Humans become infected with schistosomiasis when cercariae burrow through the skin. While reference to peroral infection is scant in humans, it has been documented in animals.
The most likely source for an oral infection would be environmental water.
Gastric acid, bile and pancreatic juices would be expected to be toxic to cercariae. However, infection could occur in the lips, oral cavity, pharynx or esophagus.
Risk factors for an oral route of infection of Schistosomiasis:
(1) large number of cercariae in the water
(2) failure to filter or to treat the water
(3) repeated peroral exposures
(4) large volume of water ingested
(5) achlorhydria
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