Question

Intermediate host of Schistosoma is
a. Sheep
b. Snail
c. Mosquito
d. Pig

Answer 1

The Schistosoma commonly known as blood fluke is a parasitic flatworm that causes an infectious disease in humans called schistosomiasis. Its primary host is human while the secondary host is an animal belonging to the phylum Mollusca. In this disease, the urinary tract or intestine gets affected.

Complete answer:
Schistosomiasis also is known as snail fever is caused by a parasitic flatworm known as Schistosoma or blood fluke. It is an infectious disease occurring in humans which causes intestine or urinary tract infections. The symptoms include blood in urine, abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in the stool, etc. Those who have this disease for a longer time will suffer from kidney damage, bladder cancer, infertility, and more.

The transmission of this disease starts when these parasites are released into the water through the fecal matter of an infected person. After the hatching of larvae from the eggs, they infect the special species of snails, and then it undergoes the next phase of their life cycle in these snails. These parasites reproduce and develop during this time. Once the cycle is completed they leave the snail and enter in water.

Then, it again enters into the mammalian host, undergoes maturation, lays an egg, and infects the intestine.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: The Schistosoma parasite causes an infectious disease and the spread of this disease is completed with the help of two hosts. The primary host is a human whereas the secondary host is a snail. Humans encounter the larvae of this parasite through contaminated water.