Life Cycle

Miracidia- a free-swimming ciliated larval stage in which a parasitic fluke passes from the egg to
its first host, typically a snail.
Rediae- a larva produced within the sporocyst that develops into a cercaria.

Fasciola hepatica
1. Immature eggs are discharged in the biliary ducts and in the stool
2. Eggs become embryonated in water
3. eggs release miracidia
4. which invade a suitable snail intermediate host 4, including the genera Galba, Fossaria and
Pseudosuccinea. In the snail the parasites undergo several developmental stages
(sporocysts The number 4a, rediae The number 4b, and cercariae The number 4c).
5. The cercariae are released from the snail
6. and encyst as metacercariae on aquatic vegetation or other surfaces. Mammals acquire the
infection by eating vegetation containing metacercariae. Humans can become infected by
ingesting metacercariae-containing freshwater plants, especially watercress.
7. After ingestion, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum
8. and migrate through the intestinal wall, the peritoneal cavity, and the liver parenchyma
into the biliary ducts, where they develop into adults.
Fasciolopsis buski
1. Starts, when immature, unembryonated eggs are released into the intestine and stool of an
infected human.
2. If the feces end up in warm water (27–32 °C), the eggs become embryonated within two
weeks
3. And larvae called miracidia hatch after seven weeks.
4. The miracidia find freshwater snails (the intermediate hosts) and penetrate their skin. In the
snail the parasites develop and go through several larval stages: (4a) sporocysts, (4b) rediae,
and (4c) cercariae.
5. The cercariae exit the snail and encyst
6. into metacercariae on aquatic, edible plants.
7. If a human (or a pig) ingests water or raw vegetation contaminated with the cysts, the
metacercariae excyst in the small intestine and attach to the intestinal wall.8
8. They develop into adults within three months. They feed on intestinal contents and live
about one year.

Clonorchis sinensis
1. Clonorchis sinensis eggs are discharged in the biliary ducts and in the stool in an
embryonated state.
 2. Eggs are ingested by a suitable snail intermediate host. (2a) Eggs release miracidia, (2b)
which go through several developmental stages (sporocysts , (2c) rediae and (2d)
cercariae).
3. The cercariae are released from the snail and, after a short period of free-swimming time
in water, they come in contact and penetrate the flesh of freshwater fish, where they encyst
as metacercariae.
4. Infection of humans occurs by ingestion of undercooked, salted, pickled, or smoked
freshwater fish.
5. After ingestion, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum,
6. And ascend the biliary tract through the ampulla. Maturation takes approximately one
month. The adult flukes reside in small and medium sized biliary ducts.
Heterophyes heterophyes
1. Adults release embryonated eggs each with a fully developed miracidium, and eggs are
passed in the host’s feces.
2. After ingestion by a suitable snail (first intermediate host), the eggs hatch and release
miracidia which penetrate the snail’s intestine. The miracidia undergo several
developmental stages in the snail, i.e. (2a) sporocysts, (2b) rediae, and (2c) cercariae.
Many cercariae are produced from each redia.
3. The cercariae are released from the snail
4. and encyst as metacercariae in the tissues of a suitable fresh/brackish water fish (second
intermediate host).
5. The definitive host becomes infected by ingesting undercooked or salted fish containing
metacercariae
6. After ingestion, the metacercariae excyst, attach to the mucosa of the small intestine
7. And mature into adults (measuring 1.0 to 1.7 mm by 0.3 to 0.4 mm).