4) Parasites: Trematodes (flukes)

Question 1

Trematode characteristics

Answer 1

• Dorso-ventrally flattened, leaf-like
• Oral and ventral suckers for attachment
• hermaphroditic
• can cross reproduce

Question 2

Trematode lifecycle

Answer 2

• Final host-adult
• environment-egg-miracidium
• intermediate host-rediade- cercaria :typically a snail
• environment: metacercaria
• final host-immature adult
• final host consumes metacercaria int eh environment

Question 3

Trematode to know

Answer 3

Fasciola hepatica

Question 4

Fasciola hepatica has an aproculum

Answer 4

TRUE!

Question 5

Fasciola hepatica lifecycle

Answer 5

• Final Host: ruminant
• Mode of infection: consumes metacercaria in the environment
• located in liver, and bile ducts
• pathology: “pipe stem” liver with chronic infection
• clinical signs: anemia, bottle jaw
• Diagnosis: clinical signs + egg in feces (sedimentation) or fecal antigen test
• Intermediate host: snail