Question

At which stage, do the Fasciolopsis exit the snail body?

• A. Redia
• B. Cercaria
• C. Metacercaria
• D. Miracidium

Answer 1

The correct option is B Cercaria

The life cycle of Fasciolopsis buski starts when immature and unembryonated eggs are released into the intestine and the feces. When the eggs in the feces enter the warm water, the eggs become embryonated within two weeks and larvae called miracidia hatches. The miracidia find freshwater snails and penetrate their skin. In the snail, the parasites develop and go through several larval stages: sporocysts, rediae, and cercariae. The cercariae exit the snail and encyst into metacercariae on aquatic, edible plants. If a human ingests water or vegetation contaminated with the cysts, the metacercariae excyst in the small intestine and develop in the intestine of humans.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.