ZOONOTIC IMPORTANCE OF NEMATODES

Following Nematode species have zoonotic importance:

• Strongyloides stercoralis
• Ascaris lumbricoides
• Toxascaris canis /T.cati/ T.leonina
• Trichinella spiralis
• Dioctophyma renale
• Dracunculus medinensis
• Necatar amaricanus
Strongyloides stercoralis
Strongyloides stercoralis is classified as a soil-transmitted helminth. This means that
the primary mode of infection is through contact with soil that is contaminated with
free-living larvae. When the larvae come in contact with skin, they can penetrate it
and migrate through the body, eventually finding their way to the small intestine
where they burrow and lay their eggs. The eggs of S. stercoralis hatch into larvae in
the intestine. Most of these larvae will be excreted in the stool, but some of the larvae
may mature and immediately re-infect the host either by burrowing into the intestinal
wall or by penetrating the skin around the anus. This characteristic of S. stercoralis
is termed auto-infection. The significance of auto-infection is that unless treated for
S. stercoralis, persons may remain infected throughout their lifetime. In addition to
contact with soil and auto-infection, there have been rare cases of person-to-person
transmission in organ transplantation.
Ascaris lumbricoides
Eggs of Ascaris are passed out in feces. The infective stage [L2] develops in the eggs
after 10 days in the environment. Infection occurs when humans consume food,
water, or soil contaminated with Ascaris eggs which are called ascariasis. It is found
in association with low personal hygiene, and poor sanitation. The parasite is most
common in warm, and humid climates.
Toxascaris canis /T.cati/ T.leonina
In case of children T.cati ,T. Leonina produces a disease condition called visceral
larvae migrans. As children have a special habit of eating soil and the infective eggs
of these parasites are generally present in soil in large doses .Due to this there is a
Granulomatous Eosinophilia and lesions in various tissue such as lungs .liver, brain
and eye. The important symptoms are loss of body weight, loss of appetite, cough,
fever. This can be diagnosed by taking a biopsy of liver. If larvae are present in the
eye it may cause blindness
Trichinella spiralis
As trichinella species are found in muscles of pig , men and another animal. Infection
occurs in man through the ingestion of contaminated meat. The larva develop
specially in the voluntary muscle and are also found in , the pancreas, kidney.
Calcification occurs and they can live for several years. Heavy infection of this
parasite leads to paralysis of respiratory disease and may also lead to death .

Dioctophyma renale
Dioctophyma renale (giant kidney worm), is mostly found in the kidneys of dogs,
foxes, etc. Eggs are excreted in the urine. Eggs do not hatch until ingested by an
intermediate host(earthworm). On ingestion, by earthworm, the larvae hatch out of
eggs in the intestine and after two months they metamorphose to the infective larvae.
Infective larvae may be taken up by tadpoles or frogs or fish which serve as paratenic
hosts. Man acquires infection by ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked fish or frog
containing infective larvae. The worm may remain alive for up to 5 years in the
kidneys. It may cause obstruction, hydronephrosis, and destruction of the renal
parenchyma and cause renal colic and hematuria. The treatment in complicated cases
is limited to surgical removal of the affected kidney.
Dracunculus medinensis
They are mostly found in subcutaneous tissue of man and rarely observed in dog,
horse ,cattle and other animals. Parasite residing in the subcutaneous region causes
swelling which then is converted into ulcer when this ulcer comes in contact with
water it encourages the release of larvae .larva then is ingested by the intermediate
host. Infection occurs through the ingestion of contaminated water by final
host.Signs of itching , blister formation, rise in temperature are generally seen.
Necator amaricanus
Transmission of N.americanus larvae occurs through exposed skin, by
environmental acquisition from the soil, feces, and another contaminated surface.
Nutrition and blood loss are the major contributors to ill effects from the interaction
between host and parasite. The severity of the disease is directly related to the
number of worms in the host’s body. Generally the patient is asymptomatic in case
of infection by less number of parasites but the patient will experience fatigue, iron
deficiency leading to anemia, loss of appetite and abdominal pains in case of high
infection. The patient will experience anemia and, depending on the diet of the
person, possibly death. Children are at greater risks for lifelong damage and death
due to their smaller size and greater need for nutrition. Generally, infestation does
not lead to death, but may cause permanent damage.

Submitted by Submitted to

Pushpa Sharma Dr. Ananta Dahal

Roll number : 30 Department of Veterinary

Microbiology and Parasitology