DNA studies of Egyptian mummies shows evidence of the existence of Schistosomiasis about 5000 years ago. Schistosomiasis is increasing in prevalence, affecting nearly 10% of the world’s population and ranking second only to malaria as a cause of morbidity & mortality. Schistosoma haematobium are ... found in tropical Africa & part of southwest Asia. Schistosoma mansoni are found in tropical Africa, part of southwest Asia, south America & Caribbean islands. Schistosoma japonicum are found in parts of Japan, China, Philippines, India & part of southeast Asia. Blood flukes are known as schistosomes because of the "split body" on the ventral side of the male, in which the female is held during insemination and egg laying. Man is the definite host harbouring adult parasites, and fresh water snails are intermediate hosts. more

Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis, is traditionally acquired by drinking water containing copepods (water fleas) infected with D. medinensis larvae, but in recent years also appears increasingly to be transmitted by eating fish or other aquatic anima ... ls. The worm typically emerges through the skin on a lower limb of the host 1 year after infection, causing pain and disability. more