Humans and domestic animals in Asia are commonly infected
by helminth parasites transmitted from fish [1–3]. Particularly
common are fish-borne zoonotic trematodes (FZT) belonging to the
Opisthorchiidae (liver flukes), Heterophyidae and Echinostomatidae
(intestinal flukes). Fish are a major source of protein for people, especially
for those living in rural areas of Southeast Asia where consumption
of raw fish or inadequately heat treated or pickled fish dishes are
often popular and the cause of FZT infections [2–5]. Fish from aquaculture
in the Mekong delta in Vietnam are primarily infected with
heterophyid species, with Haplorchis pumilio as by far the dominating
species, while Opisthorchis viverrini is rare [6,7]. The snail intermediate
hosts for the heterophyid trematode species are primarily species of
the Thiaridae and Bithynidae