Carcinogenic Human Liver Fluke: Current Status of Opisthorchis viverrini Metacercariae in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public-health problem in Southeast Asia. It isassociated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases and the evidence strongly indicates that liver fluke infectionis the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate Opisthorchis viverrinimetacercarial infection in cyprinoid fish collected from 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, NortheasternThailand during one year period from February 2010 to February 2011.
Methods: A cross-sectional study wasconducted, data being collected with pepsin-HCl digestion and stereomicroscope, respectively. Analysis wasperformed using SPSS Windows Version 12.0.
Results: A total of 640 Cyprinidae family fish including 5 specieswere collected from different study sites, and investigated for O. viverrini metacercariae. The infection rate was12.3% (79/640), predominantly in Cyclocheilichthys armatus, C. repasson, Puntioplites proctzysron, Hampalamacrolepitota and Hampala dispar, respectively. The prevalence of O. viverrini metaceria in Nakhon Ratchasimaarea was 78.1%, predominantly in Sida and KiaKham Thale So.
Conclusion: This findings stress that naturalfish species in rural communities are still a source of O viverrini infection and put local people at risk, thereforepublic awareness and prevention campaigns are urgently required.