10 Questions
Which subclass of trematoda has adults that are called flukes, are flat and have leaf-like shape?
Digenea
In the life cycle of digenea, what is the final stage of the young fluke called?
Cercaria
Which family of trematodes is important and includes species such as Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica?
Fasciolidae
What is the intermediate host for the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica?
Freshwater Lymnaeid snails
Which genus in the family Dicrocoeliidae has two intermediate hosts, including a land snail and ants?
Dicrocoelium
Which structure of the digenea parasite is responsible for penetrating the intestine wall of the definitive host?
Cercaria
Which family of digenea includes important species such as Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, both of which have freshwater Lymnaeid snails as intermediate hosts?
Fasciolidae
In the life cycle of Dicrocoelium, which organism serves as the intermediate host before ants (formica)?
Land snail
Which genus in the family Fasciolidae is responsible for causing liver fluke infections in cattle and pigs, leading to encapsulated or calcified flukes in the liver parenchyma?
Fascioloides
What is the final stage of the young fluke called after developing from redia in the life cycle of digenea parasites?
Cercaria
Study Notes
Trematoda Subclass and Characteristics
- The subclass of Trematoda known for adults called flukes is Digenea.
- Digenea flukes are characterized by a flat, leaf-like shape.
Life Cycle and Stages
- The final stage of the young fluke in the Digenea life cycle is known as the metacercaria.
- In Dicrocoelium's life cycle, the first intermediate host is a land snail, which then transfers the parasites to ants.
Important Families and Species
- The family Fasciolidae includes significant species like Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica.
- These liver flukes utilize freshwater Lymnaeid snails as their intermediate hosts.
Hosts and Infection
- The intermediate host for Fasciola hepatica is specific freshwater snails, crucial for their life cycle.
- The genus Dicrocoelium within the family Dicrocoeliidae includes two intermediate hosts: land snails and ants.
- Fasciola, a genus in the family Fasciolidae, is known to cause liver fluke infections in cattle and pigs, resulting in encapsulated or calcified flukes within liver tissue.
Penetration and Mechanism
- The structure used by Digenea parasites for penetrating the intestine wall of the definitive host is the penetration gland.
- After developing from redia in the life cycle of Digenea parasites, the final stage of the young fluke is again referred to as the metacercaria.
Test your knowledge about the phylum Platyhelminthes, class Trematoda, and their parasitic relationships with fish and amphibians. Explore the characteristics of the subclass Monogenea and Digenea, as well as the varied and complex life cycle of these parasites.
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