Fasciolidae is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

trematodes Trematoda is a class of flatworms known as flukes. They are obligate internal parasites with a complex life cycle requiring at least two hosts. The intermediate host, in which asexual reproduction occurs, is usually a snail. The definitive host ...

and includes several parasites involved in the veterinary and medical sciences, which cause the disease

Fasciolosis Fasciolosis is a parasitic worm infection caused by the common liver fluke ''Fasciola hepatica'' as well as by ''Fasciola gigantica''. The disease is a plant-borne trematode zoonosis, and is classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD). It ...

. Fasciolidae is divided into five

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

by Olson et al. 2003. The family's various species are localised in

liver The liver is a major Organ (anatomy), organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for ...

gall bladder In vertebrates, the gallbladder, also known as the cholecyst, is a small hollow organ where bile is stored and concentrated before it is released into the small intestine. In humans, the pear-shaped gallbladder lies beneath the liver, althoug ...

, and

intestine The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans ...

. Their life-cycle includes an

intermediate host In biology and medicine, a host is a larger organism that harbours a smaller organism; whether a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist ''guest'' (symbiont). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include a ...

freshwater snail Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks which live in fresh water. There are many different families. They are found throughout the world in various habitats, ranging from ephemeral pools to the largest lakes, and from small seeps and springs ...

s from the family

Lymnaeidae Lymnaeidae, common name the pond snails, is a taxonomic family of small to large air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks, that belong to the clade Hygrophila. Lymnaeidae is the only family within the superfamily ...

.Jurášek, V., Dubinský, P., 1993. Veterinárna parazitológia. Príroda a.s., Bratislava, 382 pp.

Morphology

Adult trematodes of Fasciolidae range in length from 2 cm, for species of ''Parafasciolopsis'', and 10 cm, for species such as ''Fasciola gigantica''. The oral and

ventral Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek language, Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. Th ...

suckers are usually located. the

cercariae Trematodes are parasitic flatworms of the class ''Trematoda'', specifically parasitic flukes with two suckers: one ventral and the other oral. Trematodes are covered by a tegument, that protects the organism from the environment by providing secr ...

are of a gymnocephalic shape.

Systematics within family

According to Olson ''et al.'' 2003 Olson, P.D., Cribb, T.H., Tkach, V.V., Bray, R.A., Littlewood, D.T.J., 2003. Phylogeny and classification of the Digenea (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda)1. Int. J. Parasitol. 22, 733-755. the family has five genera: *''

Fasciola ''Fasciola'', commonly known as the liver fluke, is a genus of parasitic trematodes. There are two species within the genus ''Fasciola'': ''Fasciola'' ''hepatica'' and ''Fasciola'' ''gigantica'', as well as hybrids between the two species. Bot ...

'' **''

Fasciola hepatica ''Fasciola hepatica'', also known as the common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke, is a parasitic trematode (fluke or flatworm, a type of helminth) of the class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. It infects the livers of various mammals, inc ...

'' – Common liver fluke **''

Fasciola gigantica ''Fasciola gigantica'' is a parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda, which causes tropical fascioliasis. It is regarded as one of the most important single platyhelminth infections of ruminants in Asia and Africa. Estimates of infection rates ...

'' **''Fasciola'' spp. – Japanese strain *'' Fascioloides'' **''

Fascioloides magna ''Fascioloides magna'', also known as giant liver fluke, large American liver fluke or deer fluke, is trematode parasite that occurs in wild and domestic ruminants in North America and Europe. Adult flukes occur in the liver of the definitive hos ...

'' **'' Fascioloides jacksoni'' *''

Fasciolopsis ''Fasciolopsis'' () is a genus of trematodes. They are also known as giant intestinal flukes. Only one species is recognised: ''Fasciolopsis buski''. It is a notable parasite of medical importance in humans and veterinary importance in pigs. I ...

'' **''

Fasciolopsis buski ''Fasciolopsis'' () is a genus of trematodes. They are also known as giant intestinal flukes. Only one species is recognised: ''Fasciolopsis buski''. It is a notable parasite of medical importance in humans and veterinary importance in pigs. I ...

'' *'' Parafasciolopsis'' **'' Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha'' *'' Protofasciola'' **'' Protofasciola robusta''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q141809 Trematode families Veterinary helminthology