cercaria

• Eine geschwänzte, kaulquappenähnliche Larve der Saugwürmer (Trematoden), die als Parasit wirbeltierische Zwischenwirte befällt und sich in der adulten Phase ihres Lebenszyklus vom Schwanz trennt.

A tadpole-shaped parasitic larva of a trematode worm, which loses its tail in the adult stage.

1. Parasitic LarvaC2formalscientific

   A free-swimming, tadpole-shaped larval stage of a trematode (fluke) worm, which develops in a snail host and later infects a vertebrate host, losing its tail as it matures into an adult.

   Parasitäre Larve

   • The cercaria emerges from the snail and swims in search of a suitable host.
   • Cercariae are known to cause schistosomiasis in humans.
   • Under the microscope, the cercaria's forked tail is clearly visible.