How is Schistosoma japonicum transmitted?
How can I get schistosomiasis? Infection occurs when your skin comes in contact with contaminated freshwater in which certain types of snails that carry schistosomes are living. Freshwater becomes contaminated by Schistosoma eggs when infected people urinate or defecate in the water.
What is the vector of Schistosoma japonicum?
Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. Freshwater snails act as the vector, releasing larval forms of the parasite into water.
How do Schistosoma japonicum differ from other trematodes?
Schistosoma. Unlike all other trematodes, schistosomes are not hermaphroditic but dioecious, forming separate sexes. Adult worms have elongate tubular bodies, each male having a unique gynecophoral canal (schisto-soma = split body) in which a female worm resides.
How is Schistosoma transmitted to humans?
People become infected when larval forms of the parasite – released by freshwater snails – penetrate the skin during contact with infested water. Transmission occurs when people suffering from schistosomiasis contaminate freshwater sources with their excreta containing parasite eggs, which hatch in water.
Is Schistosoma Monoecious or dioecious?
Unlike other trematodes, the schistosomes are dioecious, i.e., the sexes are separate. The two sexes display a strong degree of sexual dimorphism, and the male is considerably larger than the female. The male surrounds the female and encloses her within his gynacophoric canal for the entire adult lives of the worms.
What is the morphology of Schistosoma?
Morphology. Adult human schistosomes are diecious (male and female worms are separate organisms), and the sexes have different morphologies. The adult worms are bilaterally symmetrical and have both a digestive system and oral and ventral suckers for attachment and stabilization.