Fasciolidae is a family of trematodes and includes several parasites involved in the veterinary and medical sciences, which cause the disease Fasciolosis. Fasciolidae is divided into five genera by Olson et al. 2003. The family's various species are localised in liver, gall bladder, and intestine. Their life-cycle includes an intermediate host, freshwater snails from the family Lymnaeidae.Jurášek, V., Dubinský, P., 1993. Veterinárna parazitológia. Príroda a.s., Bratislava, 382 pp.
Morphology Adult trematodes of Fasciolidae range in length from 2 cm, for species of Parafasciolopsis, and 10 cm, for species such as Fasciola gigantica. The oral and ventral suckers are usually located. the cercariae are of a gymnocephalic shape.Pybus, M.J., 2001. Liver flukes. In: Samuel, W.M., Pybus, M.J., Kocan, A.A. (eds.), Parasitic diseases in wild mammals, Iowa State Press, Iowa City, pp 121–149.
Systematics within family According to Olson et al. 2003 Olson, P.D., Cribb, T.H., Tkach, V.V., Bray, R.A., Littlewood, D.T.J., 2003. Phylogeny and classification of the Digenea (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda)1. Int. J. Parasitol. 22, 733-755. the family has five genera: Fasciola Fasciola hepatica – Common liver fluke Fasciola gigantica Fasciola spp. – Japanese strain Fascioloides Fascioloides magna Fascioloides jacksoni Fasciolopsis Fasciolopsis buski Parafasciolopsis Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha Protofasciola Protofasciola robusta
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