Human liver flukes in China and ASEAN: Time to fight together

作者：Men‐Bao Qian, Xiao‐Nong Zhou · 发表于：PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1371/journal.pntd.0007214 · 被引用次数：26 · 研究领域：Parasites and Host Interactions、Global Maternal and Child Health、Parasite Biology and Host Interactions

The second forum on health cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held in Guangxi, China, on September 19 and 22, 2018 [1].Important resolutions, including those on the cooperation between China and ASEAN member countries on traditional medicine, management of hospitals, youth exchanges, and the prevention and control of diseases, were proposed at the regional forum [1].This regional cooperation provides a platform and a potential opportunity to fight the menace of human liver flukes together.Two human liver flukes-namely, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini-exert a huge burden in China and Southeast Asia [2,3].Infections due to these human liver flukes are predominantly endemic in China and several ASEAN member countries as a result of the traditional and rooted dietary habit of ingesting raw freshwater fish.There are about 15 million people infected with C. sinensis globally, out of which 13 million are domiciled in China and 1 million in northern Vietnam [2].O. viverrini infection accounts for about 8.6 million cases, with distribution in the following ASEAN member countries: Thailand (6 million cases), Laos (2 million cases), and Cambodia (0.6 million cases) [3].O. viverrini infection is also endemic in southern Vietnam.Recent findings have revealed the distribution of O. viverrini infection in Myanmar, which has given us more insight on human liver fluke distribution in the region [4].Thus, China and ASEAN member c...