Kaewpitoon N, Kaewpitoon SJ, Pengsaa P, Sripa B. Opisthorchis viverrini: The carcinogenic human liver fluke. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(5): 666-674 [PMID: 18205254 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.666]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Natthawut Kaewpitoon, Research and Diagnostic Center for Parasitic Infectious Diseases, Northeastern Region, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Rajathanee University, Warin Chamrap District, Ubonratchathani Province 34190, Thailand. natthawut.k@ubu.ac.th
Article-Type of This Article
Review
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Natthawut Kaewpitoon, Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Rajathanee University, Warin Chamrap District, Ubonratchathani Province 34190, Thailand
Soraya J Kaewpitoon, Prasit Pengsaa, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Rajathanee University, Ubonratchathani Province 34190, Thailand
Banchob Sripa, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, and The liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen Province 40001, Thailand
Correspondence to: Natthawut Kaewpitoon, Research and Diagnostic Center for Parasitic Infectious Diseases, Northeastern Region, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Rajathanee University, Warin Chamrap District, Ubonratchathani Province 34190, Thailand. natthawut.k@ubu.ac.th
Telephone: +66-4535-3909
Fax: +66-4535-3901
Received: September 5, 2007 Revised: October 13, 2007 Published online: February 7, 2008
Abstract
Opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis viverrini remains a major public health problem in many parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia. The infection is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases, including cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, hepatomegaly, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. Multi-factorial etiology of cholangiocarcinoma, mechanical damage, parasite secretions, and immunopathology may enhance cholangiocarcinogenesis. Moreover, both experimental and epidemiological evidences strongly implicate liver fluke infection as the major risk factor in cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile ducts. The liver fluke infection is induced by eating raw or uncooked fish products that is the tradition and popular in the northeastern and northern region, particularly in rural areas, of Thailand. The health education programs to prevent and control opisthorchiasis are still required in the high-risk areas.
