Capillaria hepatica
| Capillaria hepatica | |
|---|---|
| One of the plates published with the original description of the species, showing the masses of eggs in the liver of the host (above) and free alive eggs (below). | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Enoplea |
| Order: | Enoplida |
| Family: | Capillariidae |
| Genus: | Capillaria |
| Species: | C. hepatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Capillaria hepatica Bancroft, 1893 | |
Capillaria hepatica is a parasitic nematode which causes hepatic capillariasis in rodents and numerous other mammal species, including humans. The life cycle of C. hepatica may be completed in a single host species. However, the eggs, which are laid in the liver, must mature outside of the host body (in the environment) prior to infecting a new host. Death and decomposition of the host in which the adults reach sexual maturity are necessary for completion of the life cycle.