FASCIOLA HEPATICA Meaning and
Definition
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Fasciola Hepatica, commonly known as the liver fluke, is a parasitic flatworm that infects the liver and gallbladder of various mammals, including humans. It belongs to the class Trematoda and the phylum Platyhelminthes.
The adult Fasciola Hepatica is leaf-shaped and measures between 2 to 3 centimeters in length. It has a dark brown or reddish-brown color and possesses a tough tegument to protect itself from the host's immune response. The parasite's life cycle involves various stages and two intermediate hosts: freshwater snails and plants.
The adult flukes reside in the bile ducts of their definitive hosts, such as sheep, cattle, and humans. They produce eggs that are excreted with the host's feces, contaminating water bodies. These eggs hatch into larvae, known as miracidia, which in turn infect the snails. Within the snail, the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction, generating cercariae that leave the snail and attach to vegetation.
When these contaminated plants are ingested by mammals, the cercariae burrow into the intestines and migrate through the organs until they reach the liver. There, they undergo further maturation and feed on the host's blood and tissue, causing inflammation, scarring, and damage to the liver. The infected animal or human may experience symptoms like abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, and weight loss.
Given its impact on animal health and its zoonotic potential, Fasciola Hepatica is a significant veterinary and public health concern. Control measures include improving sanitation, treating infected animals, and minimizing exposure to contaminated water sources.
Common Misspellings for FASCIOLA HEPATICA
- dasciola hepatica
- casciola hepatica
- vasciola hepatica
- gasciola hepatica
- tasciola hepatica
- rasciola hepatica
- fzsciola hepatica
- fssciola hepatica
- fwsciola hepatica
- fqsciola hepatica
- faaciola hepatica
- fazciola hepatica
- faxciola hepatica
- fadciola hepatica
- faeciola hepatica
- fawciola hepatica
- fasxiola hepatica
- fasviola hepatica
- fasfiola hepatica
Etymology of FASCIOLA HEPATICA
The word "Fasciola" comes from the Latin word "fascis", meaning "bundle" or "band", which refers to the shape of the parasite. The word "Hepatica" is derived from the Greek word "hepar", meaning "liver", as this parasitic worm primarily affects the liver of its host.
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