Opisthorchis

Genus of digenetic trematodes (family Opisthorchiidae) found in the bile ducts or gallbladder of fish-eating mammals, birds, and fish. [opistho- + G. orchis, testis]

- O. felineus the cat liver fluke, a species frequently found as a human parasite in Eastern Europe, Siberia, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia; adults are lancet-shaped, thin, relatively transparent, and hermaphroditic, with sizes ranging from 7–12 by 2–3 mm; ingested eggs hatch in Bithynia snails, and cercariae encyst on various species of freshwater fish; humans acquire the infection by ingesting raw or inadequately cooked fish; the parasites sometimes cause no evidence of disease, but cholangitis, biliary cirrhosis, and chronic pancreatitis may occur.

- O. sinensis SYN: Clonorchis sinensis.

- O. viverrini a species of fluke closely related to O. felineus, very common in humans in Thailand; causes opisthorchiasis.

* * *

Op·is·thor·chis .äp-əs-'thȯr-kəs n the type genus of the family Opisthorchiidae including several trematodes that are casual or incidental parasites of the human liver

* * *

n.

a genus of parasitic flukes occurring in E Europe and parts of SE Asia. O. felineus is normally a parasite of fish-eating mammals but accidental infections of humans have occurred. The adult flukes, which live in the bile ducts, can cause opisthorchiasis.

* * *

Opis·thor·chis (o″pis-thorґkis) [opistho- + orchis] a genus of trematodes of the family Opisthorchiidae, characterized by having the testes near the posterior end of the body.