Trematodes, also known as flukes, are hermaphroditic parasites that can self-fertilize. They have a complex lifecycle involving mollusks as intermediate hosts and humans as definitive hosts. The most common morphologic form found in human specimens is eggs. Trematodes can reside in and infect the intestine, liver, lungs, and blood vessels, with different species preferring different organ systems.
Trematodes, also known as flukes, are hermaphroditic parasites that can self-fertilize. They have a complex lifecycle involving mollusks as intermediate hosts and humans as definitive hosts. The most common morphologic form found in human specimens is eggs. Trematodes can reside in and infect the intestine, liver, lungs, and blood vessels, with different species preferring different organ systems.
Trematodes, also known as flukes, are hermaphroditic parasites that can self-fertilize. They have a complex lifecycle involving mollusks as intermediate hosts and humans as definitive hosts. The most common morphologic form found in human specimens is eggs. Trematodes can reside in and infect the intestine, liver, lungs, and blood vessels, with different species preferring different organ systems.
Fluke 2. Capable of self-fertilization. Each segment contains both male and female reproductive systems - Hermaphroditic. 3. Parasites that reproduce via separate sexes – Dioecious 4. Trematode’s first intermediate host – Mollusks (Snails) 5. Three morphologic forms of trematodes o Eggs o Multiple Larval Stages o Adult worms 6. Primary morphologic form recovered in human specimens – Eggs. 7. Encysted form of the parasite – Metacercaria 8. Reside in the intestine, bile duct, or lung – Organ-dwelling. 9. Reside in the blood vessels around the intestine and bladder – Blood- dwelling. 10. Specimen of choice for the recovery of the trematodes – Species- dependent. 11. Areas of the body that primarily harbor the parasite. o Intestinal o Liver o Lung o Blood 12. The intestinal species o Fasciolopsis buski o Heterophyes heterophyes o Metagonimus yokogawai 13. The liver species o Fasciola hepatica o Clonorchis sinensis 14. The lung species o Paragonimus westermani 15. The blood species o Schistosoma mansoni o Schistosoma haematobium o Schistosoma japonicum