Clonorchiasis—A historical review of contributions of Japanese parasitologists

In the early stage of research on Clonorchis and clonorchiasis, Japanese parasitologists made a tremendous contribution on the elucidation of the life cycle of this parasite and on the epidemiology of the disease. Harujiro Kobayashi first identified cyprinoid fish as the second intermediate hosts for Clonorchis sinensis in 1912, Subsequently Parafossarulus snails were identified as the first intermediate host by Masatomo Muto in 1918. Kenso Ishisaka recorded the first human case of clonorchiasis in Japan in 1877, and two Japanese clinicians, Shigeru Matsumoto and Tsukasa Ohi, recorded the endemic nature of this disease in Korea and Taiwan respectively, in the same year, 1915.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Contributions of the Japanese parasitologists on Clonorchis and clonorchiasis research in the early years were reviewed. ► Pareo-parasitological evidence revealed that clonorchiasis was endemic in Japan as early as 1300 years ago. ► This year is the 100 years anniversary of the discovery of fish intermediate hosts for C. sinensis by Harujiro Kobayashi. ► The first intermediate host snail for C. sinensis was identified by Dr. Masatomo Muto in 1918. ► This year is also the 96th anniversary of the first report of clonorchiasis cases in Korea and Taiwan in 1915.