Philophthalmus lacrimosus
Species of fluke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philophthalmus lacrimosus is a species of trematodes in the family Philophthalmidae.
| Philophthalmus lacrimosus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Trematoda |
| Order: | Plagiorchiida |
| Family: | Philophthalmidae |
| Genus: | Philophthalmus |
| Species: | P. lacrimosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Philophthalmus lacrimosus Braun, 1902[1] | |
Life cycle
Philophthalmus lacrimosus, as adults, parasitize the eyes of birds (definitive host).[2] Eggs containing miracidia hatch in the water, miracidia penetrate snails[which?] (intermediate hosts) and develop into redia and cercariae.[2] When the metacercariae encyst on surfaces of food for birds the infection of a new definitive host can take place by entering the eye or by oral intake.[2]
Human infections
Human cases of philophthalmosis have been reported in Yugoslavia, Israel, Asia (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan) and the Americas, specifically in Mexico and the United States.[2]
