![]() ![]() Since it was first described in Michigan in 1928, swimmer's itch has been reported from around the world. Seabather's eruption mostly occurs in salt water, on skin covered by clothing or hair, whereas swimmer's itch mostly occurs in freshwater, on uncovered skin. The schistosomatidae that give rise to swimmer’s itch should not to be confused with those of the genus Schistosoma, which infect humans and cause the serious human disease schistosomiasis, or with larval stages of thimble jellyfish (Linuche unguiculata), which give rise to seabather's eruption. Each papule corresponds to the penetration site of a single parasite. Within hours, these spots become raised papules which are intensely itchy. This reaction causes initially mildly itchy spots on the skin. The cercaria larvae cannot infect humans, but they cause an inflammatory immune reaction. ![]() The cercaria penetrates the skin and dies in the skin immediately. These larvae can accidentally come into contact with the skin of a swimmer. During one of their life stages, the larvae of the parasite, cercaria, leave the water snails and swim freely in the freshwater, attempting to encounter water birds. Mostly waterfowl are used as the vertebrate host. These parasites use both freshwater snails and vertebrates as hosts in their parasitic life cycles. OR at least that is what I recall hearing, though I never really looked it up, so that could all be wrong I recall mainly birds and snails.Ī number of different flatworm parasites in the family Schistosomatidae are what cause swimmer’s itch. I think, if I recall correctly, birds that are infected with the "itch", and then the snails collect/eat it, then they release the little chiggers, then they burrow into humans or feed or whatever, and then birds eat the organisms, and then it starts all over again. ![]()
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