How Do You Spell OPISTHORCHIS?

Pronunciation: [ˌɒpɪsθˈɔːkɪz] (IPA)

The word "Opisthorchis" is a complicated term, often misspelled due to its difficult pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of "Opisthorchis" is /oʊ pɪsˈθɔːrkɪs/, which indicates that the stress is on the second syllable. The "ch" sound is pronounced as /k/ and the "is" ending is pronounced as /ɪs/. This word refers to a genus of trematodes, or flatworms, known to cause human health issues in certain parts of the world. It is important to use correct spelling for accurate communication among medical professionals.

OPISTHORCHIS Meaning and Definition

1. Opisthorchis is a genus of parasitic flatworms that belongs to the class Trematoda. These organisms are commonly known as liver flukes due to their specific preference for infecting the bile ducts and gallbladder of their vertebrate hosts. The prefix "opistho" in Opisthorchis refers to the fluke's characteristic feature of having its male reproductive organs located towards the posterior end of its body.

   Opisthorchis species are mainly found in freshwater environments across Asia, particularly in regions like Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. They have a complex life cycle that involves multiple hosts, typically starting with freshwater snails as their intermediate host. The mature larvae of Opisthorchis are then released from the snail, which are subsequently ingested by various fish species. Once inside the fish, the larvae continue their development, eventually forming cysts in the fish's muscle tissues.

   Human infection by Opisthorchis occurs when people consume raw or undercooked contaminated fish. The larvae are released from the cysts in the human digestive system and then migrate to the bile ducts, where they mature into adult flukes. This can lead to a condition known as opisthorchiasis, causing a variety of symptoms including abdominal pain, jaundice, fatigue, and liver inflammation. In severe cases or when chronic infection occurs, opisthorchiasis can lead to liver cancer.

   Preventing Opisthorchis infection involves proper cooking of fish, especially freshwater fish, as well as avoiding the consumption of raw or poorly processed fish products. Public health measures, such as health education and regulations regarding fish processing and inspection, also play a crucial role in limiting the transmission of Opisthorchis species among humans.

2. A genus of Trematoda, or flukes of the family Fasciolidoe.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for OPISTHORCHIS

• ipisthorchis
• kpisthorchis
• lpisthorchis
• ppisthorchis
• 0pisthorchis
• 9pisthorchis
• ooisthorchis
• olisthorchis
• o-isthorchis
• o0isthorchis
• opusthorchis
• opjsthorchis
• opksthorchis
• oposthorchis
• op9sthorchis
• op8sthorchis
• opiathorchis
• opizthorchis
• opixthorchis
• opidthorchis

Etymology of OPISTHORCHIS

The word "Opisthorchis" is derived from Greek.

- "Opistho" means "behind" or "posterior".

- "Orchis" refers to "testicle" or "testis".

The combination of these two elements reflects the shape and location of the organs of Opisthorchis parasites. These parasitic worms belong to the class Trematoda, commonly known as flukes. They are known to inhabit the bile ducts in the liver of vertebrates, including humans. The name Opisthorchis literally translates to "testicle behind" or "testis posterior", referring to their characteristic shape and location within the host's body.