Question

Describe the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica as presented in the lecture and explain why having alternate hosts is an advantage to this organism.

A) Fasciola hepatica has a direct life cycle involving a single host, and having alternate hosts is not advantageous.

B) Fasciola hepatica has a complex life cycle involving snails as intermediate hosts and mammals as definitive hosts, providing opportunities for increased reproduction.

C) Fasciola hepatica has a life cycle that exclusively involves mammalian hosts, making the presence of alternate hosts unnecessary.

D) Fasciola hepatica follows a life cycle that includes fish as alternate hosts, ensuring survival and dispersal in diverse environments.

Answer 1

The life cycle of Fasciola hepatica involves snails as intermediate hosts and mammals as definitive hosts. Having alternate hosts is advantageous as it increases the opportunities for reproduction and survival of the organism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The life cycle of Fasciola hepatica involves both snails as intermediate hosts and mammals as definitive hosts. The eggs of the liver fluke are released into the feces of the mammalian host, which contaminate aquatic plants. After ingestion by a snail, the eggs hatch and develop into larvae. The larvae are then released from the snail and contaminate the environment, where they can be ingested by mammals. Inside the mammals, the larvae develop into adult flukes in the bile duct. The presence of alternate hosts, such as snails and mammals, in the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica is advantageous because it increases the opportunities for reproduction and survival of the organism.