A Human Case of Plagiorchis muris (Tanabe, 1922: Digenea) Infection in the Republic of Korea: Freshwater Fish as a Possible Source of Infection

Abstract

A Korean man was found infected with Plagiorchis muris and 2 other intestinal trematodes, Echinostoma hortense and Metagonimus takahashii. No complaint of gastrointestinal discomfort due to these fluke infections was noted. The patient had a history of eating various kinds of freshwater fish caught from a small stream near his village. Freshwater fish collected from the stream were examined for trematode metacercariae by an artificial digestion technique. Unidentified metacercariae collected were administered to a Sprague-Dawley rat. One P. muris adult was recovered from the small intestine of the rat on day 8 postinfection. Thus, freshwater fish of the genera Liobagrus, Puntungia, and Odontobutis are a probable source of infection for this patient.

Epidemiological Survey on the Infection of Intestinal Flukes in Residents of Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, the Republic of Korea

“…Eggs of E. pancreaticum (large sized type; 53.6 × 33.0 mm in average; small sized type; 42.6 × 31.6 mm in average) are somewhat larger than those of S. fuscata, and they have thicker and deep dark-brown shells [14]. On the other hand, eggs of P. muris (34 × 22 mm in average) are broadly elliptical and more or less smaller than those of S. fuscata, and they have a conspicuous operculum and golden brown shell [15].…”

Foodborne Intestinal Flukes in Southeast Asia

“…An experimental human infection was reported in the U.S. [249], Natural human infections have been reported in Japan [250] and the Republic of Korea [251]. Freshwater snails, Lymnea pervia in Japan [248] and Stagnicola emarginata angulata in the U.S. [249], shed the cercariae.…”

“…Freshwater snails, Lymnea pervia in Japan [248] and Stagnicola emarginata angulata in the U.S. [249], shed the cercariae. Aquatic insects (mosquito larvae), insect naiads, fresh water snails, and fresh water fish [248][249][250][251] harbor the metacercariae. Rats are an experimental definitive host [251].…”

“…Aquatic insects (mosquito larvae), insect naiads, fresh water snails, and fresh water fish [248][249][250][251] harbor the metacercariae. Rats are an experimental definitive host [251]. House rats in Japan [248], and rats [87,88], mice [252], and cats [35] in the Republic of Korea are the natural definitive hosts.…”

Progress on research on rodents and rodent-borne zoonoses in South-east Asia

“…A recent and intensive survey concerned 2478 rodent individuals trapped, with 735 (29.7%) found to be infected by the following zoonotic helminth species: Echinostoma malayanum, Echinostoma ilocanum, Plagiorchis muris, Raillietina sp., Hymenolepis diminuta, Hymenolepis nana, Cyclodontostomum purivisi and Moniliformis moniliformis Palmeirim et al 2014). Infections with most of these zoonotic helminths are usually asymptomatic in humans (Hong et al 1996;Chero et al 2007). The three synanthropic rodents R. tanezumi, R. exulans and R. norvegicus were identified as reservoirs for all these pathogens.…”