Morphological Specifications of the Bird Schistosome Cercariae and Surface Carbohydrates as Receptors for Lectins

Background: to determine the morphological specifications of the bird schistosomes cercaria from lymnaeagedrosiana and to detect the surface carbohydrates as receptors for host lectins in the host-parasiterelationship systems such as avian schistosomiasis and human cercarial dermatitis.methods: one hundred ninety two snails collected from dezful areas in khuzestan province, in the southwest of iran, during 2005-2006 were examined for cercariae using shedding and crushing methods. inaddition, surface carbohydrates on the cercariae were detected by lentil (lens culinaris) lectins.results: from the total number of lymnaea gedrosiana, which examined for bird schistosomes cercaria,9(4%) snails were found to be infected with furcocercus cercaria of the bird schistosomes (probablygigantobilharzia sp.). mannose monosaccharide ch2oh (choh)4cho as surface carbohydrate was alsodetected on the cercariae.conclusion: mannose carbohydrate on these cercariae may be used as receptor by lectins.