Laboratory transmission of Schistosoma mansoni in brackish waters; survival and infectivity of cercariae.
Schistosoma mansoni cercariae were exposed to various dilutions of sea water, both in the absence and in the presence of mice. It was found that whereas 100% and 75% sea water were lethal to the parasites, the parasites survived in lower concentrations of sea water. The lower the concentration the longer was the survival time. Similarly, the rate of infection of mice decreased as the concentration of the sea water increased.