Capillaria hepatica—A Neglected Zoonotic Parasite

As an important zoonotic parasite, <i>Capillaria hepatica</i> poses a threat to human health that cannot be ignored due to its association with high mortality and serious damage to the liver, although there are relatively few human infections. The infection rate of <i>Capillaria hepatica</i> in rodents is very high, which poses a great threat to the health of rodents, and <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> has been found to be the main group carrying <i>Capillaria hepatica</i>. <i>Capillaria hepatica</i>'s unique biological characteristics, including its morphological features and complex life history, determine the specificity of its infection and pathogenicity. In terms of epidemiology, <i>Capillaria hepatica</i> has a worldwide distribution, a wide variety of hosts (mainly rodents), and various transmission routes, all of which increase the difficulty of its prevention and control. Children are more likely to be infected by it, and there is little gender difference among the infected population. Although there are a variety of diagnostic methods for hepatic capillariasis, all of them have certain limitations. In addition, due to its non-specific clinical manifestations, early accurate diagnosis of hepatic capillariasis is still a challenge. This article reviews the biological characteristics and pathogenic mechanism of <i>Capillaria hepatica</i>, the epidemiology of human infection, the epidemiology of animal infection, and the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic capillariasis, so as to provide a useful reference for related research and clinical practice.