Urinary schistosomiasis. Coloured X-ray of the bladder of a person with schistosomiasis, or bilharzia. The wall of the bladder has become calcified (white circular line). Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by a blood-borne fluke. The fluke enters the body and inhabits the blood vessels around the bladder. When the female lays her eggs the eggs move to the wall of the bladder, where they cause inflammation, fever, calcification and bladder stones. In chronic cases it can also lead to cancer of the bladder. Treatment is with the anthelmintic drug Praziquantel.