Abstract:
Schistosoma hippopotami were collected from the right heart chambers and pulmonary arteries of Hippopotamus
amphibius culled in the Kruger National Park. The schistosomes were subjected to scanning electron
microscopy as well as optical microscopy. The results indicate that S. hippopotami is not conspecific to S.
mansoni as suggested in the literature. On account of the morphology of certain tegumental structures of both
male and female parasites, it is suggested that S. hippopotami is adapted to the pulmonary arterial circulation of
its host.
