Fasciola hepatica, also known as the common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke, is a parasitic trematode (fluke or flatworm, a type of helminth) of the class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. It infects the livers of various mammals, including humans. The disease caused by the fluke is called fasciolosis or fascioliasis, which is a type of helminthiasis and has been classified as a neglected tropical disease. Fasciolosis is currently classified as a plant/food-borne trematode infection, often acquired through eating the parasite metacercariae encysted on plants. F. hepatica which is distributed worldwide has been known as an important parasite of sheep and cattle for many years and causes great economic losses to these livestock species, up to £23 million in the UK alone. Because of its si