Dear David,

I agree with Dick. At <http://www.jaxshells.org/mollusks.htm> is a
brief discussion of some of the mollusk-trematode-human interactions.

Harry


At 08:12 AM 11/5/2006, you wrote:
>David:
>
>Eating snails is not the cause of schistosomiasis.  There are a number of
>good articles on the subject, including one listing areas where caution
>should be taken, to be found with a Google search. The following paragraph
>is from one of them. The "parasites" mentioned are more properly termed
>cercaria.  Certain snails act as intermediate hosts and do not directly
>transmit the disease.
>
>Fresh water becomes contaminated by Schistosoma eggs when infected people
>urinate or defecate in the water. The eggs hatch, and if certain types of
>snails are present in the water, the parasites grow and develop inside the
>snails. The parasite leaves the snail and enters the water where it can
>survive for about 48 hours. Schistosoma parasites can penetrate the skin of
>persons who are wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water.
>Within several weeks, worms grow inside the blood vessels of the body and
>produce eggs. Some of these eggs travel to the bladder or intestines and are
>passed into the urine or stool.
>
>I do not think Tom has any associaton with the museum you mentioned but am
>not positive.
>
>Regards,
>
>Dick Petit

Harry G. Lee, M. D.
4132 Ortega Forest Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32210 USA
voice (904) 389 4049
email: [log in to unmask]
look at www.jaxshells.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------