Pathobiology of opisthorchiasis: an update

Opisthorchis viverrini infection is associated with several hepatobiliary diseases including cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, hepatomegaly, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. Pathological consequences of O. viverrini infection occur mainly in the liver, extrahepatic bile ducts, gall bladder and kidney. These pathologies have been described in both humans and experimental animals. Moreover, both experimental and epidemiological evidence strongly implicate the liver fluke infection in the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma--the bile duct cancer. This review summarizes the pathology of opisthorchiasis from literature mainly published between 1970 and the present time and, particularly, emphasizes on current concept in pathogenesis of the disease. The theme is to highlight the new era of pathogenetic study of opisthorchiasis especially on host-parasite interaction and host immune/inflammatory responses leading to tissue damage.