Liver Fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis)
Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis are liver flukes of fish-eating animals including dogs,
cats and humans across Asia. Liver flukes are transmissible to humans.
– Parasite: Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis
– Common name: Southeast Asian liver fluke, Chinese or Oriental liver fluke
– Host: fish-eating animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, and humans.
– Incubation period: 3–4 weeks
– Site of adult worms: bile ducts, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic duct
– Distribution: Southeast Asia and the Far East
– Route of transmission: eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish infected with metacercariae
– Transmission to humans: Yes
– Distribution
O. viverrini has been reported in Thailand, Laos, central Vietnam and Cambodia, while C.
sinensis has been reported in Korea, China, Taiwan and northern Vietnam.
– Clinical signs
In most cases, liver fluke infection in dogs is asymptomatic. When clinical signs do
appear, they include lethargy, diarrhea and dehydration. Migrating immature flukes
can cause inflammation of the liver and acute pancreatitis.
– Diagnosis
Diagnosis of liver fluke infection in dogs is based on detecting the characteristic operculated eggs, with
a fully developed miracidium inside, via fecal sedimentation testing.
– Control
Owners should never feed dogs raw or undercooked freshwater fish. For more control
options, refer to the General Notes & Recommendations section.
– Public health considerations
People become infected with liver flukes by eating undercooked fish infected with metacercariae. Dogs can
act as a reservoir for human infection by contaminating the environment with liver fluke eggs. Most
infected people are asymptomatic; however, chronic infection can lead to biliary disease,
liver disease, and bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).
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