Marita

Marita is the sexually mature stage of some trematodes (parasitic flatworms) that live in definitive hosts and are capable of sexual reproduction. At the same time, they release fertilized eggs into the environment, from where they can enter the body of an intermediate host.

Marita is the most advanced stage of the fluke life cycle. It has well-developed sensory organs that help it find food and avoid predators. In addition, Marita has the ability to reproduce sexually, which allows her to pass on her genes to the next generation.

Marite-like larvae are one of the life cycle stages of the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The zygote pierces the wall of the yolk sac and turns into a flat larva with a cord-like body (marita), up to 5 mm long. The width of the marita is proportional to the length of the body and is approximately equal to 20% of its size, i.e., 0.3–0.4 mm. The front end of the marita has the shape of a hook, bent upward and backward. At this end two large and several small suckers are clearly visible. The last ovary has a peripharyngeal opening and the copulatory apparatus is located under it