OLSON (1974)
| Life Cycle of Fasciola hepatica. The egg is released by a gravid adult (a-d). The egg germinates to release a miracidium that infects a snail (e-f), which form rediae (g-j). Cercariae are produced and emerge from the snail (j-k). Metacercariae encapsulate on vegetation (l-n). The metacercariae are swallowed by the sheep (o) and burrow through the intestine and lodge in the liver (p-u). Some aspects of Fasciola anatomy: 1: mouth sucker 2: ventral sucker 3-4: pharynx and intestine 5-7: testes, vas deferens 9: common genital pore 10-14: ovary, oviduct, Mehlis’ gland, uterus, vitelline gland 16: operculum 18-19: eyespots, cilia 22: rediae 24&G: cercaria B-G: developing larva |
| LITERATURE CITED Olson, O. W. 1974. Animal Parasites, Their Life Cycles and Ecology. Dover. New York. |
| By Jack R. Holt. Last revised: 01/29/2012 |
