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==Introduction==

==Introduction==

''Fasciola Hepatica'' is an hepatic parasite found in mainly in ruminants, namely cows, sheep and goats, but also known to affect horses and pigs.  It is found Worldwide, and within the UK, with its prevalence ever increasing.  It is responsible for a 10-15% production loss in each infected animal, as it affects meat, milk and wool production, so is of huge economic consequence.

''Fasciola Hepatica'' is an hepatic parasite found mainly in ruminants, namely cows, sheep and goats, but also known to affect horses, pigs, deer and man.  It is found Worldwide, and within the UK, with its prevalence ever increasing.  It is responsible for a 10-15% production loss in each infected animal, as it affects meat, milk and wool production, so is of huge economic consequence.

''Fasciola Hepatica'' has a definitive ruminant mammalian host and an intermediate molluscan host. Within Europe the intermediate host is almost exclusively the snail 'Lymnaea truncatulata'. The snail habitat is crucial to the survival of the parasite, so wet conditions are favourable to the development and spread of Fasciola hepatica.

''Fasciola Hepatica'' has a definitive ruminant mammalian host and an intermediate molluscan host (indirect life cycle). Within Europe the intermediate host is almost exclusively the amphibious snail ''Lymnaea truncatulata''. The snail habitat is crucial to the survival of the parasite, so wet conditions are favourable to the development and spread of ''Fasciola hepatica''.

[[Image:Fasciola hepatica.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Fasciola hepatica'' <br> Adam Cuerden 2007, Wikimedia Commons]]

[[Image:Fasciola hepatica.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Fasciola hepatica'' <br> Adam Cuerden 2007, Wikimedia Commons]]

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| Class

| Class

| Trematoda

| [[:Category:Trematodes|Trematoda]]

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| Subclass

| Subclass

| '''F. Hepatica'''

| '''F. Hepatica'''

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==Life Cycle==

==Life Cycle==

==== Summer infection of the snail ====

==== Summer infection of the snail ====

The fluke eggs passed in sping will hatch in June. This coincides with the hatching of the snail. The miracidia will then infect the newly hatched snails, mature and then multiply within the snail hepatopancreas during the summer months.

The fluke eggs passed in spring will hatch in June. This coincides with the hatching of the snail. The miracidia will then infect the newly hatched snails, mature and then multiply within the snail hepatopancreas during the summer months.

The cercariae are shed from late August onwards. The metacercariae develop and are ingested by a host; the sheep for example.  The immature flukes then migrate through the liver, causing acute disease between the months of September and November, or chronic disease from January onwards.

The cercariae are shed from late August onwards. The metacercariae develop and are ingested by a host; the sheep for example.  The immature flukes then migrate through the liver, causing acute disease between the months of September and November, or chronic disease from January onwards.

[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]