The body
of liver flukes is leaf-like and flattened. The body is covered with a
tegument. They are hermaphrodites having complete sets of both male and female
reproductive systems. They have simple digestive systems and primarily feed on
blood. The anterior end is the oral sucker opening into the mouth. Inside, the
mouth leads to a small pharynx which is followed by an extended intestine that
runs through the entire length of the body. The intestine is heavily branched
and the anus is absent. Instead, the intestine runs along an excretory canal
that opens at the posterior end. Adult flukes produce eggs that are passed out
through the excretory pore. The eggs infect different species of snails (as
intermediate hosts) in which they grow into larvae. The larvae are released
into the environment from where the definitive hosts (humans and other mammals)
get the infection.
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