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^HIUP T. CLAM PITT <br />Associate Zoologist <br />Cranbrook Institute of Science <br />Ultmtftticns dy.Scff/ oe/« <br />flukcs"aK iw *"*''*’ *alerfbwl, and bloodare interiwincd in the story of ‘•swimmers- <br />I, . * technically as schistosome dermatitis <br />^jentific detective story which in *enerarwas <br />In details remain <br />to be discosered. Swimmers' itch is a problemTf <br />STof hi f"'7“ becauseW of Its focal points is the upper Great Lakes region <br />n Mich^an, at least, there is some evidence that <br />n»^r the Itch has been spreading southward. <br />Anyone with an interest in ecology, snails narasii- <br />S'vimming, duck huntine, tourism <br />o^^s. public health, pollution, or children m^y <br />with sldir" ° ^ ron«rned-al least indirecily- <br />o!l Pf "te Michigan Water Resources <br />Tri: ^ ~ of Swimmers'Iteh in Nl,chig.m (1969), gives a useful perspective <br />on the swimmers' itch problem as follows; <br />“Al least as far back as the lumbering days <br />penally developed following swimming in certain <br />lieas. As recreational use of Micliigaa's lakes has <br />HKreased. more people have encounicred this rash <br />known popularly as swimmers' itch and medically <br />ns schistosome cercarial derniaiiiis. Alihou.di it <br />IS estimated that swimmers' itch has been reponed <br />m the last tvveniy >ws from fewer than one percent <br />"'0 ‘o'-eo. <br />S V?if°'c"‘ P"” P""' often af- <br />swimmers' itch have adversely <br />air«ted the income of some resorts, inconvenienced <br />llllrir.T™? operators, spoiled someprecious family vacations, and created temporary <br />discomfort for affected bathers. To these Aople! <br />the imimrtance of swimmers’ itch and its control <br />cannot be overstated.” <br />is‘ilso common ir Minnesota. Wisconsin. <br />provinces of Canada, <br />ofthltrid ” "“"f PP«‘ <br />The rash associated with sivimmers* itch follows <br />penetration of the skin by tiny water-borne la^ae" <br />^Icd cercariae^or certain parasitic flaiwornis. Small <br />pustules appear on the skin after a few hours <br />wherever the cercariac have penetrated, and are ac- <br />mpanied by an intense itching sensation which may <br />last for several days. Cercariac of about twenty dif- <br />schistosome worms (blood flukes) arc <br />known to penetrate the skin of man and produce a <br />rash. These worms normally parasitize certain birds <br />nH I. K‘rTn ; into <br />host “accidental.”host. After the cercariac penetrate the human skin <br />they die rather than developing further. <br />In contrast to related species of blood flukes which <br />iio mature in man but which do not normally-thcre <br />« <br />• « <br />11 <br />4 "'r. s <br />T he liv <br />flukes a <br />itch,*’ k <br />It is A SI <br />iolved $< <br />to be di <br />potenUal <br />one of its <br />Id Michi <br />increased in <br />nmge of the <br />p. T <br />’ • ».Anyone with <br />f <br />; <br />* ^ology, water! <br />■economics, p <br />f . < <br />id:'have reason. ^ *. <br />‘. A with swimmei <br />about it. <br />A publicatt <br />Commission,ii Itch in Michi: <br />a <br />on the swimm' <br />••At <br />bather <br />casioni <br />areas, <br />increas <br />known <br />as schi <br />is estim