Difference between revisions of "Dicrocoelium dendriticum"
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**Metacercariae form inside the ants | **Metacercariae form inside the ants | ||
**The final host is infected when ants are eaten at grazing | **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 | + | **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 |
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Revision as of 23:02, 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 enhancing the likelihood of being eaten by grazing animals