Difference between revisions of "Dicrocoelium dendriticum"
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| − | | | + | |linkpage =Parasites |
| − | | | + | |linktext =PARASITES |
| − | | | + | |pagetype=Bugs |
| − | | | + | |sublink1=Trematodes |
| − | | | + | |subtext1=TREMATODES |
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| − | + | == ''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' == | |
[[Image:Dicrocoelium dendriticum.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]] | [[Image:Dicrocoelium dendriticum.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]] | ||
[[Image:Dicrocoelium dendriticum adult.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' adult from horse faeces - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]] | [[Image:Dicrocoelium dendriticum adult.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' adult from horse faeces - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]] | ||
| − | + | *This is a small fluke (<1.5cm) found in the bile ducts of ruminants and some other herbivores | |
| − | + | *The flukes migrate directly up the common bile duct to reach the bile ducts within the liver | |
| − | + | **They are therefore much less pathogenic than ''Fasciola'' (which burrow through the liver parenchyma) | |
| − | + | *''Dicrocoelium'' is rare in Britain, occurring mainly in the Hebrides, but is common in Europe | |
| − | '' | + | **Small dark-brown eggs are shed in faeces |
| − | + | **These contain a miracidium | |
| − | + | **If ingested by a land snail, the flukes develop, forming cercariae | |
| − | + | **These are excreted by the snails in slime-balls, which are collected and eaten by wood-ants | |
| − | + | **Metacercariae form inside the ants | |
| − | + | **The final host is infected when ants are eaten at grazing | |
| − | + | **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 | |
| − | + | ***This enhances the likelihood of being eaten by grazing animals | |
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Revision as of 23:01, 11 January 2009
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Dicrocoelium dendriticum
- This is a small fluke (<1.5cm) found in the bile ducts of ruminants and some other herbivores
- The flukes migrate directly up the common bile duct to reach the bile ducts within the liver
- They are therefore much less pathogenic than Fasciola (which burrow through the liver parenchyma)
- Dicrocoelium is rare in Britain, occurring mainly in the Hebrides, but is common in Europe
- Small dark-brown eggs are shed in faeces
- These contain a miracidium
- If ingested by a land snail, the flukes develop, forming cercariae
- These are excreted by the snails in slime-balls, which are collected and eaten by wood-ants
- Metacercariae form inside the ants
- The final host is infected when ants are eaten at grazing
- 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
- This enhances the likelihood of being eaten by grazing animals