Question

Fasciola hepatica is a
A. Endoparasite
B. Free living
C. Ectoparasite
D. Both B and C

Answer 1

Hint: Fasciola hepatica is commonly known as a common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke. The fluke causes a disease called fasciolosis. Its life cycle is complete in two host organisms.

Complete answer: Fasciola hepatica is an endoparasite which belongs to the class of Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. Various mammal livers are infected by this parasite including humans. The fluke causes a disease called fasciolosis. It is classified as a foodborne disease. As it is an endoparasite it is found in the liver of the host and its lifecycle is of the indirect type. Cattle, sheep, buffaloes are the host of the fluke. Its life cycle consists of an intermediate host and several environmental larval stages. Intermediate hosts are air breathing freshwater snails which belong to the family Lymnaeidae. Freshwater snail releases metacercariae as cercariae which forms a cyst on various surfaces which also includes aquatic vegetation. This vegetation is consumed by mammals and thus he gets infected. This is how the parasite enters the mammal’s body and is thus called endoparasite.
So, option A is the correct answer

Note: The person is infected when he consumes the cyst covered vegetation. Cilia and flagella like tails in larvae and cercariae helps them to swim through the aquatic environment and thus reach the plants where they form the cyst. Fasciolosis is caused by both F. hepatica and F. gigantica. Both can cause sudden death in sheep and cattle by liver damage or internal hemorrhage. Depending on whether the infection is acute or chronic the symptoms in humans vary accordingly.