What material components make up the complex eggshells of Soil-Transmitted Helminths?
Answer
Proteins, chitinous material, and lipids.
The remarkable persistence of many parasitic worms in the environment is directly attributable to the structural integrity of their eggs, which serve as the primary mode of transmission for Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs). The eggshells are described as complex structures, not single-layered entities, built from three primary material classes: proteins, chitinous material, and lipids. This composite makeup grants them substantial resilience, enabling survival against environmental stressors such as desiccation (drying out), exposure to strong acids or bases, and resistance to common water treatment disinfectants like chlorine, UV light, or ozone.

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