Fasciola hepatica – Metacercariae attached onto vegetation

Encysted cercariae are coined as “metacercariae”. They remain alive for months. Once swallowed by definitive hosts, that are mostly herbivorous, they hatch into small intestine where excystation occurs. Young flukes pass through the intestine wall, crawl in the peritoneal cavity then reach the liver. Man is an accidental definitive host for liver fluke.