Physiological and histochemical observations on the adult liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica L. II. Feeding

Abstract

1. The adults of Fasciola hepatica feed mainly, if not exclusively, on blood.2. The oxyhaemoglobin of the blood is converted to haemoglobin, and then to acid haematin, the pH of the empty gut being about 6·4.3. The blood is concentrated by the removal of fluid, and haemolysis eventually occurs in the lumen of the gut. Some of the haematin is absorbed by the epithelial cells, and the remainder is concentrated as faeces.4. The gut epithelium is responsible for extracellular digestion and absorption, but there is little evidence that the major changes in its appearance are associated with particular phases of this process.5. Attempts at increasing survival times in vitro by using blood as food have failed to date because of bacterial contamination.