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'''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.
==Identification==
The adults measure anything between 6mm and 1.0cm long, and are semi transparent.
The eggs are small dark-brown and are shed in the faeces by the infected host.
==Life Cycle==
*This is a small fluke (<1.5cm) found in the bile ducts of ruminants and some other herbivores
*This is a small fluke (<1.5cm) found in the bile ducts of ruminants and some other herbivores
**They are therefore much less pathogenic than ''Fasciola'' (which burrow through the liver parenchyma)
**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
*''Dicrocoelium'' is rare in Britain, occurring mainly in the Hebrides, but is common in Europe
**These contain a miracidium
**These contain a miracidium
**If ingested by a land snail, the flukes develop, forming cercariae
**If ingested by a land snail, the flukes develop, forming cercariae