Fascioliasis is a parasitic zoonotic infection caused by two
trematode species: Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica. Both are
leaf-shaped and large enough to be visible to the naked eye. As
the name suggests, F. gigantica is slightly more conspicuous in
size, and can reach 5 centimeters in length. In the American
continent, the only species transmitted is F. hepatica.
Information on the burden of fascioliasis in humans and its
geographical distribution is however limited. In 1995, WHO
estimated that approximately half of the 2.39 million infected
individuals globally were living in three Latin American
countries (Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru) . The Andean highlands
represent the most endemic areas of the world, with high levels
of prevalence of infection among indigenous communities [2,3].
The adult worm lives in the bile ducts of infected humans or
animals (usually cattle or sheep, but also donkeys and pigs,
llamas and alpacas) and lays eggs that are passed in faeces. If
the faeces reach freshwater sources, the