How Do You Spell SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM?

1. Schistosoma haematobium is a parasitic flatworm species that belongs to the genus Schistosoma, in the family Schistosomatidae. The organism is commonly known as the blood fluke and is one of the primary causative agents of a neglected tropical disease called schistosomiasis or bilharzia.

   Schistosoma haematobium has a complex lifecycle involving both definitive (human) and intermediate hosts (aquatic snails). The adult flukes reside in the veins surrounding the urinary bladder and the pelvic plexus in the human host. These parasites exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males being smaller and residing in the gynecophoral canal of the larger females. The female flukes produce numerous eggs that can cause significant damage to the human host's tissues.

   The eggs are released from the human host through urine and gain entry to freshwater bodies, where they hatch and release free-swimming larvae called miracidia. These larvae then infect specific species of snails, where they undergo asexual reproduction and develop into cercariae. The cercariae are then released into the water, actively seeking human hosts for penetration.

   When humans come into contact with the contaminated water, the cercariae penetrate the skin, enter the bloodstream, and migrate to the urinary system. Here, they undergo further development into adult flukes, restarting the lifecycle.

   Infection by Schistosoma haematobium can lead to various health complications, including hematuria (blood in urine), bladder, and renal damage, and in severe cases even bladder cancer. The disease primarily affects individuals in sub-Saharan Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and parts of the Middle East, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.

   Preventive measures

Common Misspellings for SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM

The etymology of the word Schistosoma haematobium can be broken down as follows:

1. Schistosoma: The word Schistosoma derives from the Greek word skhistos, which means split, and soma, which means body. It refers to the split or elongated shape of the organism's body.

2. Haematobium: The word haematobium comes from the Greek word haima meaning blood and obia meaning a parasite. It refers to the fact that Schistosoma haematobium is a blood parasite.

Therefore, Schistosoma haematobium can be translated to mean blood-dwelling split-bodied parasite.