Identifying liver fluke snails

Summary

In NSW, about 20 million sheep and 2 million cattle graze pastures where liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) commonly occurs. During its life cycle, liver fluke must develop in a particular type of small freshwater snail.

In Australia, the most important of these host snails is an indigenous freshwater snail, Lymnaea tomentosa. The introduced snails, Lymnaea columella (from North America), and Lymnaea viridis (from the Pacific area), can also act as intermediate hosts. These snails are found in coastal NSW. Liver fluke infection only occurs where these snails are found.

This Primefact contains information on the following:

• Finding liver fluke snails
• Identifying freshwater snails
• Different snail types
• What to do about liver fluke snails
• Freshwater aquariums
• Submitting snails for identification