Few of us think about how many health problems arise due to the presence of parasites that inhabit the human body. Just imagine: there are more than 150 types of helminths in the world! In our country there are already more than 20 species. The picture is sad in the sense that every year scientists more and more find parasites in the most diverse and unexpected places.
The causative agent of opisthorchiasis
The opisthorchiasis, which is the most severe form of helminthiasis, causes the feline trematode parasite, the infection of which occurs through the alimentary route (i.e. through food). The danger lies in the fact that these are the only worms that live in the bile ducts of the liver, which, as you know, is an important organ and plays a serious role in the life of the body. In our article we will consider the life cycle of a cat fluke.
Parasite anatomy
To understand how the parasite develops and multiplies, it is necessary to pay attention to the structure of the worm. It is pale yellow and small in size, only about 10 millimeters. In the middle of a small and pale body there is a uterus, which wriggles loop-like. Behind it is a rounded ovary and a seminal receptacle shaped like a bean. At the back of the parasite there are two testes, between which there is an s-shaped central channel coming from the excretory system.
Not only fish is dangerous
It is believed that the cat fluke lives in fish of the cyprinid family. Many people mistakenly think that it is possible to get infected with this parasite by eating insufficiently processed river fish. However, this is not the case. A cat fluke, the development cycle of which deserves special attention, is a very tenacious parasite. It should be noted that this worm parasitizes not only in fish of the cyprinid family, but also in all other river species.
Insidious cysts
Opisthorchiasis is widespread in our country. As mentioned above, this disease causes feline trematode. The Ob River, as well as the inhabitants of the Irtysh basin, are infected with it. It is believed that heat-treated fish eliminates the possibility of contracting a parasite, but not in the case of opisthorchiasis. The larvae of this worm are located in the muscles along the spine of the fish. You can’t just look at them because they are in the cyst stage. This is one of the forms of existence of parasites, due to which, the latter have long been in a stationary stage. Then, when it enters into favorable conditions, the cyst begins to germinate. The advantages of cysts are that it is in a double shell, as in a kind of "spacesuit". Therefore, no heat treatment (cooking and frying), salting or deep freezing can destroy its shell.
Opisthorchiasis analogue
Thus, the simplest conclusion suggests itself: do not eat river fish. But even here we are confronted with a profound error. It turns out that Thailand ranks first in the incidence of opisthorchiasis. In this state, more than 80% of the inhabitants are infected with the feline fluke parasite. We are considering the stages of development throughout our article. So, in the sea fish lives an analogue of the opisthorch - clonorch. However, the symptoms of clonorchosis are more pronounced than in opisthorchiasis.
Parasite master
But back to the cat fluke. The main host of the parasite is a person, a cat, a dog, and other carnivores.
Freshwater mollusks are the first intermediate host of this worm, and fish are the second host. A person becomes infected if he eats fish affected by this parasite, in which cysts live.
"Journey" of the larvae
The eggs of these helminths pass through the feces into freshwater bodies of water, and then are swallowed by mollusks. In them, asexual reproduction occurs, as well as the development of the worm. Then, parasite larvae are introduced into the water, which easily enter cyprinids, such as ide, common carp, roach, rudd, bream, and others. In the subcutaneous tissue, such a larva turns into metacercaria. And already such larvae, eaten with fish, in the human digestive organs are released from the membranes, enter the liver, then into the gall bladder and, finally, into the pancreas.
There after 14 days they become sexually mature. And a month later the cat fluke begins to lay eggs. Its development, as you see, is surprisingly difficult. However, this does not prevent him from being in the top lines of the rating for parasitic diseases.
Diagnostics
To identify these helminths, it is necessary to undergo a duodenal sounding procedure, during which bile is taken to detect eggs of such a dangerous parasite as cat fluke. It is also possible to carry out a procedure in which not only bile is taken, but also the bile ducts are washed with various mineral solutions. Such drainage allows parasites to be detected at a better and more reliable level. There are cases when invasions are determined during the study of feces.
What is dangerous cat fluke
The parasite becomes the cause of various chronic diseases, such as allergies, diabetes, bronchial asthma, hypertension, eczema, psoriasis and others. The climax of this disease is primary liver cancer, as well as cancer of other organs.
A few words about healing
Treatment of opisthorchiasis should be comprehensive in order not only to destroy the parasite, but also to cleanse the body of its waste products, clean the bile ducts, restore the structure of various mechanisms and organ systems that were affected by helminths. Thanks to an integrated approach to treatment, a person can get rid of long-standing chronic diseases that arose as a result of infection with a cat fluke.
Conclusion
The problem of opisthorchiasis is acute not only in Russia. The inhabitants of the rivers of Kazakhstan and Belarus suffer from it. Fishing enthusiasts need to be very careful, as for cutting the catch you need to have separate kitchen appliances in the form of a cutting board and knives. Instruments must undergo a thorough disinfection. It is important to remember that crockery and cutlery can be seeded with parasite larvae.
Butchering of fish should take place on a separate table, because scales, small drops and particles of muscle tissue of fish can splatter and infect the surfaces of tables, dishes and prepared dishes. It is difficult to treat cat fluke. Photos of him are presented in the article. In order not to become a victim of the parasite, it is necessary to observe safety measures for the processing of river, as well as sea fish. Remember that at a negative temperature of -3 degrees Celsius the cyst dies only on the 25th day! Observe safety measures, teach children to adhere to hygiene, and not one parasite will harm you!