Horák P., Kolářová L.
(2001): Bird schistosomes - do they die in mammalian skin? Trends in Parasitology
17 (2) : 66-69.
Keywords
TRICHOBILHARZIA-OCELLATA, CERCARIAL DERMATITIS, MANSONI, PENETRATION, SECRETION,
DUCK, HOST
Abstract
The cercariae of bird
schistosomes, released from the intermediate water snail host, actively penetrate
the skin of both birds and mammals. Whereas in birds the infection leads to
worm maturation and egg production, in the mammalian hosts skin invasion is
accompanied by cercarial dermatitis (swimmer's itch, clam-digger's disease)
and the fate of the parasites is not clear. Here, we review bird schistosomes
as causative agents of cercarial dermatitis, underline adaptations of bird schistosomes
to their life in vertebrate hosts, and discuss potential risks caused by the
parasites migrating in humans.
ISSN 1471-4922
IF 4,682
UK