The simple laboratory maintenance of a highly productive Schistosoma japonicum life cycle

Abstract

The maintenance and infection of Oncomelania hupensis hupensis, the intermediate host of the Chinese strain of Schistosoma japonicum, is described. 60% of the snails exposed to miracidia became patent, and 5000 patent snails can be produced which yield over 250,000 cercariae per week. The maintenance and infection of snails require less than 8 man-hours per week.