Finals Week Special

For finals week, we have a special blog series.  Each day this week, we will feature a different parasite that is likeable in a weird way.  Today, I give you the Most Romantic Parasite.

Schistosoma Mansoni
 
 This blood fluke (which is weird, because fluke means flatworm, and schistosomes are round, but classified as flukes, probably because of their lifecycle), is really quite a meanie when you first think of him.  He causes acute schistosomiasis and chronic schistosomiasis.  Acute schistosomiasis is a febrile illness that doesn't usually kill you.  At least until you die of chronic schistosomiasis, which kills you by fibrotic organ failure.  And you get to live with blood-loss induced anemia for most of the rest of your life to boot.

But, I'm going to tell you something adorable.  The males have a ventral groove.  They grow up, court their female, and when they find their eternal companion, they don't just get married and stay monogamous.  The female will actually attach herself to his ventral groove and live there!  You've got to admit, that is ridiculously romantic.  And who said that only humans are monogamous?

Comments

p said…
As a male, that is not my idea of romantic.
December 10, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Amy R said…
Although I am female, I have to agree with "p." I wouldn't call it romantic.
December 11, 2012 at 2:22 AM
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