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. 2013 Dec;51(6):703-10.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.6.703. Epub 2013 Dec 31.

Distribution and abundance of Opisthorchis viverrini metacercariae in cyprinid fish in Northeastern Thailand

Somchai Pinlaor  1 , Sudarat Onsurathum  1 , Thidarut Boonmars  1 , Porntip Pinlaor  2 , Nuttanan Hongsrichan  1 , Apisit Chaidee  1 , Ornuma Haonon  1 , Wutipong Limviroj  3 , Smarn Tesana  1 , Sasithorn Kaewkes  1 , Paiboon Sithithaworn  1
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Distribution and abundance of Opisthorchis viverrini metacercariae in cyprinid fish in Northeastern Thailand

Somchai Pinlaor et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

To increase public health awareness for prevention of opisthorchiasis caused by eating raw freshwater fish, the distribution and abundance of Opisthorchis viverrini metacercariae (OV MC) was investigated in freshwater fish obtained from 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand between April 2011 and February 2012. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 12,890 fish consisting of 13 species randomly caught from 26 rivers, 10 dams, and 38 ponds/lakes. Fish, were collected in each of the rainy and winter seasons from each province. Fish were identified, counted, weighed, and digested using pepsin-HCl. Samples were examined for OV MC by a sedimentation method, and metacercariae were identified under a stereomicroscope. OV MC were found in 6 species of fish; i.e., Cyclocheilichthys armatus, Puntius orphoides, Hampala dispar, Henicorhynchus siamensis, Osteochilus hasselti, and Puntioplites proctozysron from localities in 13 provinces. Among the sites where OV MC-infected fish were found, 70.0% were dams, 23.7% were ponds/lakes, and 7.7% were rivers. The mean intensity of OV MC ranged from 0.01 to 6.5 cysts per fish (or 1.3-287.5 cysts per kg of fish). A high mean intensity of OV MC per fish (>3 cysts) was found in 5 provinces: Amnat Charoen (6.5 cysts), Nakhon Phanom (4.3), Mukdahan (4.1), Khon Kaen, (3.5) and Si Sa Ket (3.4). In conclusion, OV MC are prevalent in natural cyprinid fish, with the infection rate varying according to fish species and habitats.

Keywords: Opisthorchis viverrini; cyprinid fish; distribution; foodborne trematode; intensity; metacercaria.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of O. viverrini metacercaria (OV MC)-infected fish. Natural fish were obtained from 26 rivers, 10 dams, and 38 ponds/lakes located in 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand. The percentage of positive sites was calculated as described in Materials and Methods. The distribution of OV MC was found to occur in the following order: dams>ponds/lakes>rivers.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of OV MC-infected fish in northeastern Thailand. Natural fish were obtained from 74 bodies of water in various areas of 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand according to the Departments of Prevention and Control of Disease (DPC), DPC5, DPC6, and DPC7. Fish, 5-10 kg, were collected from each province at 2 different seasons of the year, rainy and winter. Fish were digested with 0.25% artificial pepsin and examined for the presence of OV MC. The percentage of OV MC prevalence was calculated from the number of positive sites per number of sites sampled.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Intensity of OV MC infection in cyprinid fish, by province of Thailand.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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