The post-cercarial encysted stage in the life history of a fluke, prior to transfer to the definitive host. Some cercariae attach themselves to grass or other vegetation, form m., and later are ingested by herbivores, as in Fasciola and similar forms; others encyst in muscles of fish, as in Clonorchis, or in crayfish, as in Paragonimus. [meta- + G. kerkos, tail]
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meta·cer·car·ia .met-ə-(.)sər-'kar-ē-ə, -'ker- n, pl -i·ae -ē-.ē a tailless encysted late larva of a digenetic trematode that is usu. the form which is infective for the definitive host
meta·cer·car·i·al -ē-əl adj
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n. (pl. metacercariae)
a mature form of the cercaria larva of a fluke. Liver fluke metacercariae are enveloped by thin cysts and develop on various kinds of vegetation.
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meta·cer·ca·ria (met″ə-sər-karґe-ə) pl. metacercaґriae. The encysted resting or maturing stage of a trematode parasite in the tissues of an intermediate host (mollusks, aquatic arthropods, fishes, or amphibia) or on vegetation; in some cases these are the infective or transfer stage of parasites.Medical dictionary. 2011.