urinary blood fluke

The urinary blood fluke, Schistosoma haematobium, is a parasitic flatworm belonging to the class Trematoda. These flukes are a type of schistosome, commonly referred to as blood flukes. They are a significant cause of schistosomiasis, a chronic disease that affects millions worldwide, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.123

The adult S. haematobium lives in the veins of the urinary bladder in humans. Its eggs are laid in the veins, then pass into the bladder and are expelled during urination. The larval stage develops within a snail, the intermediate host, before infecting humans, typically through skin penetration. Schistosomiasis can lead to inflammation of the bladder and other organs, and if left untreated, can cause serious health complications.13