Dictionary > Schistosoma

Schistosoma

Definition
noun
(taxonomy) A genus of the Phylum Platyhelminthes that is comprised of parasitic flukes
Supplement
Schistosoma is a genus belonging to the phylum Platyhelminthes. It is comprised of species commonly referred to as schistosomes or blood flukes. One of their distinctive characteristics is sexual dimorphism. The male is larger than the female. And unlike other flatworms, the schistosomes are dioecious. Throughout their adult life, the male encloses the female within his gynecophoric canal. Thus, seeing the male and female adult together is not uncommon. Nevertheless, some female schistosomes would leave their mate for another male schistosome, which probably is associated with increasing the genetic diversity of schistosomes.1
Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms and the causative agent of schistosomiasis in humans. They are called blood flukes because they infect blood capillaries of their definitive hosts. Hundreds of millions of people are infected with schistosomiasis making it an overwhelming parasitic disease. According to World Health Organization, more than 61.6 million people were treated for schistosomiasis in 2014.2
Scientific classification:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Platyhelminthes
  • Class: Trematoda
  • Subclass: Digenea
  • Order: Strigeidida
  • Family: Schistosomatidae
  • Genus: Schistosoma Weinland, 1858

Sample species:

  • Schistosoma japonicum
  • Schistosoma spindale
  • Schistosoma haematobium
  • Schistosoma indicum
  • Schistosoma intercalatum
  • Schistosoma malayensis
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosoma mekongi
  • Common name(s):

    • schistosome
    • blood fluke

    See also:

  • schistosomiasis
  • trematode
  • Platyhelminthes
  • Reference(s):

    1 “Even Blood Flukes Get Divorced – The Loom”. The Loom. 2008-10-08. Retrieved from ://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/10/08/even-blood-flukes-get-divorced/#.V5Kt0rh97tS.

    2 “Schistosomiasis Fact Sheet”. World Health Organization. Retrieved from ://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs115/en/.


    You will also like...

    Sugar Homeostasis
    Sugar Homeostasis

    The blood sugar level is regulated by two hormones. The mechanism behind this type of negative feedback control is descr..

    Community Patterns

    Learn about community patterns and the ecological factors influencing these patterns. Revisit some of the ecosystems you..

    Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung
    Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung

    In this tutorial, the works of Carl Gustav Jung and Sigmund Freud are described. Both of them actively pursued the way h..

    Pikas are an indicator species for climate change
    Indicator Species and Endangered Species

    Certain species are capable of expressing characteristics indicative of the state of the ecosystem they occupy. They are..

    Plant biology
    Plant Biology

    Plantlife can be studied at a variety of levels, from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level through organelles, c..

    Plant Water Regulation
    Plant Water Regulation

    Plants need to regulate water in order to stay upright and structurally stable. Find out the different evolutionary adap..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics