Alaria

Alaria is a genus of parasitic flatworms known as trematodes, or flukes, that primarily infect amphibians, mammals, and sometimes humans. They have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts: typically, eggs hatch into larvae that infect snails, then develop into another larval form called mesocercaria, which can infect various animals including mammals. When a definitive host, like a wild or domestic carnivore, ingests infected intermediate hosts, the adult fluke establishes itself in the intestines. While usually asymptomatic, infections can occasionally cause gastrointestinal issues and, in humans, may lead to rare health complications if contaminated meat or water is consumed.