Fasciola Hepatica - Morphology

Morphology

Fasciola hepatica is one of the largest flukes of the world, reaching a length of 30mm and a width of 13mm. It is leaf shaped, pointed posteriorly and wide anteriorly, although the shape varies somewhat. The oral sucker is small but powerful and is located at the end of a cone-shaped projection at the anterior end. The acetabulum is larger than the oral sucker and is anterior. The tegument is covered with large, and scalelike spines. The intestinal ceca are highly dendritic and extend to near the posterior end of the body. The testes are large and greatly branched, arranged in tandem behind the ovary. The smaller, dendritic ovary lies on the right side, coiling between the ovary and the preacetabular cirrus pouch. Vitelline follicles are extensive, filling most of the lateral body and becoming confluent behind the testes.