VPA 211: General Veterinary Parasitology and Helminthology (3+1)

MORPHOLOGY OF OPISTHORCHIS TENUICOILLIS

• Small fluke (translucent body), reddish when fresh.
• Elongate body and narrow anteriorly.
• Suckers weakly developed.
• Pharynx, Oesophagus present and intestinal caeca extend almost to the posterior end.
• Testes spherical / slightly lobed, diagonal, in the posterior half of the body.
• Ovary small, slightly lobed and is anterior to the testes.
• Uterus situated between ventral sucker and the ovary.
• Vitellaria present as series of transversely arranged follicle and occupy the middle third of the lateral fields.
• The excretory bladder is typically ‘ Y ‘ – shaped.