. Fasciola is a parasitic flatworm (liver fluke) that cause fascioliasis, a zoonotic disease affecting the liver and bile ducts. Infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated water or water plants.
. Fascioliasis has two main clinical phases:
Acute phase: Occurs during larval migration, with symptoms including fever, abdominal pain (particularly in the right upper quadrant), hepatomegaly, nausea, vomiting, and eosinophilia.
Chronic phase: Develops when adult flukes reside in the bile ducts, causing biliary colic, jaundice, and complications such as cholangitis and gallstones.
. Detection of IgG antibodies indicates chronic or past infections. Early diagnosis helps guide appropriate treatment, reducing the risk of complications, improving patient outcomes, and also valuable for monitoring the efficacy of treatment.