Many workers have been interested in the subject of Clonorchis sinensis since McConnell first described the parasite in 1874, but very few workers have studied the relationship between Clonorchis sinensis and liver carcinoma. The authors found many adult flukes in the gallbladder, common bile duct, and intrahepatic ducts of the liver during hepato-biliary procedures performed at the Pusan National University Hospital. An experimental study was carried out on 30 rabbits to determine the relationship between Clonorchis sinensis and liver carcinoma. Metacercariae of Clonorchis found on Pseudorasbora parva was given orally to .the rabbits.
1) After induction of infection with Clonorchis sinensis in the rabbits, periodic liver biopsies showed the following histological findings. A marked proliferation of the bile ducts occurred and many papillary adenomatous proliferation of bile duct epithelium were found.
The liver parenchyma showed necrosis with excessive proliferation of fibrous -connective tissue, followed by the formation of new bile ducts within the connective tissue, resembling small islands. At the same -time, the fibrous connective tissue regenerated into pseudolobules and new liver cells (one-layer cords). This regeneration, progressed to almost normal within one year and did not develop into liver carcinoma.
2) Within 20, days after Clonorchis infection, the rabbits showed a loss of appetite and a decrease of body weight. The ova of Clonorchis; sinensis were found in the stool 17-20 days after infection.
3) Macroscopically, on the liver surface, there were yellow, grayish-white nodules, 2-3,mm. in size, which developed by the 5th ´week of infection, but these disappeared by the 12th month: The adult flukes could be found in the intrahepatic bile ducts on cut surface of liver after, the 3rd week to one year of infection.
4) Icterus index and A/G ratio were excellent indicators of the degree of liver cirrhosis
|