FASCIOLA HEPATICAAmy LiberioHeather Peters

FASCIOLA HEPATICA One of the world’s largest fluke

Worm: 30 mm x 13 mm Distinguishable from other faciolidae by:

Oral cone “Shoulders”

Widening of body at base of oral cone Highly branched ceca

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Worldwide (excluding Antarctica)

Where sheep or cattle are raised

HOSTS

Definitive host: sheep, cattle Accidental host: humans

Intermediate hosts: snails

MORPHOLOGICAL FORMS Fluke (worm) Eggs Micracidium Sporocyst Rediae Cercariae Metacercaria

Hermaphroditic

LIFE CYCLE

LIFE CYCLE Metacercariae ingested Young flukes released from cyst in digestive

tract Adult fluke moves to bile ducts Eggs are released and passed in feces Eggs develop in water and hatch miracidium Miracidium penetrates snail Mother sporocyst produce daughter rediae Daughter rediae produce cercariae Cercariae released in water Cercariae encyst and become metacercariae

INFECTION AND SIGNS Symptoms:

Gastrointestinal problems: Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain/tenderness

Fever Rash Difficulty breathing Anemia Migrating juveniles can produce ulcers in eyes,

brain, skin and lungso Can eventually lead to Fascioliasis

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTo Diagnosis:

o Eggs in stool sample (after a few months)o Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)o Antibodies in blood sample

o Treatment:o Prescription drugs

o Rafoxanideo Trichlabendazole

o No vaccine

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE Huge issue in cattle and sheep industries

Lowered productivity Lowered fertility Lowered quality of animal products

PREVENTION & CONTROL Control growth and sale of watercress and other

water plants Avoid potentially contaminated water and/or food Cook vegetables well that were possibly grown

with contaminated water

REVIEW What is a definitive host for F. Hepatica?

What are a few symptoms?

What morphological form is considered infective?

What is one way to prevent infection?