Correlation of sonographic findings with histopathological changes of the bile ducts in rabbits infected with Clonorchis sinensis

Clonorchiasis is an important parasitic disease of humans in Korea. The present study intended to compare sonographic findings with histopathological changes in experimental clonorchiasis. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were infected with metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis, and examined 4, 10, and 22 weeks post-infection (PI). Four infected rabbits were treated with praziquantel 10 weeks PI and were examined 12 weeks after treatment. Sonography revealed mild to severe dilatation of the intrahepatic ducts (IHDD) and slightly increased periductal echoes in 12 out of 14 rabbits at 4 weeks PI, and all of the animals after 10 and 22 weeks PI and 12 weeks after treatment. The histopathological lesions were duct dilatation, mucosal hyperplasia, and periductal fibrosis, which progressed from 4 weeks to 22 weeks PI and even in treated rabbits. The dilated intrahepatic ducts over 1 mm diameter were detected by sonography. The present results indicate that sonographic findings are well correlated with histopathological lesions in rabbit clonorchiasis except for early phase of light burden of infection. The sonography has a limitation in discriminating residual sequelae of the ducts after praziquantel treatment.