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{{Taxobox

{{Taxobox

{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"  

{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"  

| Also known as:

| Also known as:

| '''Dicrocoelium lanceolatum

| '''Dicrocoelium lanceolatum<br>Small lanceolate fluke

<br>

'''Small lanceolate fluke

|-

|-

|}

|}

==Hosts==

==Hosts==

 

'''Intermediate hosts''': Land snails, mainly ''Zebrina detrita'' within Europe. Brown ants of the genus ''Formica'' are also required for completion of the life cycle.

'''Intermediate hosts''': Land snails, mainly ''Zebrina detrita'' within Europe. Brown ants of the genus ''Formica'' are also required for completion of the life cycle.

'''Definitive hosts''': ''D. dendriticum'' is most commonly seen in sheep, cattle, deer, and goats, but is occasionally seen in horses and pigs.

'''Definitive hosts''': ''D. dendriticum'' is most commonly seen in sheep, cattle, deer, and goats, but is occasionally seen in horses and pigs.

==Life Cycle==

==Life Cycle==

After mating, the eggs are excreted in the faeces.  The first intermediate host, the snail, eats the faeces and ingests the infective larvae.  The larvae then grow and develop in the host. The larvae are then extruded in the slime.  This phase requires around 3 months for completion.

After mating, the eggs are excreted in the faeces.  The first intermediate host, the snail, eats the faeces and ingests the infective larvae.  The larvae then grow and develop in the host. The larvae are then extruded in the slime.  This phase requires around 3 months for completion.

The slime balls are then ingested by the '''ant''', along with the developing larvae, known as '''cercariae'''.  In the ant they mature into '''metacercariae'''.  The presence of metacercariae in the nerve ganglia of the ants makes them revert to a primitive behaviour pattern, whereby they cling onto herbage overnight instead of retreating to the nest enhancing the likelihood of being eaten by grazing animals

The slime balls are then ingested by the '''ant''', along with the developing larvae, known as '''cercariae'''.  In the ant they mature into '''metacercariae'''.  The presence of metacercariae in the nerve ganglia of the ants makes them revert to a primitive behaviour pattern, whereby they cling onto herbage overnight instead of retreating to the nest enhancing the likelihood of being eaten by grazing animals.

Infection of the definitive host is via ingestion of ants, mainly on the pasture. The metacercariae moult into immature flukes and migrate directly up the bile duct into the liver.

Infection of the definitive host is via ingestion of ants, mainly on the pasture. The metacercariae moult into immature flukes and migrate directly up the bile duct into the liver.

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