Fasciolopsiasis life cycle

Immature eggs are discharged into the intestine and stool (1). Eggs become embryonated in water (2), eggs release miracidia (3), which invade a suitable snail intermediate host (4). In the snail, the parasites undergo several developmental stages [sporocysts (4a), rediae (4b), and cercariae (4c)]. The cercariae are released from the snail (5) and encyst as metacercariae on aquatic plants (6). The mammalian hosts become infected by ingesting metacercariae on the aquatic plants. After ingestion, the metacercariae excyst in the duodenum (7) and attach to the intestinal wall. There they develop into adult flukes (20 to 75 mm by 8 to 20 mm) in approximately three months, attached to the intestinal wall of the mammalian hosts (humans and pigs) (8). The adults have a lifespan of about one year.