Can you get Opisthorchis from a cat? - briefly
No, you cannot get Opisthorchis from a cat. Opisthorchiasis is primarily caused by ingesting raw or undercooked fish infected with Opisthorchis viverrini or O. felineus. Cats are not known to transmit this parasite to humans.
Can you get Opisthorchis from a cat? - in detail
Opisthorchis sinensis, also known as the Chinese liver fluke, is a parasitic flatworm that primarily infects humans and certain fish-eating mammals in Asia, particularly in regions where raw or undercooked fish is commonly consumed. The life cycle of this parasite involves two intermediate hosts: freshwater snails and cyprinid fish. Cats are not considered a natural host for Opisthorchis sinensis, and there is no known transmission of the parasite directly from cats to humans.
The infection in humans typically occurs through the consumption of raw or undercooked fish that contain the encysted metacercariae (the infective stage of the parasite). Once ingested, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum and then migrate to the bile ducts where they mature into adult worms. Humans can develop opisthorchiasis, a disease characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and potentially more serious complications like cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), and even cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in chronic cases.
Cats, being obligate carnivores, may consume infected fish as part of their natural diet. However, unlike humans, cats do not typically develop clinical disease from Opisthorchis sinensis infection. The parasite's life cycle does not include cats as a definitive host, and thus cats do not contribute to the transmission of the parasite to humans.
In summary, while cats can harbor Opisthorchis sinensis, there is no direct transmission of the parasite from cats to humans. The primary risk factor for human infection remains the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish that are infected with the metacercariae stage of the parasite. Therefore, proper cooking and handling of fish, along with avoiding the consumption of raw fish, are crucial measures to prevent opisthorchiasis in humans.