NAME: Clonorchis sinensis
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Clonorchiasis, Chinese or oriental liver fluke disease
CHARACTERISTICS: Helminth, Trematode, adult worms are 10-25 mm long and 3-5 mm wide; eggs are 20-30 µm long and 15-17 µm wide
PATHOGENICITY: Symptoms are mostly mild and includes loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and the sensation of abdominal pressure or pain; rarely, bile duct obstruction may produce jaundice followed by cirrhosis, enlargement and tenderness of the liver, progressive ascites and edema; cholangitis, chloelithiasis, and pancreatitis may develop from chronic infection; a significant risk factor for the development of cholangiocarcinoma
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Endemic in South East China, but present in the rest of the country; occurs in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam; highest prevalence among those over the age of 40; cases are commonly documented in North America, mainly imported by Asian immigrants
HOST RANGE: Humans, cats, dogs, swine, fish
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Ingestion of raw or improperly cooked freshwater fish or crayfish containing encysted larvae
INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable; depends on the number of worms present; flukes may reach maturity within 1 month after encysted larvae ingested
COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person-to-person; infected individuals may pass viable eggs up to 30 years
RESERVOIR: Humans, cats, dogs, rats, swine
ZOONOSIS: Yes - domestic animals act as definitive hosts
VECTORS: Snails
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to praziquantel and albendazole
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: All infective stages are susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heating at 56°C for 30 minutes for all infectious stages
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Sensitive to freezing
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by microscopic demonstration of larvae in feces
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy; surgery for rare severe biliary obstruction
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion of infective-eggs; skin penetration of infective larvae
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Animals infected with parasites pose a potential hazard to laboratory personnel
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving infective stages of the parasite and potentially infectious body fluids or tissues
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: January 2000
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001