Clonorchis is a genus of parasitic flatworms known as liver flukes belonging to the family Opisthorchiidae. These flukes are responsible for causing clonorchiasis, a disease affecting the liver and bile ducts of humans and some animals.
The genus Clonorchis includes several species, the most well-known being Clonorchis sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese liver fluke. These parasites have a complex life cycle involving intermediate hosts such as freshwater snails and fish. The adult flukes reside in the bile ducts of their definitive hosts, which can be humans, cats, dogs, pigs, and various other fish-eating animals.
Infection occurs when individuals consume undercooked or raw fish containing the infective larvae, known as metacercariae. Once ingested, the larvae develop into adult flukes within the host's bile ducts, causing inflammation, obstruction, and damage to liver tissue. Chronic infection may lead to severe complications such as cholangiocarcinoma, a type of liver cancer.
Symptoms of clonorchiasis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, jaundice, and hepatomegaly. Diagnosis is typically made through the detection of fluke eggs in stool samples or by specialized imaging techniques.
Treatment for clonorchiasis usually involves the use of anthelmintic drugs, such as praziquantel, to eliminate the parasitic infection. Prevention relies on proper cooking of freshwater fish and the avoidance of raw or undercooked fish dishes in areas where clonorchiasis is endemic.
