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Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council,
Town Hall, Coton Road,
Nuneaton, Warwickshire,
CV11 5AA.
Town Hall, Coton Road,
Nuneaton, Warwickshire,
CV11 5AA.
Tel: 024 7637 6376
Food Matters
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Spud's Down to Earth Advice on...OPISTHORCHIS FELINEUS (cat liver fluke) |
| Opisthorchis felineus is found mainly in Europe (particularly Russia) and Asia. It is rare in the UK. Infection with the parasite is termed opisthorchiasis.
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Life Cycle The adult flukes deposit fully developed eggs that are passed in the faeces. The parasite has a complicated life cycle involving two intermediate hosts - firstly snails and then freshwater carp-like fish. In the latter, infective larvae migrate to the muscles or under the scales, and encyst there. The mammalian definitive host (cats, dogs, and various fish-eating mammals including humans) become infected by ingesting undercooked fish containing the cysts. After ingestion, the cysts develop in the intestines and travel to the biliary ducts, where they attach and develop into adults which lay eggs after 3 to 4 weeks.
The adult flukes measure 7 mm - 12 mm by 2 mm - 3 mm and live in the biliary and pancreatic ducts of the mammalian host. |
SymptomsMost infections are asymptomatic i.e. infected people do not show symptoms.In mild cases, symptoms include:
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ControlThe control of infection by this parasite can be achieved by not eating raw or undercooked carp-like fish. |
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