Abstract. Fasciola hepatica is the common liver fluke of sheep. Life cycle image and information courtesy of DPDx . Fascioliasis is a parasitic infection typically caused by Fasciola hepatica, which is also known as “the common liver fluke” or “the sheep liver fluke.”A related parasite, Fasciola gigantica, also can infect people.Fascioliasis is found in all continents except Antarctica, in over 70 countries, especially where there are sheep or cattle. Fascioliasis is found in all continents except Antarctica, in over 70 countries, especially where there are sheep or cattle. In contrast, beef calves were infected mainly in September–October (‘summer infection’). Fasciola hepatica (L., fasciola = small bandage; Gr., hepar = liver), the sheep liver fluke, lives as an endoparasite in the bile passages of sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of human and animal fascioliasis in Ilam Province, Iran. Dashed line is cut-off limit (cut-off = 15% of positivity). Typical ‘winter infection’ was observed on two sheep farms in 2012, but the most prevalent transmission pattern was found to be ‘summer infection’, characterised by infection of animals in late summer by F. hepatica originating from overwintered and/or spring-excreted eggs. It can also infect horses, mice, rabbits and deer. Basically they inhabit any region where mammals and snails are found. Fascioliasis, an infection due to the food- and water-borne trematodes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, is among the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases.Among the estimated 91.1 million humans at risk for infection worldwide, as many as 17 million may be infected. Liver flukes are typical digenean trematodes and are commonly called “flatworms” or “flukes” on account of their flat, leaf-like structure. Fig. Get details! Get details! It is the first trematode whose life history was described by Thomas in 1883. Fasciola hepatica egg Courtesy of Dr. Lora Ballweber. Two species of parasitic flatworms – Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica – affect the liver and are responsible for causing fascioliasis. It can also infect horses, mice, rabbits and deer. Fasciolosis, caused by Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Digenea), is a major disease of livestock that produces important economic losses due to mortality, liver condemnation, reduced production of meat, milk, and wool, and expenditures for anthelmintics (Dargie, 1987, Mas-Coma et … By Susan Stewart. Fascioliasis is a parasitic infection typically caused by Fasciola hepatica, which is also known as “the common liver fluke” or “the sheep liver fluke.” A related parasite, Fasciola gigantica, also can infect people. In humans, maturation from metacercariae into adult flukes usually takes about 3–4 months; development of F. gigantica may take somewhat longer than F. hepatica.