Habitat.—Jejunum and duodenum of man, German West Africa. The parasite has only been found once in man. The patient, a negro from German West Africa, died at Zola, Northern Nigeria. The symptoms were persistent watery diarrhœa without blood or mucus. The parasites were also passed in the stools. It occurs also in monkeys.
Family. Gastrodisciidæ.
Genus. Gastrodiscus, Lkt., 1877.
Acetabulum small, caudal and ventral margin raised, aperture relatively large. Genital pore without sucker. Excretory pore post-vesicular, posterior to opening of Laurer’s canal. Œsophagus with muscular thickening; cæca not wavy, long, end post-equatorial and post-testicular.
Male Genitalia.—Testes two, branched pre-ovarial.
Female genitalia.—Ovary and shell gland post-testicular. Vitellaria extracæcal; uterus intercæcal; Laurer’s canal entirely prevesicular.
Type.—Gastrodiscus ægyptiacus, Cobbold, 1876.
Gastrodiscus hominis, Lewis and McConnell, 1876.[267]
Syn.: Amphistomum hominis, Lew. and McConn.