preview

Fasciola Hepatica

Decent Essays

For this case study, one of the more important bits of information would be the fact that the woman showed an enlarged pancreas and liver. Based on this, I know to look for an illness involving issues regarding the liver. Also, it is important to note that she is suffering from acute upper abdominal pain. Due to these symptoms, I think the woman is infected with the sheep liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. F. hepatica is a parasite whose intermediate host is the snail. After leaving the snail, the free-swimming parasites live on water plants, such as watercress, which are then ingested by humans, initiating the infection. Once ingested, the larval flukes invade the duodenal wall, penetrate the liver capsule, pass through the liver, and then enter

Get Access