fasciola hepatica
Học thuậtThân thiện
A veterinarian examines a slide showing Fasciola hepatica under a microscope.
Definition
Noun 1. A parasitic flatworm: Fasciola hepatica is the scientific name for a specific species of parasitic flatworm, commonly known as the common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke. It is a trematode that infects the liver and bile ducts of its host.
Usage
- The term is used in formal, scientific, medical, and veterinary contexts to refer precisely to this organism. It is not used in everyday conversation.
- It functions as a singular noun. The plural form is (as species names are often treated as a collective) or, less formally, .
Examples
- Scientific/Veterinary Context:
- The life cycle of Fasciola hepatica involves a freshwater snail as an intermediate host.
- A post-mortem examination revealed a heavy infestation of Fasciola hepatica in the sheep's liver.
- Medical Context:
- The patient was diagnosed with fascioliasis, an infection caused by Fasciola hepatica.
Advanced Usage
- The genus name () is always capitalized, while the species epithet () is not. In printed text, the entire binomial name is often italicized: .
Variants and Related Words
- Common liver fluke (n): The standard common name for .
- Sheep liver fluke (n): Another common name, highlighting a primary host.
- Fascioliasis (n): The disease or medical condition caused by infection with .
- Trematode (n): The class of parasitic flatworms to which belongs.
Synonyms
- Common liver fluke
- Sheep liver fluke
Related Phrases / Terms
- Liver fluke infection: A general term for infestation by flukes like .
- Biliary trematode: A descriptive term highlighting its location (bile ducts) and type (trematode).
A veterinarian examines a slide showing Fasciola hepatica under a microscope.
Noun
- flatworm parasitic in liver and bile ducts of domestic animals and humans