: Interscience Publishers Inc.; 1958.

Yamaguti S. Synopsis of Digenetic Trematodes of Vertebrates. Vol. I, II. Japan: Keigaku Publishing Co.; 1971.

Yamaguti S. A Synoptical Review of Life Histories of Digenetic Trematodes of Vertebrates. Japan: Keigaku Publishing Co.; 1975.

Yu S-H. Control of parasitic diseases in China: current status and prospects. China Med J. 1996;109:259–265. PubMed

Wykoff DE, Harinasuta C, Juttijudata P, Winn MM. Opisthorchis viverrini in Thailand-The life cycle and comparison with O. felineus. J Parasitol. 1965;51:207–214. PubMed