Life cycle stage of digeneans Infective stage to definitive host Found in intermediate hosts – fish, crustacean, aquatic vegetation, etc Develop from cercaria Encysted stage Not present in schistosomes

First larval stage of digeneans that develops from egg; infective only to snail Elongated ovoid shaped Covered with flattened ciliated epidermal plates Other structures (may not be visible): filaments, eye, spots, apical glands, penetration glands  

Life cycle stage of digeneans Infective stage to 2nd intermediate host (or definitive host in schistosomes) Develop from rediae or sporocysts (depending on sp.), inside snail Usually, a free-swimming stage Most have a tail Has a mouth surrounded by an oral sucker, a muscular pharynx and a forked intestine Penetration glands present on either side […]

Life cycle stage of digeneans; not present in schistosomes Develop within the sporocyst, inside the snail intermediate host Thin walled, sac-like structure with numerous embryos Pharynx and a gut present Asexual multiplication takes place in the rediae (except schistosomes)

Disease: Paragonimiasis Habitat in human: Lungs – encysted in pairs Definitive host: Human 02 Intermediate hosts: Snail and crab/cray fish Diagnosis: Microscopic examination of sputum to detect eggs Morphological Features Size: 8-12 mm in length and 4-6 mm in breadth Colour: Translucent and reddish brown Shape: Small and oval in shape Scale-like spines cover the […]

Disease: Fascioliasis, Liver rot in animals Habitat: Bile ducts of sheep and cattle; rarely in human Definitive host: Sheep, cattle and herbivorous mammals 02 Intermediate hosts: Snails and aquatic vegetation Diagnosis of infection: Microscopic examination of faeces to detect eggs  Morphological Features Size: up to 30 mm by 13 mm Flattened leaf-like shape Two heavily […]

Disease: Fasciolopsiasis Habitat in human: Small intestine Definitive host: Humans and pigs 02 Intermediate hosts: Snails and aquatic vegetation Diagnosis of infection: Microscopic examination of faeces to detect eggs Morphological Features Size: 20-75 mm in length and a width of 8-20 mm – Largest intestinal fluke of human Flattened and leaf-shaped, with a spiny tegument […]

Disease: Schistosomiasis Habitat in human: Veins of the intestine ( S. mansoni & S. japonicum) or bladder (S. haematobium) Definitive host: Human 01 intermediate host only: Snails Diagnosis of infection: Microscopic examination of faeces (S. mansoni & S. japonicum) or urine (S. haematobium) for eggs Morphological Features Body is worm like- elongated and cylindrical Sexes […]

Disease: Clonorchiasis Habitat in human: Biliary tract Definitive host- humans and fish-eating canines 02 Intermediate hosts: Snails and freshwater fish Diagnosis of infection: Microscopic examination of faeces to detect eggs Morphological Features Size 10 – 25 x 3 – 5 mm on average Colour: Pinkish red Body is flat, transparent and leaf like Tegument is […]