Opisthorchis viverrini isolate:Khon Kaen Genome sequencing and assembly

The human liver flukes Opisthorchis viverrini, O. felineus and Clonorchis sinensis remain important public health problems in many parts of the world They cause the human diseases opisthorchiasis (caused by Opisthorchis viverrini and O. felineus) and clonorchiasis (caused by Clonorchis sinensis). In addition, O. viverrini and C. sinensis are classified as Group 1 carcinogens (metazoan parasites that are carcinogenic to humans) because they are major etiological agents of bile duct cancer cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Infection occurs by ingestion of metacercariae in the flesh of raw or undercooked freshwater fish. Clonorchis sinensis is widespread in China, Korea and Vietnam, while Opisthorchis viverrini is endemic in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Cambodia and central Vietnam. The Opisthorchis viverrini liver flukes used as the source of genomic DNA for whole genome sequencing in this study were obtained by collecting the metacerciae of O. viverrini from wild-caught freshwater fishes in the vicinity of Khon Kaen City, Khon Kaen province, Thailand, a region with the highest reported incidence of liver cancer in the world.