Capillaria hepatica (C. hepatica) is a parasitic nematode causing hepatic 
capillariasis in numerous mammals. Ecologic studies showed that the first hosts 
of C. hepatica were rodents, among which rats had relatively high infection 
rates, which explains why C. hepatica spreads globally. Anatomical studies 
showed that the liver was the principal site of colonization by these parasites 
and physical damage tended to occur. Although C. hepatica might lead to serious 
liver disorders, relevant clinical reports were rare, because of the 
non-specific nature of clinical symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis. This review 
mainly focuses on the biological characteristics and epidemiology of C. hepatica 
in China and histopathologic changes in the liver, with expectation of gaining a 
better understanding of the disease and seeking more effective treatment.