title: Opisthorchiasis and Opisthorchis-associated cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand and Laos.
abstract: Liver fluke infection caused by Opisthorchis viverrini is a major public health problem in Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR; Laos). Currently, more than 600 million people are at risk of infection with these fish-borne trematodes and/or their close relatives. Opisthorchiasis has been studied extensively in Thailand, where about 8 million people are infected with the liver fluke. Here we review the pathogenesis, control and re-emergence of O. viverrini infection, in particular in Thailand and, to a lesser extent in Lao PDR given the contiguous geographical range of O. viverrini through these two regions. We also review the association of O. viverrini infection and cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer, and highlight new findings on pathogenesis of liver fluke-induced cholangiocarcinogenesis. Last, we comment on national control strategies in Thailand for the control of O. viverrini infection aimed at reduction in the prevalence of O. viverrini-associated liver cancer in the longer term.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. banchob@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Banchob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sripa
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bethony
authors.forename: Paiboon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sithithaworn
authors.forename: Sasithorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaewkes
authors.forename: Eimorn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mairiang
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulvenna
authors.forename: Thewarach
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laha
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hotez
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brindley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology