Question

The miracidium which is released during the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica is nurtured further into

• A. Tapeworm
• B. Human
• C. Snail
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C Snail

• Fasciola hepatica or the liver fluke is a parasite found in mostly ruminants and also humans.
• Mammals are infected by this parasite by the intake of water or aquatic plants.
• The metacercariae stage of the liver fluke larvae is found in the duodenum of the host after the ingestion of the infected water or plant. Fro, duodenum they pass into the peritoneal cavity by burrowing through the wall of the intestine.
• They migrate from the intestine and reach the liver and from there they are released into the bile duct where they develop into an adult liver fluke.
• These adult flukes produce many eggs at a time which are passed by the host via stool into the freshwater where the eggs become embryonated and hatch into miracidia which then parasite on the intermediate host that is a freshwater air-breathing snail.
• When snail defecate the miracidia are released into the water or the water plant from whose ingestion the mammals are infected.
• So the answer Snail is correct.