Roundworms

1. Ascaris lumbricoides
2. Ancylostoma and Necator
3. Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm)
4. Wuchereria bancrofti
Ascaris lumbricoides

• Endemic in the rural southeastern United States

• Causative agent of ascariasis:
- Most common nematode infection of humans worldwide
-Eggs are ingested in water or on vegetables
- Adult worms grow and reproduce in the small intestine
• Most infections are asymptomatic
• Proper sanitation and hygiene are important for prevention
Ancylostoma and Necator
• How to memorize: A & N: Affecting the iNtestines.

• 2 hookworm infect human

• Ancylostoma duodenale (duodenum)
• Necator americanus
• Larvae burrow through skin
• Travel to the heart, lungs, and eventually the small intestine
• Adult worms suck the blood of their hosts
• Causes chronic anemia, iron and protein deficiencies
• Ground itch occurs at the site of larvae penetration
• Wearing shoes in endemic areas helps prevent exposure
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm)
• Most common parasitic worm found in the United States
• Humans are the only host for Enterobius
• Female pinworms deposit their eggs in the anus
• Infections are often asymptomatic (same as ascaris)
• Intense perianal itching occurs if symptomatic
• germs that cause illness found in feces (fecal-oral spread).
Wuchereria bancrofti
• Filarial nematode
• Infects the lymphatic system
• Causative agent of filariasis
• Transmitted by various genera of female mosquitoes
• - Mosquitoes transmit the parasite to new individual
• • Remains asymptomatic for years
• Lymphatic damage can result in elephantiasis
• Prevention relies on avoiding infected mosquitoes
Compare & Contrast
Large nematode Hookworms Pinworm Filarial nematode
Characteristic Ascaris Ancylostoma and Enterobius Wuchereria
lumbricoides Necator vermicularis bancrofti
Infected part Small intestine of Heart, lungs and Adult live in large Lymphatic system
human, horse & pig small intestine intestine
Transmission Ingestion of eggs in Skin penetration by Fecal oral spread. Female mosquitoes
water and ( larvae) Only infected bite.
vegetables. human! - Ingest microfilariae
- Adultworms suck - Female pinworm (INFECTED) when
- Adult worms grow the blood of their deposit eggs in bite an infected
and reproduce in host anus. human (who carries
small intestine. adult worms in their
lymphatic system)
- Transmit the
parasite to new
individual.
Symptoms and Mostly Chronic anemia, Mostly Asymptomatic for
disease asymptomatic iron & protein asymptomatic years
deficiencies
Intense perianal Elephantiatis (late
Itchy at site of itching phase) and scrotal
larvae penetration damage
What is filarial nematode, pinworm and hookworm?
• they belong to different families and have distinct characteristics
Filarial nematode Pinworm Hookworm
Thread-like worms Worms are small, white, Hookworms are small to
belonging to the family thread-like nematodes medium-sized nematodes
Filarioidea. belonging to the family belonging to the families
Oxyuridae Ancylostomatidae
(Ancylostoma species) and
Necatoridae (Necator
species). These worms
primarily infect the small
intestine of humans.

HABITAT, TRANSMISSION, SYMPTIMS ALL DIFFERENT

Lymphatic filariasis
( parasitic disease)
• Adult worms live in the afferent
lymphatic vessels and cause
severe disruption to the
lymphatic system
• Scrotal damage and massive pid
swelling may occur when adult
Wuchereria bancrofti lodge in
the lymphatics of the spermatic
cord
• Late stage disease is typified by
elephantiasis - painful and
disfiguring swelling of the limbs