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Trematode - Fasciolopsis buski (intestinal fluke)
Intestinal fluke: Fasciolopsis buski
- The largest intestinal fluke to infect humans.
- Humans ingest it when eating aquatic plants, particularly water chestnuts.
- Infection can cause gastrointestinal problems, fever, abdominal swelling, and intestinal obstruction.
Life Cycle
1. Miracidia invade snail (intermediate host) and give rise to cercariae (asexual reproduction).
2. Cercariae exit the snail.
3. Cercariae encyst and reside on aquatic plants such as water chestnuts (the encysted larvae are called metacercariae).
4. Humans ingest metacercariae when eating the plants.
5. In the duodenum, metacercariae excyst; immature flukes attach to the intestinal wall.
6. The flukes become adults and self-fertilize.
7. Eggs are excreted in feces.
8. Eggs release miracidia (free-swimming larval stage) in water.
Image Credits:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciolopsis#/media/File:Fasciolopsis_buski_egg_08G0039_lores.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sla9xo1z36oe9kl/Screenshot%202018-12-11%2011.21.45.png?dl=0