trematode

Liver fluke, perhaps

A trematode is a parasitic flatworm, also called a fluke, that typically has a flattened leaf-shaped body and one or more suckers for attaching to host tissue.

These organisms have complex life cycles often involving multiple hosts, including snails and vertebrates.

Several trematode species cause diseases in humans and livestock, infecting the liver, lungs, blood vessels, or intestines.

The physician suspected a trematode infection after learning the patient had eaten raw freshwater fish.

taxonomy

flatworm

Compressed soft-bodied invertebrate

helminthParasitic worm organism
invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
parasiteOne exploiting a host

anatomy

fluke

Chance stroke of luck

suckerEasily fooled person
tegumentNatural outer covering
pharynxMuscular throat cavity

soft-bodied · bilateral symmetry · hermaphroditic · reproductive organs · excretory system · nervous system

disease

hepatomegaly

Pathological liver enlargement

cirrhosisIrreversible hepatic scarring
granulomaInflammatory mass walling off foreign material
fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup

hematuria · endemic · tropical disease · waterborne

lifecycle

egg

Reproductive cell in shell

larval stageEarly developmental form
hatchingEmergence from an egg
penetrationEntry into something

maturation · asexual reproduction · sexual reproduction · fecundity · transmission

treatment

diagnosis

Identification of illness

serologyStudy of blood antibodies
sanitationCleanliness for public health
hygienePractices maintaining cleanliness

prevention · public health · veterinary treatment

Opposites

parasitic worm taxonomy

trematodenematode

Threadlike parasitic worm

roundworm · tapeworm · annelid

ecological role

trematodeplanarian

Regenerative freshwater flatworm

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G