Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Fasciolosis is a major snail-borne trematode disease of ruminants caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica.
The disease manifests in two distinct clinical phases: acute and chronic, which depend on the life stage of the fluke and the nature of the damage inflicted on the liver parenchyma.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each pathological change to differentiate between acute and chronic lesions:
- Statement A: Acute fasciolosis is caused by the simultaneous migration of thousands of immature flukes through the liver parenchyma.
This migration physically shears hepatocytes and blood vessels, leaving distinct dark hemorrhagic tracts (traumatic tracts) visible on the capsule and liver surface.
Therefore, Statement A is correct.
- Statement B: Due to massive mechanical destruction and subsequent acute inflammatory response, the liver becomes swollen, congested, and enlarged (hepatomegaly).
Therefore, Statement B is correct.
- Statement C: The physical damage caused by migrating immature flukes leads to acute traumatic hepatitis, characterized by necrosis, hemorrhage, and infiltration of eosinophils.
Therefore, Statement C is correct.
- Statement D: Hepatic fibrosis (and hyperplasia of bile duct walls) is a chronic proliferative process.
It occurs over weeks to months in response to adult flukes residing inside the bile ducts (chronic phase), rather than during the acute phase.
Therefore, Statement D is incorrect for acute fasciolosis.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Since statements A, B, and C are typical of acute fasciolosis, while statement D is characteristic of chronic fasciolosis, the correct option is (A).