CLASS NEMATODA

Nematodes are commonly called roundworms. They belong to the Phylum Aschelminthes (Nematoda). The adult forms are non-
segmented, cylindrical, tapered at both ends, and covered by a tough protective covering or cuticle. Their sexes are separate, most of the
time the females are generally larger than the males. The facultative (free-living) parasites among the nematodes are the hookworms. Stages
in the life cycle of nematodes include 1.) egg (most seen in feces in the laboratory), 2.) larva (Larvae form of hookworm: Filariform and
Rhabditiform), which undergoes several molts, and 3.) adult (very few). Most of the eggs have colors such as yellow, golden brown, and brown
because they pass through the feces.
Infective Stage (what causes infection); Diagnostic Stage (what you find in feces either un/fertilized);
Intermediate Host (part of life cycle); Morphology (how you describe, how they can be distinguished)
Scarlett S. Hernandezs notes
Scientific Name Common Habitat Morphology Stages Host/Mode of
Name Transmission
Ascaris Giant Small Egg- fertilized eggs has an outer coarsely Infective Stage Intermediate Host
lumbricoides Intestinal Intestine mammilated albuminous covering - Fertilized egg - none
Roundwor (corticated), if not found it is called
m decorticated Diagnostic Stage Mode of Transmission
- Fertilized/ Unfertilized - Ingestion; water
Adult- worms have three lips (tri-radiate egg and food (ex. plays in
lips); Females pointed end, males curved soil, vegetables, flies)
(to hold the female during copulation)
posterior end
Enterobius Pinworm or Lower ileum Egg- D-shaped, one side flattened, the Infective Stage Intermediate Host
vermicularis Seatworm and cecum other convex; transparent(colorless) shell - Embryonated egg - none
(Large
Intestine) Adult- have cuticular alar expansions at Diagnostic Stage Mode of Transmission
anterior end (cephalic alae) [prominent - Unembryonated/ - Inhalation, airborne,
posterior; esophageal bulb?]. Males Embryonated egg autoinfection (self
(posterior end coiled) are rarely seen. infection) [ex.
Females (posterior end pointed) die after dusting off beddings,
deposition (bursts), suicidal. doorknobs]
Trichuris trichiura Whipworm Cecum Egg- lemon shaped or football shaped, Infective Stage Intermediate Host
(Large prominent bipolar plugs; thick walled - Embryonated egg - none
Intestine)
Adult- Female (pointed end) larger than Diagnostic Stage Mode of Transmission
male (coiled end). Female has bluntly - Unembryonated egg - Ingestion
rounded (Egg)
Hookworms Small Egg- bluntly rounded ends, thin Infective Stage Intermediate Host
Intestine transparent hyaline shell (for both - Filariform larva - none
hookworms)
-Ancylostoma Old World Diagnostic Stage Mode of Transmission
duodenale Hookworm Buccal cavity (mouth): 2 pairs of ventral - Egg - Skin Penetration
teeth (feet) ~bloodstream
-Necator New World to lungs
americanus Hookworm
Buccal cavity: 2 pairs of semilunar cutting
plates
Capillaria Pudoc Small Egg- peanut shaped with striated shell Infective Stage Intermediate Host
philippinesis Worm Intestine and flattened bipolar plugs - Larva - fish

Adult- tiny nematode. Thin filamentous Diagnostic Stage Mode of Transmission

anterior, slightly thicker and shorter - Egg - Ingestion
posterior end
Reservoir Host
- bird
Filarial worms Lymph Very hard to distinguish the two Infective Stage Vector
-Brugia malayi Malayan vessels and - L3 Larva - Mansonia
Filarial Lymph (mosquito)
Worm glands Diagnostic Stage
- Microfilariae Vector
-Wuchereria Bancrofts - Anopheles, Aedes
bancrofti Filarial
Worm Intermediate Host
- mosquito

Mode of Transmission
- Vector (mosquito)
or blood transfusion

Scientific Name Pathology Treatment & Laboratory Diagnosis Notes

Prevention
Ascaris lumbricoides *Tissue reaction due to *Albendazole, *Specimen of choice: Most prevalent
invading larvae Mebendazole, Pyrantel stool or feces Life cycle begins when eggs are
*Allergic symptoms pamoate, Combantrin *Stool examination or passed out in feces, have
*In CBC, eosinophils may rise *Sanitary disposal of Direct Fecal Smear contact with soil (a good
*Intestinal irritation due to human feces, health environment for them to fertilize;
adult worm education, mass good temp. and moisture)
*Other complications due to chemotherapy From unfertilized it fertilizes
extraintestinal migration more in the soil, embryo will split
~To lungs- allergic into 2 then 8 until larva is
manifestations such as formed. Larva does not go out of
asthma or symptoms similar the egg (Infective stage) where it
to pneumonia or sometimes can be ingested by man.
they call it Loefflers Digestive System (acidic)
syndrome - egg will molt and larva comes
~Serious/fatal effects out
when there is erratic - larva penetrates walls of
migration (sometimes occur intestine to:
if wrong dosage of medicine *blood stream to lungs
is given, goes to other places (migration)
and goes out in other *esophagus to trachea to lungs
 openings such as ears, etc.) -then larva goes back to lungs to
blood stream to intestine, and
develop into an adult (male and
female can copulate then lay
eggs and be seen in feces)
Enterobius *Perianal itching/pruritus ani- *Pyrantel pamoate *Grahams Scotch Eggs are seen in perianal folds
vermicularis can lead to secondary *Personal cleanliness, adhesive tape swab or (sides of anal opening), not
bacterial infection cutting of fingernails, perianal cellulose tape passed out in feces
*Vaginitis, endometriosis, handwashing, infected swab (early morning, Females go out of large intestine
salpingitis person should sleep before shower) [usually especially at night, deposits eggs
*Insomnia, poor appetite, alone, beddings should used in chn] in periphery of anal opening
weight loss, irritability, be boiled, chemotherapy ~glass slide, scotch Egg matures within 4-6 hours,
grinding of teeth, abdominal of whole family tape, tongue depressor when person wakes up egg is
pain ~perianal opening in fertilized (infective)
your face, stick scotch
tape in perianal folds,
stick on glass slide
Trichuris trichiura *Petechial hemorrhages (may *Albendazole *Direct Fecal Smear Has stock and dash(?) Whole
see blood streaks in feces) *Sanitary disposal of part of whip is embedded
*Rectal Prolapse due to great human feces, health entirely in cecum
amount of parasites in education, mass Eggs pass feces, if it comes in
cecum (heavy), muscle tone chemotherapy, washing contact with soil within 72 hours,
weakens of vegetables, it will embryonate.
*No larval migration (no intermittent Could go into the digestive
extraintestinal migration) handwashing system then the egg will molt,
larva comes out. Then develops
into an adult.
No lung migration, directly to
small intestine then to cecum
Hookworms *ground itch due to *Wear shoes *Direct Fecal Smear Can only be distinguished if adult
-Ancylostoma penetration (through buccal cavity)
duodenale *Lung migration- bronchitis, Eggs pass in feces, egg
-Necator americanus pneumonitis or Loefflers embryonates in the soil. Eggs
syndrome hatch in the soil (larva comes
*Chronic- microcytic out).
hypochromic iron deficiency First stage is Rhabditiform larva
anemia because buccal (free-living). Can take its
cavity penetrates into small nutrients from outside sources
intestine (may get blood) such as soil.
*Hypoalbuminemia (low in It will transform/mature into a
albumin) Filariform larva (parasitic), will
not live without a host. Life cycle
continues in the host (develops
into an adult in the small
intestine)
If ingested, life cycle will not
continue.
Capillaria *Abdominal pains, gurgling *Electrolyte replacement *Direct Fecal Smear Discovered in a barrio named
philippinesis stomach (borborygmus), and high protein diet *Duodenal Aspiration Pudoc in Ilocos Region (in the
diarrhea *Mebendazole Philippines)
*Severe protein losing, *Discouraging people in Discovered among the fishermen
malabsorption of fats (oily endemic areas from who are fond of eating raw fish
stool), low electrolyte level, eating raw fish Eggs passed out in feces, likes
high level of IgE *Good sanitary practice fresh water and not soil
*Microulcers in epithelium Egg develops into a fertilized egg
and hatch (larva comes out),
larva is eaten by fish and goes
into the flesh of the fish
If fish is raw/not fully cooked and
eaten by man, man will be
 infected
Adult develops in man
Bird can eat the fish and the
feces of bird can contain eggs
(goes to water)
Person will not be infected if eats
bird
Filarial worms *Lymphadenitis, swelling and *Diethylcarbamazine *Specimen: blood Blood dwelling nematodes
-Brugia malayi redness of arms and legs citrate (DEC) *Microscopic finding of Microfilariae (not adult) in blood
-Wuchereria (usually lower extremities) *Use mosquito nets the characteristic stream
bancrofti *Elephantiasis, hydrocele (for *If you go to area microfilariae in blood Adult found in lymphatics
male, enlargement of prevalent with (8pm-4am) Adult in lymphatics and produce
scrotum) elephantiasis, they *Knotts method microfilariae (which is found in
~usually adults block the require prophylaxis (filtration), antigen blood)
lymphatics thats why detecting methods- If you have microfilariae and get
swelling occurs ELISA, PCR, bitten by a mosquito, it could go
ultrasonography to the mosquito vector, from
there it will undergo further
development
It will transform into an L1
larvae/Stage 1 larva to Stage 2
then Stage 3/L3 larva (infective)
Then if another person is bitten
by the mosquito, the L3 larva will
be passed to him and he will get
infected (adult develops in the
man) then the cycle goes on
again