Fasciola hepatica (also known as Fasciola hepaticas, hepatica, Fasciola): A species of helminth commonly called the sheep liver fluke. It occurs in the biliary passages, liver, and gallbladder during various stages of development. Snails and aquatic vegetation are the intermediate hosts. Occasionally seen in man, it is

NIH MeSH · D005210Organisms

Fasciola hepatica

Also known asFasciola hepaticas · hepatica, Fasciola · Liver Fluke · Fluke, Liver · Flukes, Liver · Liver Flukes

Definition

A species of helminth commonly called the sheep liver fluke. It occurs in the biliary passages, liver, and gallbladder during various stages of development. Snails and aquatic vegetation are the intermediate hosts. Occasionally seen in man, it is most common in sheep and cattle.

MeSH classification

  • B01.050.500.500.736.715.408.380.420

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Common questions about Fasciola hepatica

What does Fasciola hepatica mean in medicine?
A species of helminth commonly called the sheep liver fluke. It occurs in the biliary passages, liver, and gallbladder during various stages of development. Snails and aquatic vegetation are the intermediate hosts. Occasionally seen in man, it is most common in sheep and cattle. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Fasciola hepatica known by any other names?
Yes. Fasciola hepatica is also referred to as Fasciola hepaticas, hepatica, Fasciola, Liver Fluke, Fluke, Liver in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Fasciola hepatica sit in the medical classification?
Fasciola hepatica falls under the broader medical category "Organisms" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: B01.050.500.500.736.715.408.380.420). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Fasciola hepatica?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D005210) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗