Table 1 is an overview of flukes found either in or around the intestinal tract, and/or those which can be diagnosed by finding their eggs in the feces. Notice the three things that all have in common: snail is an intermediate host, water, and finding eggs in the feces!
Table 1. An Overview of Trematodes (Intestinal Flukes).Species | Location of Adult Stage | Location of Larval Stage/s | Method of Diagnosis |
Fasciolopsis buski | Duodenum and jejunum | Snail and aquatic vegetation | Eggs in feces |
Heterophyes, Echinostoma spp., and Metagonimus | Small intestine | Snail, freshwater fish, additional snails, frogs | Eggs in feces |
Nanophyetus salmoncola | Intestinal tract | Snail and salmonid fish | Eggs in feces |
Fasciola hepatica | Biliary system including liver | Snail and aquatic vegetation | Eggs in feces |
Clonorchis and Opistorchis spp. | Biliary system including liver | Snail and freshwater fish | Eggs in feces |
Paragonimus spp. | Parenchyma of lungs; occasional ectopic sites | Snail and freshwater crabs and crayfish | Eggs in sputum or feces |
Schistosoma spp. | S. mansoni and S. intercalatum: portal and inferior mesenteric vein S.japonicum and mekongi: superior mesenteric vein S. hematobium: venus plexus of urinary bladder, prostate, uterus | Snail | Eggs in feces (also urine for S. hematobium) |