Liver fluke disease

Fascioliasis is a foodborne zoonotic disease caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Whereas in Europe, the Americas and Oceania only F. hepatica is concerned, the distributions of both species overlap in many areas of Africa and Asia. An infection is accomplished through oral ingestion of the infective stage of the parasite either through consumption of uncooked or unwashed aquatic plants, or through drinking contaminated water. The presence of F. hepatica flukes in humans was first documented in 1760.