The biology of Schistosoma japonicum, Philippine strain: a review.

ABSTRACT

Some important and adequately studied aspects of the biology of Schistosoma japonicum in the Philippines were reviewed and presented. The identity of the species of human blood fluke in the Philippines was established by Tubangui who also was the first to complete the life cycle of the parasite in his laboratory. Successful cross-infections of different strains of S. Japonicum from different mammalian hosts including man suggest that there is only one common strain for all of the definitive hosts in the Philippines. Studies on egg-laying habits, factors affecting hatching of eggs, eruption of cercariae from snails, cercarial survival and undocumented obervations are considered in this review.