Schistosoma mansoni requires which intermediate host?

Study for the Introduction to Parasitology Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam thoroughly!

Multiple Choice

Schistosoma mansoni requires which intermediate host?

Explanation:
Schistosoma mansoni has a two-host life cycle, with a crucial step happening inside a freshwater snail. Miracidia from eggs in water infect snails ( Biomphalaria species ), where the parasite multiplies asexually and develops into cercariae. These cercariae are released into water and can then penetrate human skin, starting infection in the definitive host. So, the intermediate host is the snail. The other options don’t fit because fish, mosquitoes, or mammals are not the snail-stage hosts required for this parasite’s development.

Schistosoma mansoni has a two-host life cycle, with a crucial step happening inside a freshwater snail. Miracidia from eggs in water infect snails ( Biomphalaria species ), where the parasite multiplies asexually and develops into cercariae. These cercariae are released into water and can then penetrate human skin, starting infection in the definitive host. So, the intermediate host is the snail. The other options don’t fit because fish, mosquitoes, or mammals are not the snail-stage hosts required for this parasite’s development.

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