Schistosoma haematobium infection is differentiated from S. mansoni and S. japonicum clinically and parasitologically by which of the following features?
- A Eggs with a terminal spine found in urine ✓
- B Eggs with a lateral spine found in faeces
- C Cercaria with bifurcated tail penetrating skin
- D Adults residing in superior mesenteric vein tributaries
Correct answer: A. Eggs with a terminal spine found in urine
Explanation
S. haematobium adults reside in the perivesical venous plexus and produce eggs with a terminal spine that are shed in urine, causing haematuria and bladder granulomas. S. mansoni produces eggs with a lateral spine excreted in faeces (resides in inferior mesenteric veins). S. japonicum produces small, rounded eggs with a rudimentary lateral knob, also in faeces. All three species produce cercariae with bifurcated (forked) tails that penetrate human skin—this is a shared morphological feature, not a differentiating one.
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.