Common Liver Fluke

The common liver fluke (*Fasciola hepatica*) belongs to the phylum Platyhelminthes and exhibits a fascinating lifestyle as an internal parasite (endoparasite) of vertebrates. With a complex life cycle, this fluke can grow up to 3 cm in length. Its primary hosts include sheep, cattle and wild game, although it can occasionally infect humans. Found worldwide, the common liver fluke attaches itself to the inner tissues of its host using two suckers on its body. Beneath its skin lies a complex muscular system that enables efficient movement within the host. The fluke’s digestive system is simple, leading to a blind gut with two branches and no rear opening. Its circulatory and respiratory systems are undeveloped, as is typical for many internal parasites. Like most endoparasites, the common liver fluke is a hermaphrodite, meaning it possesses both male and female reproductive organs, allowing it to self-fertilize.