What Is Schistosomiasis?
2. Schistosomes
Schistosomes are the parasite responsible for causing schistosomiasis. They are a genus of trematodes, which are also known as blood flukes. The parasite usually lives for between 3 to 10 years, but they have been known to live for as long as 40 years in some cases.
Once a host has been infected, the worms will begin to lay thousands of eggs, most of which are passed out through the body in urine and feces. Many of the eggs will eventually find themselves in fresh water. Before the worm’s larvae are able to find a new human host, they will first spend some time maturing in an intermediary host, which will be a water snail.
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