Liver flukes of the family Schistosomatidae will sometimes infect a human host (rather than waterfowl) where they will cause itching and discomfort, but fail to complete their life cycle. What would the host be called in this instance?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An aberrant host is one that is not the usual host for a parasite, where the parasite cannot complete its life cycle. In this case, humans are not the typical hosts for liver flukes of the family Schistosomatidae, making them aberrant hosts when infected.

Liver Flukes of the Family Schistosomatidae Will Sometimes Infect a Human