Schistosoma

Erm, Tess' prompt this week brought just one thought to my mind, that of parasites, very colourful parasites I grant you – but parasites nevertheless!

Schistosoma

By the process of elimination

We little parasitic eggs

Move in fast flowing water,

Drift into ponds and

Welcoming wells

Quickly hatch into embryo

(Miricidia)

And move to survive

Penetrating a mollusc

A freshwater snail

Enclosed in its shell.

By a series of transformation

We leave our host mollusc

As contaminating larvae

(Or cercariae if you please)

Spread through surrounding water

And penetrate the skin

Of bathers and swimmers

Clothes washers, pissers and shiters –

Usually select children –

One prick and we're in!

We move up your veins,

Into your heart then your lungs

Transform into worm like adults

Climb into your trachea

(Now here's the insult!)

You swallow us and we set up home

In your small intestine or duodenum

Mate for life with our soul mate

Producing millions of eggs

That by the process of elimination

Move into fast flowing water…

That is, except the eggs

That penetrates your gut wall

And transported by blood

Cause trouble in your liver,

Spleen and lung or

Genitor-urinary apparatus.

Anna :o]

Read about Schistosoma here.