title: The ecology of the Bithynia first intermediate hosts of Opisthorchis viverrini.
abstract: Opisthorchiasis, together with its associated cholangiocarcinoma, is one of the most important human parasitic diseases on continental Southeast Asia. A great deal of epidemiological data from humans is available on this disease, particularly from the northeast of Thailand, however, only limited information is available on those aspects of the life cycle relating to its Bithynia (Gastropoda) and cyprinid fish intermediate hosts. Here we review the information which is available on the Bithynia hosts of Opisthorchis viverrini. Only one major ecological study has been carried out at one site on a single species of Bithynia. We show not only that detailed ecological studies are required to clarify the epidemiology of opisthorchiasis, but also that the taxonomic status of the Bithynia species transmitting O. viverrini requires clarification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, Karlsruhe, Germany. Petney@kit.edu
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petney
authors.forename: Paiboon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sithithaworn
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Nadda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kiatsopit
authors.forename: Smarn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tesana
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grundy-Warr
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004199:Disease Vectors; D017753:Ecosystem; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000502:physiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction; D012908:Snails / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013785:Thailand