OPISTHORCHIOSIS—CLONORCHIO 



1917 



OPISTHORCHIOSIS. 



Definition.' — Opisthorchiosis is an invasion of the bile-ducts with 

 Amphimerus noverca Braun, 1903 (p. 577), and 0. felineus Rivoka, 

 1885 (p. 576). 



Remarks. — A. noverca is said to be common in dogs in India, 

 but has only once been found in the dilated bile-ducts of an Indian 

 in Calcutta, who died with dysenteric symptoms. 



0. felineus has been found in the dilated bile- cab 

 ducts, and incidentally also in the intestine of 

 human beings, cats and dogs in Tomsk. It 

 caused a form of hepatic cirrhosis. 



CLONORCHIOSIS. 



Definition. — Clonorchiosis is the invasion of 

 the bile-ducts with Clonorchis sinensis Cobbold. 



Climatology.— This parasite occurs in China, 

 Indo-China, and Japan. 



Pathology — -These parasites occur in dogs and 

 cats, but the method of infection is quite un- 

 known. In man they live in the bile-ducts, in 

 the recesses in the wall of the dilated gall- 

 bladder or of the bile-ducts, and in the duo- 

 denum. They may also be found in abscesses 

 apparently unconnected with the liver. The 

 ova are found in the alimentary canal and the 

 faeces. The liver becomes enlarged, and may 

 be darker in colour, while it is atrophied in the 

 neighbourhood of the dilated ducts. The 

 intestine may show catarrhal inflammation. 



Often the spleen is also enlarged, and there may ^ 



be ascites or oedema. Ova have been met with "'^^jwrchis felineus 

 in the abdominal lymphatics, while the flukes Rivolta. 

 themselves have been found in a lumbar abscess. (After Looss.) 

 The blood shows an eosinophilia. 



Symptomatology. — There is an abnormal appetite, but the general 

 health remains good for some time, though the liver enlarges and 

 becomes painful, while jaundice may be present. The spleen also 

 enlarges. The disease is apparently very chronic, but towards the 

 end emaciation, ascites, oedema about the feet and legs, and diar- 

 rhoea lead to death from exhaustion. Abscesses may form. 



Diagnosis. — The presence of the worms can only be diagnosed by 

 finding the eggs in the faeces (see p. 578). 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is bad, as no cure is known. 



Treatment. — An attempt maybe made to kill the worms by thymol 

 or Filix mas ; otherwise the treatment must be symptomatic. 



Prophylaxis. — Nothing can be said as to prophylactic measures 

 until the method of infection is known. 



