Opisthorchis felineus first autochthonous case in Austria

Opisthorchis felineus is a feline pathogen with zoonotic potential that can cause opisthorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma in humans. In Europe, endemic areas particularly include Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. However, the parasite has also been sporadically detected in Germany and northern Poland. A seven-year-old female neutered European shorthair cat without any travel history presented in May 2023 with weight loss, anorexia and vomiting. The cat presented increased liver enzyme activity, hyperbilirubinemia and hyperammonemia, which was consistent with the suspected diagnosis of cholangitis with subsequent hepatoencephalopathy. Opisthorchis felineus was detected via routine cytological examination of bile smears, and PCR confirmed O. felineus . This is the first report of autochthonous O. felineus infection in Austria.