The patterns of the indentation merge into several areas into folds with ridges that represent the posterior and genital pores.
Upon embryonated egg deposition into aqueous environments from feces of adult flukes in the large intestine of tadpoles and rectum of frogs, miracidia penetrate snails and undergo three generations of rediae in the liver-the third producing and releasing an immature cercariae into the tissues of the snail host.
Daily shedding of mature cercariae opportunistically encyst on the skin of tadpoles and adult frogs, particularly the dark spots of the fore and hindlegs.
Tadpoles then become infected by ingestion of such encysted metacercariae or inhalation of free cercariae and attach onto the large intestine and become gravid.
As the intestine shortens after metamorphosis and adolescent frogs begin development of a protein diet, the remaining flukes return to the rectum.
Infection by M. temperatus may be identified by examining miracidia on snails, dead cercarae or formed metacercariae on tadpoles, and/or rectal flukes in adult frogs via dissection.
Based on the similar tegument integrity of M. temperatus, in comparison with other anthelmintics, Praziquantel (PZQ) may be used as treatment to combat infection.
Localized in the hepatopancreas of snails, large intestine of tadpoles, and rectum of adult frogs, means of disease control include: random and periodic testing of vulnerable species populations for infection, controlling both snail and frog populations, and/or controlling saturated ecosystems infected with M. temperatus via pesticides, introduction of new species to combat transmission and minimize both transmission prevalence and incidence of infection.