FLUKES 249 



succeeded in infecting nine kittens and two cats by feeding them with certain fresh- 

 water fishes whose flesh contained trematode larvae. These fish were found in 

 districts where human distomiasis was common. The view is taken that the two 

 species of Clonorchis are identical. 



Opisthorchis felineus. This fluke is smaller than the C. endemicus, and is a 

 common parasite of the gall bladder and bile ducts of cats. There are two lobed 

 testicles in this species instead of dendritic ones as in C. endemicus. In certain 

 parts of Siberia the parasite is found in more than 6% of the human autopsies. The 

 symptoms are similar to those caused by C. endemicus. 



Other liver flukes of less importance which have been reported for man are: 

 i. Opisthorchis noverca. This was found in bile ducts of two natives of Calcutta. 

 It was lancet-shaped and covered with spines. 



2. Metorchis truncatus: This is a small fluke, 1/12 inch (2 mm.) long, squarely 

 cut across at its posterior end and covered with spines. This was possibly found 

 once in man. 



Intestinal Flukes. 



Cladorchis watsoni (Amphistomum watsoni). This fluke is about 1/3 of an 

 inch (8 mm. ) long, of oval outline but broader at posterior end and has an indistinct 

 oral sucker and a large sucker at the other end. This parasite has only been reported 

 once. Eggs, 125 X 75/*- 



Gastrodiscus hominis (Amphistomum hominis). This fluke is about 1/4 of an 

 inch (6 mm.) long and has a disc-like acetabulum about 1/6 of an inch in diameter 

 from which proceeds a teat-like projection, bearing an oral sucker. While it has 

 only been reported twice for man, indications are that it is probably fairly common 

 in India and Assam. Eggs, 150 X 72fi. 



Fasciolopsis buski (Distomum crassum). This is probably a rather common 

 parasite in India, as Dobson found the eggs in i% of the stools of more than 1000 

 coolies. The fluke is from 2 to 3 inches (40 to 70 mm.) in length and about 1/2 of an 

 inch (12 mm.) in breadth. It is thick, brown in color, and has a very large acetabu- 

 lum, three times the size of the oral sucker and located almost adjacent to it. The 

 branched ovary and shell gland lie in the center with the branched testicles posterior. 

 The coiled uterus is anterior to the testicles. Eggs, 125 X 75j". These parasites 

 cause dyspeptic symptoms and an irregular diarrhoea. It is also called Distomum 

 crassum. F. rathouisi is now considered to have been a shrunken F. buski, as it 

 seems to be anatomically similar to F. buski. Kwan's fluke reported from Hong 

 Kong, was possibly F. buski. 



Heterophyes heterophyes (Cotylogonimus heterophyes). This exceedingly 

 small fluke (2 X 0.5 mm.), which can be recognized by its small size (less than 1/12 

 of an inch long) and large, prominent acetabulum, was formerly supposed to be rare. 

 The oral sucker is much smaller than the acetabulum. The elliptical testicles lie 

 at the extreme posterior end. Cuticle has scale-like spines. The eggs are 30X1 7/*. 

 Very characteristic of this genus is the large sucker-like genital pore just below and 

 to one side of the acetah^ulum. Looss has shown that it is quite common in Egypt, 

 he having found it twice in Alexandria in nine autopsies. The parasites occupy the 

 ileum. It is common in dogs. 



