Schistosomes. Light micrograph of eggs and a miracidial larva (blue, centre) of the fluke Schistosoma haematobium, the cause of the disease schistosom

---

Schistosomes. Light micrograph of eggs and a miracidial larva (blue, centre) of the fluke Schistosoma haematobium, the cause of the disease schistosomiasis (bilharzia). The eggs are expelled in the urine of humans infected with the schistosome parasite, and enter lakes and rivers, where they hatch into the miracidium larva. This infects aquatic snails, where it multiplies and develops into cercariae, which infect humans who enter the water. The mature adult form lives in veins around the bladder, where the females lay eggs. Infection causes kidney and liver damage if untreated. Differential interference contrast. Magnification unknown.

---

Size: 4540px × 3092px
Photo credit: © SINCLAIR STAMMERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bilharzia, contrast, development, differential, disease, egg, eggs, flatworm, fluke, haematobium, interference, invertebrate, invertebrates, larva, light, micrograph, miracidium, nature, parasite, parasitic, pathogen, pathogenic, pathogens, platyhelminthes, schistosoma, schistosomiasis, spine, wildlife, zoology