Daphnia
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Daphnia, commonly known as water fleas, are small crustaceans of the branchiopod order that serve as important fish food and act as intermediate hosts for parasitic worms such as Echinuria uncinata affecting ducks.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
DAPHNIA, or water fleas, are small crustaceans of the subclass of lower crustaceans (Entomostraca), the order of leaf-footed crustaceans (Phyllopoda), and the suborder of cladocerans (Cladocera). As part of the plankton, Daphnia serve as food for fish fry and various aquatic insects. Daphnia pulex is an intermediate host of the roundworm Echinuria (Spiroptera) uncinata, which lives in its sexually mature state in the intestine of ducks. The worm larvae emerge from eggs swallowed by Daphnia, burrow through the wall of the Daphnia's intestine, and settle in its body cavity. Ducks become infected by eating Daphnia containing the worm larvae.
Related articles
Mentioned in
Cite this page
“Daphnia.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/daphnia/