fasciolola gigantica matures in the liver of the host wether the host be human or cattle. The cycle begins with the fluke producing eggs in the biliary ducts of the host. The eggs reach the gall bladder and pass through the digestive system from there. the eggs are secreted from the body. (fun fact: liver fluke can produce around 25,000 eggs a day)
the larvae hatch in around 7 to 15 days of leaving the host. Miracidium (Miracidium is what the larvae is called at this stage in life) dislike dry climates and will die quickly if there isn't enough humidity, however if the conditions are perfect they can survive for weeks without finding a host to begin the next stage of life.
the larvae hatch in around 7 to 15 days of leaving the host. Miracidium (Miracidium is what the larvae is called at this stage in life) dislike dry climates and will die quickly if there isn't enough humidity, however if the conditions are perfect they can survive for weeks without finding a host to begin the next stage of life.
A rough picture of a single Meiracidium
The Miracidium will seek a snail to infect. They will remain inside the snail for 4 to 8 weeks and develop into the larval stages of sporocyts, rediea and cercariea.
• "Sporocyst – an elongated sac that produces either rediae or more sporocysts.
• Redia (plural rediae) – a larval form with an oral sucker, it will produce either more rediae, or cercariae.
• Cercaria (plural cercariae) – the larval form of the parasite, developed within the germinal cells of the sporocyst or rediea.A cercaria has a tapering head with large penetration glands.It may or may not have a long swimming "tail", depending on the species.The motile cercaria finds and settles in a host where it will become either an adult, or a mesocercaria, or a metacercaria, according to species."(source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trematode_lifecycle_stages?_sm_byp=iVVH5fZDrWKf4TLF)
Nature cercariae leave the snail and attach themselves to vegetation loosing their tail once attached. They then produce cysts about 02mm in length. They are now in the stage of life where they are called metacercariae which is now able to become infective to the final host. The metacercariae can wait for weeks for a host to digest the plant they rest on and are now flexible to the environment, they can now stand in hot climates and could even tolerate their plant becoming hay because of the hard outer cyst wall.
The new host eats the plant and digests the metacercariae and within a few hours the metecercariae hatch in the host and start migrating towards the liver. This is especially a damaging process and can 6 to 8 weeks. Once in the billary ducts they complete their development and turn into Adults capable of sexual reproduction.
The Miracidium will seek a snail to infect. They will remain inside the snail for 4 to 8 weeks and develop into the larval stages of sporocyts, rediea and cercariea.
• "Sporocyst – an elongated sac that produces either rediae or more sporocysts.
• Redia (plural rediae) – a larval form with an oral sucker, it will produce either more rediae, or cercariae.
• Cercaria (plural cercariae) – the larval form of the parasite, developed within the germinal cells of the sporocyst or rediea.A cercaria has a tapering head with large penetration glands.It may or may not have a long swimming "tail", depending on the species.The motile cercaria finds and settles in a host where it will become either an adult, or a mesocercaria, or a metacercaria, according to species."(source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trematode_lifecycle_stages?_sm_byp=iVVH5fZDrWKf4TLF)
Nature cercariae leave the snail and attach themselves to vegetation loosing their tail once attached. They then produce cysts about 02mm in length. They are now in the stage of life where they are called metacercariae which is now able to become infective to the final host. The metacercariae can wait for weeks for a host to digest the plant they rest on and are now flexible to the environment, they can now stand in hot climates and could even tolerate their plant becoming hay because of the hard outer cyst wall.
The new host eats the plant and digests the metacercariae and within a few hours the metecercariae hatch in the host and start migrating towards the liver. This is especially a damaging process and can 6 to 8 weeks. Once in the billary ducts they complete their development and turn into Adults capable of sexual reproduction.
(Pictures source:
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/pests-diseases-and-weeds/pest-insects-and-mites/liver-fluke)
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trematode_lifecycle_stages?_sm_byp=iVV3ZpjjFZ2SCZV5) note this picture is not of a fasciola gigantic however it highlights the stages of another parasite schistosoma japonicum)
Anatomy of fasciola gigantica:
here is a list of the organs/body parts on the fluke:
here is a list of the organs/body parts on the fluke: