Gastrodiscus hominis is a parasitic flatworm that infects humans. Its name is derived from Greek words "gastro" meaning stomach and "diskos" meaning a disk, referring to the worm's shape. The second part of the name, "hominis," indicates that this species specifically affects humans. In terms of phonetics, the pronunciation of this word is IPA: ɡæstroʊdɪskəs hoʊmaɪnɪs. The diacritical marks indicate that the "g" and "h" are pronounced separately and the stress is on the first syllable of each word.
Gastrodiscus hominis is a parasitic fluke that belongs to the family Gastrodiscidae. It is a small flatworm that primarily infects humans and resides in the intestines, particularly in the lower ileum and cecum. Gastrodiscus hominis has a relatively complex life cycle that involves multiple hosts.
The adult flukes of Gastrodiscus hominis are approximately 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long and have an oval shape. They possess oral and ventral suckers, which enable them to attach to the intestinal wall of the host organism. As a result, they can cause inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa, leading to various detrimental health effects.
The life cycle of Gastrodiscus hominis begins with the release of eggs within the feces of infected humans. These eggs must be ingested by terrestrial snails that serve as intermediate hosts. Within the snail, the eggs develop into miracidia, which are free-swimming larvae. Eventually, these miracidia mature into cercariae, which are able to move and seek out their final host.
The final hosts of Gastrodiscus hominis are primarily humans, but other mammals can also be infected. When the cercariae come into contact with a suitable host, they penetrate the skin and migrate to the intestines, where they develop into adult flukes. This completes the life cycle of Gastrodiscus hominis.
Infection with Gastrodiscus hominis is relatively uncommon but can result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia. Treatment primarily involves the administration of anthelmintic medications to eliminate the parasite from the intestine.
Amphistomum hominis, an intestinal fluke, rarely found in man, of uncertain pathogenicity.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Gastrodiscus hominis" is a scientific name used for a parasitic fluke that infects the human intestines. Let's break down the etymology of this term:
1. Gastrodiscus: The word "Gastrodiscus" is derived from two Greek roots. "Gastro-" (γαστήρ) means "stomach" or "intestine", and "-discus" (δίσκος) means "disk" or "disc". This refers to the round, disk-like shape of the fluke.
2. Hominis: The Latin word "hominis" means "of humans" or "relating to humans". It is the genitive form of "homo" (human), indicating that this particular species of fluke specifically infects humans.