TREMATODA

Clonorchis sinensis
Opisthorchis viverrini
Paragonimus westermani
Parasitology Department
Medical Faculty
USU
 Clonorchis sinensis
General
► Family Opisthorchiidae
► Distributed in Far East Asia
► Clonorchis means branched testis
► Final host : humans, cats, dogs, pigs, rats,
etc.
► Intermediate hosts: 1st is water snail
(Bulinus and Parafossarulus manchouricus),
2nd is Cyprinidae fish
 Clonorchis sinensis
Characteristics

► Adult : about 15x4 mm, spindle-shaped,

slightly pointed anterior end, so thin.
► Oral is slightly larger than ventral sucker.
► Branched testis, lobulated ovary
► Long, coiled uterus
► Simple intestines
► Vitelline gland is distributed in 1/3 center of
the lateral body
Clonorchis sinensis
Characteristics
 Clonorchis sinensis
Characteristics
► Egg is very
small, approx.
30x16m,
yellow-brown.
► Small
operculum
► Contains
miracidium
 Clonorchis sinensis
Life cycle
► Habitat of adult worm : bile ducts, gall
bladder or pancreatic duct. Eggs pass along
with bile small intestine out of the
body with feces ( fully embrionated ).
► Eggs ingested by snail miracidium
sporocyst  rediae  cercaria (in 1st
intermediate host body)  ± 2 months
► Cercaria penetrate 2nd I’mediate host 
metacercaria stage (infective stage) ± 3
weeks  ingested by host
Life span ± 25-30 years
 Opisthorchis viverrini
General

► First found in cat liver, nevertheless it easily

infects humans
► Distibuted in Southern Asia, esp. in Thailand
► Intermediate hosts: 1st is water snail
Bythinia, 2nd is fresh water fishes
► Life cycle is similar to previous species
 Opisthorchis viverrini
Characteristics
► Size of adult 7,4 x 1,5mm, ventral sucker <
oral sucker
► Internal structure of adult resembles that of
C. sinensis, only for the shape of testis and
vitelline gland
► Testes are lobulated, diagonally placed
► Vitelline gland is also different
► Egg is not easy to distinguish from that of
C. sinensis
◦Opisthorchis
viverrini adult

◦2nd Intermediate
host
Testis
 Comparison
Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis
sinensis
 Another Opisthorchiidae

►Opisthorchis felineus
►Opisthorchis norverca
►Opisthorchis guayaquilensis
►Metorchis conjunctus
 Paragonimus westermani
General

► Family Troglotrematidae
► Adults live in the lung of carnivorous.
► Distribution : Japan, Korea, Thailand,
Taiwan, Tiongkok, Philippines.
► Intermediate host ; 1st : water snail (Brotia,
Semisulcospiradan), 2nd : crabs, crayfish
 Paragonimus westermani
Morphology
► Adult worm is thick, fleshy and oval
with round posterior end.
size : 7-12 x 4-6 x 3-5 mm
► Oral sucker ~ ventral sucker
► Vitelline gland distribute through the
whole body (but fewer in central part).
► Reproductive system consists of
lobulated ovary, and 2 lobulated testis.
 Paragonimus westermani
Morphology
► Eggs : golden brown, oval,
with operculum. The egg
shells are irreguler in
thickness.
► Size of egg : 80-118 x 48-
60 m
► Female produces 8000-
10.000 eggs per day.
 Paragonimus westermani
Life cycle
► Adult live in the lungs of defenitive host  eggs in sputum
or fecess (unembryonated) fully embryonated in water
after 2-7 weeks  miracidium
► Miracidium find suitable snail as 1st IH sporocyst 
rediae  cercaria. (± 2 months)
► Cercaria finding crabs or crayfish as 2nd IH  metacercaria
(± 6 weeks)
► Metacercaria  host  excyst in duodenum  larvae
penetrate intestinal wall  abdominal cavity  pleural
cavity  lung tissue.
► In 6 weeks  adult  cyst formation by host tissue.