ABSTRACT
Given the medical prominence of Haplorchis taichui, this chapter focuses on the genus Haplorchis, despite the presence of several other human-infecting genera, namely Heterophyes, Centrocestus, Pygidiopsis, Stellantchasmus, and Procerovum in the family Heterophyidae. The genus Haplorchis contains several small intestinal flukes that require mollusks, fish, humans, other mammals, or birds for completing life cycles. Diagnosis of Haplorchis infections has traditionally relied on microscopic observation of adult worms or eggs in feces. Prevention of human Haplorchis infections requires conducting campaigns to educate people about the dangers of eating raw fish, the proper way to prepare fish, and to avoid eating raw, pickled, and smoked fish from endemic areas. Fortunately, a number of laboratory animals, namely mice, rats, hamsters, dogs, foxes, and chicks have been shown to support the growth and maturation of Haplorchis adult worms from metacercaria recovered from fish.
