How big is a liver fluke egg?

How big is a liver fluke egg?

hepatica eggs are broadly ellipsoidal, operculated, and measure 130–150 μm by 60–90 µm. Center: Adult Fasciola hepatica fluke stained with carmine (30mm x 13mm). Right: Fossaria bulamoides, a snail host for F.

What are liver fluke eggs?

Adult flukes produce eggs that are passed out through the excretory pore. The eggs infect different species of snails (as intermediate hosts) in which they grow into larvae. The larvae are released into the environment from where the definitive hosts (humans and other mammals) get the infection.

What are the characteristics of Fasciola hepatica?

The Adult Worm – Averaging 30mm in length and 13 mm in width, Fasciola hepatica is one of the largest flukes in the world. The adult worm has a very characteristic leaf shape with the anterior end being broader than the posterior end and an anterior cone-shaped projection.

How does Fasciola hepatica reproduce?

Liver flukes reproduce both sexually and asexually. Adults are hermaphroditic, capable of both cross- and self-fertilization. The larvae stage known as sporocyst reproduces asexually with its offspring developing into rediae, which also multiply asexually. Adults live in the bile ducts of their mammalian host.

How is Fasciola hepatica diagnosis?

The infection typically is diagnosed by examining stool (fecal) specimens under a microscope. The diagnosis is confirmed if Fasciola eggs are seen. More than one specimen may need to be examined to find the parasite. Certain types of blood tests also may be helpful for diagnosing Fasciola infection.

What is a liver fluke parasite?

Liver flukes are parasites that can infect humans and cause liver and bile duct disease. There are two families of liver flukes that cause disease in humans: Opisthorchiidae (which includes species of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis) and Fasciolidae (which includes species of Fasciola).

When the liver fluke egg hatches What organism does it infect first?

The eggs are consumed by snails, which serve as the first intermediate host. Inside the snails, the eggs can complete their gestation and proceed to hatch. Newly hatched worms, termed cercariae, leave the snail host to live inside fish, the second intermediate host.

What is the size of the egg of Fasciola hepatica?

Each worm possesses ovaries and testes which are highly branched and allow for individual flukes to produce eggs independently. The Egg – The eggs of Fasciola hepatica are operculated and average 140 μm in length and 75 μm in width. Follow me to a labeled images of Fasciola hepatica

What is the pathophysiology of Fasciola hepatica?

The pathology typically is most pronounced in the bile ducts and liver. Fasciola infection is both treatable and preventable. Above Images: Left: Fasciola hepatica egg in an unstained wet mount (400x magnification). F. hepatica eggs are broadly ellipsoidal, operculated, and measure 130–150 μm by 60–90 µm.

What is the life cycle of Funda Fasciola hepatica?

Fasciola hepatica occurs in the liver of a definitive host and its lifecycle is indirect. Definitive hosts of the fluke are cattle, sheep, and buffaloes. Wild ruminants and other mammals, including humans, can act as definitive hosts as well. The life cycle of F. hepatica goes through the intermediate host and several environmental larval stages.

Is Fasciola hepatica a sister species to the fluke?

These two flukes are sister species; they share many morphological features and can mate with each other. Fasciola hepatica occurs in the liver of a definitive host and its lifecycle is indirect. Definitive hosts of the fluke are cattle, sheep, and buffaloes.