Opisthorchis viverrini and opisthorchiasis: a historical review and future perspective

Opisthorchiasis is caused by the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. The fluke afflicts approximately seven million inhabitants in northeastern and northern Thailand. The fluke utilizes, respectively, freshwater snails and cyprinoid fish as its first and second intermediate hosts. Man is the accidental definitive host who acquires infection through the consumption of improperly cooked fish. Information pertaining to the history, the life-cycle, the epidemiology and transmission dynamics, and diagnosis of the fluke is compiled and presented.