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Foodborne Trematodiasis and Opisthorchis felineus Acquired in Italy

December 2013
Emerging Infectious Diseases 20(1):154-5

DOI:10.3201/eid2001.130476

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PubMed

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CC BY

Authors:

Herman F Wunderink

University Medical Center Utrecht

Jaco Jan Verweij

Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital

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To the editor: Opisthorchiasis comprises diverse clinical manifestations caused by infections with Opisthorchis felineus or O. viverrini liver flukes, which are transmitted by eating infected raw or undercooked fish and other aquatic products. In regions outside Western Europe where human opisthorchiasis is endemic, the disease is mainly described as being chronic and asymptomatic. Recent studies indicate cases of O. felineus infection in the Mediterranean region, particularly Italy (1–4). Patients with acute infection have signs/symptoms ranging from fever to hepatitis-like signs/symptoms (e.g., pain in upper right abdominal quadrant, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss); sign/symptom onset occurs ≈2–3 weeks after infection, depending on the number of ingested flukes (2–4).

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Article

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