Schistosoma japonicum

• Common Name of S. japonicum

  Oriental Blood Fluke

  Intestinal Blood Fluke
• Disease Caused by S. japonicum

  Intestinal/Asian Schistosomiasis
• Habitat of S. japonicum

  Superior mesenteric veins of small intestines
• Egg Characteristics of S. japonicum

  • Smallest Schistosome egg (among haematobium and mansoni)
  • Very round or ovoid in shape
  • Pale yellow in color
  • 55-95µm by 40-60µm
  • Exhibits a very small lateral spine/knob (may not be apparent; very minute)
  • “JKL” = Japonicum Knob Lateral
  • Contains a developed miracidium
  • Visually similar to a fertilized decorticated Ascaris egg
• Adult Characteristics of S. japonicum

  • Largest Schistosoma species
  • Dioecious
  • Males are shorter and stouter than females
  • 10-20mm long
  • Lacks integumentary tuberculation
  • Males have gynecophoral canals in which they carry females during the life cycle which facilitates copulation
  • Ovary is found at the middle of the body
  • Adults are almost always seen in copula
  • Can lay 3,000 eggs per worm pair per day
• S. japonicumStatistics

  • Found in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines
  • Out of 1,609 endemic barangays:
  • 30% high prevalence
  • 26% moderate prevalence
  • 33% low prevalence
  • 11% unstratified
  • Zoonotic; can infect more than 40 other mammals
• Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (Intermediate Host) of S. japonicum

  • Live in flood plains, forests, and swamps
  • Man-made habitats such as drainage channels and roadside ditches are considered important habitats
  • Snails are found primarily on the banks; also in very shallow water
  • Prefer cool habitats shaded with vegetation
• Egg of S. japonicum


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• Egg of S. japonicum under microscope


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• Adult S. japonicum


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• Adult S. japonicum

  Female and male