Abstract
BackgroundEuropean liver fluke Opisthorchis felineus, causing opisthorchiasis disease, is widespread in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and sporadically detected in the EU countries. O. felineus infection leads to hepatobiliary pathological changes, cholangitis, fibrosis and, in severe cases, malignant transformation of bile ducts. Due to absence of specific symptoms, the infection is frequently neglected for a long period. The association of opisthorchiasis with almost incurable bile duct cancer and rising international migration of people that increases the risk of the parasitic etiology of liver fibrosis in non-endemic regions determine high demand for development of approaches to opisthorchiasis detection.Methodology/Principal findingsIn vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI and MRS) were applied for differential assessment of hepatic abnormalities induced by O. felineus in an experimental animal model. Correlations of the MR-findings with the histological data as well as the data of the biochemical analysis of liver tissue were found. MRI provides valuable information about the severity of liver impairments induced by opisthorchiasis. An MR image of O. felineus infected liver has a characteristic pattern that differs from that of closely related liver fluke infections. 1H and 31P MRS in combination with biochemical analysis data showed that O. felineus infection disturbed hepatic metabolism of the host, which was accompanied by cholesterol accumulation in the liver.ConclusionsA non-invasive approach based on the magnetic resonance technique is very advantageous and may be successfully used not only for diagnosing and evaluating liver damage induced by O. felineus, but also for investigating metabolic changes arising in the infected organ. Since damages induced by the liver fluke take place in different liver lobes, MRI has the potential to overcome liver biopsy sampling variability that limits predictive validity of biopsy analysis for staging liver fluke-induced fibrosis.
Highlights
Two liver fluke species of the genus Opisthorchis—O. felineus and O. viverrini—are known as human pathogenic agents
A non-invasive approach based on the magnetic resonance technique is very advantageous and may be successfully used for diagnosing and evaluating liver damage induced
Histological analysis data showed that O. felineus infection resulted in derangement of the liver architecture, whereas the trabecular pattern mostly remained intact
Summary
Two liver fluke species of the genus Opisthorchis—O. felineus and O. viverrini—are known as human pathogenic agents. This fluke parasite inhabits the bile duct of the host liver, causing local mechanical damage and chronic inflammation, and having general toxic effects on the whole body [1]. There is a significant association between cholangiocarcinoma (CAA) and O. viverrini infection; that liver fluke is considered carcinogenic (group I) to humans [3,4,5]. O. felineus infection leads to hepatobiliary pathological changes, cholangitis, fibrosis and, in severe cases, malignant transformation of bile ducts. The association of opisthorchiasis with almost incurable bile duct cancer and rising international migration of people that increases the risk of the parasitic etiology of liver fibrosis in non-endemic regions determine high demand for development of approaches to opisthorchiasis detection
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