Schistosoma hippopotami | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
Class: | Trematoda |
Order: | Diplostomida |
Family: | Schistosomatidae |
Species: | S. hippopotami
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Binomial name | |
Schistosomatidae hippopotami Thurston 1961
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Schistosoma hippopotami is a species of digenetic trematode that belongs to the genus of blood flukes (Schistosoma) that is found in sub-Saharan Africa.[1] It primarily infects African hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus anphibius) and has a more limited host range compared to other Schistosoma species.
Adult parasites have only been found in the heart, aorta, and multiple veins and arteries of the hippopotamuses.[2] It has been suggested that the hippopotamus is the definitive host of S. hippopotami.[3]
S. hippopotami was found in hippopotamuses in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda, along with S. edwardiense. These two species make up the S. hippopotami clade due to the fact that they are the only two Schistosoma species that infect hippopotamuses. The understanding of the existence of this clade brings the thought that this clade could be basal to all African and several Asian species of Schistosoma.[4]