Trematoda (flukes)

Abstract

The class Trematoda is the largest group of Platyhelminths and includes two subclasses: Aspidogastrea and Digenea. Trematodes, and particularly Digeneans, is a large group of organisms with significant medical and veterinary interest. Over 100 species of digenetic trematodes have been reported infecting humans. Although the significant mortality and morbidity that some of these infections cause, they are among the most neglected tropical diseases. Apart from their impact in public and animal health, the Digenea constitutes an intriguing group of organisms that has a vast interest in experimental biology. Systematics and taxonomy of this group constitute a challenge for biologists in relation to the difficulty entailed in the establishment of phylogenetic relationships between trematodes and the determination of valid diagnostic features. Moreover, their complex life cycles, using at least two hosts and alternating free-living and parasitic stages or sexual and asexual multiplication, constitute a paradigm of how organisms can evolve to become adapted to different biotic and abiotic environments to enhance survival. In this review, we briefly summarize the major features of trematodes in relation to both biological and medical areas.