Round worms

Life cyle
 What are they?
 Roundworms are big worms. Typically they
are white, about the diameter of a
spaghetti-strand and about 4 inches in
length. Often times kittens or puppies
vomit one up or we are horrified when we
see them in the feces.
 Kittens or puppies may be born with
roundworms! We know that Roundworm
larva are tiny enough to migrate through
the placental blood supply to the fetal liver
or lungs. Soon after birth the juvenile
roundworms begin migrating from the liver
and lungs to the intestine where they grow
to adults and begin laying eggs. Within
three weeks after birth, puppies and kittens
can begin shedding roundworm eggs into
the environment.
 A second source of infection is through the
mother's milk - Roundworm larva can gain
entry into the mammary glands and then be
passed to the puppies or kittens as they
nurse
 A third possibility is if the young animal
should eat an embryonated egg found in
fecal contamination of food or water bowls,
the nesting box or other environmental
sources. The egg hatches within the
intestine and a "Blood-Lung" migration
begins as described below.
 dogs
 There are two species of roundworms
affecting dogs and puppies: Toxocara canis
and Toxascaris leonina. Both are treated
with the same medication protocol so when
eggs are seen on a fecal flotation exam, it is
not necessary to determine which species is
present.
 Regular deworming is especially
recommended for dogs that hunt and might
consume the flesh of hosts carrying worm
larvae. Puppies are frequently simply assumed
to be infected and automatically dewormed
 . If a dog or puppy vomits up a worm, there is
a good chance this is a roundworm (especially
in a puppy). Roundworms are long, white and
described as looking like spaghetti.
Tapeworms can also be vomited
 Worm Species in Cattle
Cattle host over 14 different species of gastro-
intestinal roundworms. Different species live in
different locations in the intestine. As there are
usually just a few of these roundworms present, the
harm they cause is not always apparent and can be
difficult to assess.
Four species live in the abomasum:
 barber pole worm (Haemonchus placei)
 brown stomach worms (Ostertagia ostertagi and O.
bisonis)
 threadworm (Trichostrongylus axei)
 Life Cycle of Roundworms cattle

Although some details vary, the life cycle of

all the gastro-intestinal roundworms of cattle
follows a similar pattern (Figure 1):
 1.Female roundworms lay microscopic eggs
that pass in the manure of cattle.
 2.Within a few days, a free-living larva
develops and hatches from the egg
 .3.The hatched larva develops through a second, and
then a third stage where it becomes capable of
infecting cattle. Larval development on pasture takes
only a few days in warmer months, but takes several
weeks during cooler weather
 .4.Cattle become infected with roundworms as they
graze on pasture or by ingesting food or water
contaminated with manure containing infective
larvae.
 5.The larvae mature in the intestine and then mate.
The females begin shedding eggs within two to four
weeks after being ingested by the cow.
 When do Cattle Become Infected?

Roundworms live for approximately one year

in cattle. As the previous year's adults die, they
are replaced by a new generation of parasites.
This stage generally occurs from June to
August. This annual cycle has two high points
for egg output: one in the spring and one in the
late summer/early autumn
 Life cycle horses
 Lifecycle of the common internal parasites
Worms living in the tissues and the gut are true
parasites, using the horse’s body as a source of
nutrition and lodging. Initially, minute larval stages
migrate through the gut wall and undergo
development (moults) within the body tissues, blood
vessels and organs. Even a small number of worms in
these stages can cause severe and permanent internal
damage. Unfortunately, during this migratory period
(up to 6 months for Bloodworms) the larval stages are
not controlled by all worming compounds.
 The worms do not multiply in the horse’s body
but through microscopic eggs passed in the
manure. Studies have shown that up to 99% of
a worm population exists as eggs or larvae on
the pasture or in stable bedding. Worm eggs
either hatch to produce minute larvae
(Bloodworms, Small Redworms) or develop
into infective eggs on the pasture (Large
 It is important that all persons responsible for
the health care of horses have an
understanding of the common worms and how
to control them. Regular worm control of
internal parasites is important to ensure proper
digestive efficiency and freedom from worm-
related conditions.
Heavy worm burdens can lead to recurring
colic, poor condition, lack of thrift, chronic or
acute diarrhoea, poor stamina and coat
condition, and lack of performance in horses
of all ages
 Life cycle cats
 There are two species of roundworms affecting
cats and kittens: Toxocara cati and Toxascaris
leonina. Both are treated with the same
medication protocol so when eggs are seen on
a fecal flotation exam it may not be necessary
to determine which species is present. T.
leonina can infect both dogs and cats so
identifying this roundworm might be helpful in
indicating which pets in the household are at
risk for further contagion
HOW DO WE KNOW IF A CAT IS
INFECTED?
 Regular deworming is especially
recommended for cats that hunt and might
consume the flesh of hosts carrying worm
larvae. Kittens are frequently simply assumed
to be infected and automatically dewormed.
 If a cat or kitten vomits up a worm, there is a
good chance this is a roundworm (especially in
a kitten). Roundworms are long, white and
described as looking like spaghetti.
Tapeworms can also be vomited up but these
are flat and obviously segmented
 Life cycle pigs
 The large roundworm (Ascaris suum) is found
in the small intestine of pigs and can grow to
400 mm long and 7 mm thick at maturity.
 Heavily infested pigs may have up to 250
worms blocking the small intestines and the
bile duct causing loss of appetite, vomiting and
death. In less extreme cases there is reduced
appetite, poor feed efficiency and slow growth.
 Pigs 6 to 12 weeks old are the most seriously
affected, while mature pigs may carry the
worms without ill effect. Growth rate and feed
efficiency can be depressed by up to 10%.
 The female roundworm is estimated to
produce more than 300 000 eggs per day
which are passed in the dung of infected pigs.
The eggs can survive for years in moist
conditions to infect other pigs.
 Larvae (immature forms) reach the liver after
hatching from eggs in the small intestine and passing
through the gut wall. Liver damage is seen as white
'milk' spots on the surface of the organ. Entering the
bloodstream, larvae reach the heart and then the lungs
where they may cause a low grade pneumonia. After
being coughed up and swallowed they mature in the
small intestine.
 The cycle from egg to egg production is completed
within 2 months. The parasite is confirmed in a herd
by presence of eggs in the faeces and evidence of
liver damage (milk spot) at slaughter.