Heterophyes heterophyes | |
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Adult specimen stained with carmine | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
Class: | Trematoda |
Order: | Plagiorchiida |
Family: | Heterophyidae |
Genus: | Heterophyes |
Species: | H. heterophyes
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Binomial name | |
Heterophyes heterophyes (Siebold, 1853)
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Synonyms | |
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Heterophyes heterophyes, or the intestinal fish fluke, was discovered by Theodor Maximaillian Bilharz in 1851. This parasite was found during an autopsy of an Egyptian mummy.[1] H. heterophyes is found in the Middle East, West Europe and Africa.[2] They use different species to complete their complex lifestyle. Humans and other mammals are the definitive host, first intermediate host are snails, and second intermediate are fish. Mammals that come in contact with the parasite are dogs, humans, and cats. Snails that are affected by this parasite are the Cerithideopsilla conica. Fish that come in contact with this parasite are Mugil cephalus, Tilapia milotica, Aphanius fasciatus, and Acanthgobius sp.[2] Humans and mammals will come in contact with this parasite by the consumption of contaminated or raw fish.[3] This parasite is one of the smallest endoparasite to infect humans.[4] It can cause intestinal infection called heterophyiasis.[5]