Trematoda
- Called flukes
- Wide, flat shape
- Adults are parasites of vertebrate
- Young are parasites of vertebrate, invertebrate and plants
- Feed on host cells
- Have a mouth and muscular pharynx
- Posterior to the pharynx is the digestive tract divided into 2 blind ending branched cecae, or they can feed by absorbing nutrients across their body wall.
- The outer layer of the body wall is a teguemtn which forms a syncytium whose outer layer forms a glycocalyx which aids in the transport of nutrients, wastes, gases across the body wall and protects against enzymes and host's immune system, this zone include microvilli that facilitate nutrient exchange. Cytoplasmic bridges connect the cytoplasmic bodies with the tegument.
Trematoda Subclasses
Aspidogastrea
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Digrenea
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Chinese liver fluke
Fasciloa hepatica
Schistosomes
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