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...

    Plant meristem
    Plant Meristems and Growth

    In plants, growth occurs in meristems, which are the site of repeated cell division of unspecialized cells. These cells ..

    Flowers and tiny fruits of the pomegranate plant
    Fruits, Flowers, and Seeds

    This tutorial deals with the structure and function of flowers, fruits, and seeds. Also included here are the types of f..

    Birth of a Human Baby
    Birth of a Human Baby

    Following nine months inside the mother's womb is the birth of the baby. Know the different stages of the birthing proce..

    Selective Breeding
    Selective Breeding

    Gregor Mendel's studies into Monohybrid and Dihybrid crossing and Charles Darwin's study of evolution and natural select..

    Oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell
    The Central Nervous System

    Myelin sheath is essential for a faster conductivity of signals. Know more about this feature of some neurons in the Cen..

    Sugar Homeostasis
    Sugar Homeostasis

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

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics