1. Ascaris lumbricoides is a common roundworm that lives in the small intestine of humans. It has a life cycle that involves eggs passing in feces and developing into infective larvae in soil.
2. The larvae are ingested and migrate through the lungs before reaching maturity in the small intestine. Mature worms cause discomfort and malnutrition. In heavy infections, larvae can cause pneumonia or Loeffler's syndrome.
3. Prevention involves handwashing and sanitation to break the fecal-oral transmission route between humans. Treatment uses anthelmintic drugs while surgery may be needed for heavy infections.
1. Ascaris lumbricoides is a common roundworm that lives in the small intestine of humans. It has a life cycle that involves eggs passing in feces and developing into infective larvae in soil.
2. The larvae are ingested and migrate through the lungs before reaching maturity in the small intestine. Mature worms cause discomfort and malnutrition. In heavy infections, larvae can cause pneumonia or Loeffler's syndrome.
3. Prevention involves handwashing and sanitation to break the fecal-oral transmission route between humans. Treatment uses anthelmintic drugs while surgery may be needed for heavy infections.
1. Ascaris lumbricoides is a common roundworm that lives in the small intestine of humans. It has a life cycle that involves eggs passing in feces and developing into infective larvae in soil.
2. The larvae are ingested and migrate through the lungs before reaching maturity in the small intestine. Mature worms cause discomfort and malnutrition. In heavy infections, larvae can cause pneumonia or Loeffler's syndrome.
3. Prevention involves handwashing and sanitation to break the fecal-oral transmission route between humans. Treatment uses anthelmintic drugs while surgery may be needed for heavy infections.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Zoology ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES • Common roundworm Largest intestinal nematode parasite Monogenetic endoparasite of man. • Present in the small intestine of of man SYSTEMATIC POSITION • Phylum: Nematoda • Class :Secernentia /Phasmidia • Order :Ascaridida • Genus : Ascaris • Species : lumbricoides INTRODUCTION Lives in the lumen of small intestine(usually jejunum). Occurs in the pigs and gorilla(A.suum) also. It is cosmopolitan in distribution, but more prevalent in the tropics ( India,China ,SE Asia etc). Present in about 25% human population. MORPHOLOGY • Colour- creamish or pinkish. • Size- male about 15 to 25 cm in length and 0.3 to 0.4 cm in diameter. Tail curved ventrally. • female about 20 to 40 cm in length and about o.5 cm in diameter. • Body is round or cylindrical in shape and tapers at both ends. • Mouth at the anterior end and guarded by three lips. • Body cavity pseudocoel Morphology contd… • Shows sexual dimorphism. • Males smaller than females. • Posterior end of males curved and cloaca is the common opening for digestive and reproductive systems. • From it two isospicules protrude out . • Mouth and excretory pore present in both. LIFE CYCLE • It is monogenetic i.e passes its life in only one host that is man. • No intermediate host required. • Passes from one man to another by faeco- oral route. • Sexual maturity is attained in about 65 to70days. Fertilization is internal. • Females produce enormous number of eggs i.e about 20,000 per day. LIFE CYCLE contd…. • Fertilized eggs are stored in the uterus. • After fertilization eggs get enclosed in a chitinous shell. • Shelled eggs are released into the smalll intestine and then these are carried by faeces outside. • Through unhygienic conditions it reaches new host LIFE CYCLE contd…. In favourable condition it develops into the larva.First stage larva is formed in about two weeks. Fertilized eggs may remain viable for months and even years. Second stage larva is formed in about a week. Since it resembles the nematode Rhabdites it is known as the Rhabditiform larva. Second stage rhabditiform larva is the infective stage. LIFE CYCLE- EGGS ASCARIS: STAGES INFECTION • Infection is direct. • It is through faeco-oral route. • No intermediate host required. • Further development only in the intestine of man. • Protective covering dissolved only in the upper part of small intestine. LIFE CYCLE OF ASCARIS LIFE CYCLE -STAGES • It involves the following stages: 1 Eggs in faeces 2 Development in the soil. 3 Infection by ingestion of the larvae. 4 Migration of the larvae through liver , heart, lungs and moulting. 5 Re-entry into the intestine and final moulting. 6 Sexual maturity , fertilization and liberation of shelled eggs to repeat the cycle. PATHOGENICITY PATHOGENICITY • Pathogenic effects are shown by both adult worms and larvae. • Adult worms: Causes discomfort in the upper part of the small intestine. Causes nausea ,vomiting , headache etc. PATHOGENIC EFFECTS • The following effects are seen: TOXIC EFFECT- body fluid of Ascaris is toxic.it may lead to fever , allergic manifestations such as edema of the face, irritation of the upper respiratory tract etc . SPOLIATIVE EFFECT – it absorbs the nutrition (proteins and vitamins) of the host leading to malnutrition mainly in the hyperinfected children. It may lead to Vitamin A deficiency. PATHOGENIC EFFECT contd…. • MECHANICAL EFFECT- May produce intestinal obstructions when present in large numbers . It may cause cramps in abdominal muscles . It may cause ulcers in the gut leading to secondary infections. • ECTOPIC EFFECT – worms frequently migrate into the stomach or the oesophagus at night(coming out through nose or mouth).They may enter respiratory passage accidentally, causing blockage. • PATHOGENIC EFFECTS OF LARVAE LARVAE : IN GENERAL CIRCULATION - The larvae sometimes pass through the pulmonary circulation into various organs like the heart, kidneys, brain, lungs etc where they may set up unusual clinical syndrome as they may carry micro-organisms with them causing pneumonia. IN THE LUNGS – In heavy infection in the lungs ,it causes Loeffler's Syndrome.In this fever,cough with blood tinged sputum may be seen. IN THE BLOOD – Leads to eosinophilia in many cases. PREVENTION • Wash your hands before taking food. • Wash vegetables and fruits properly. • Keep food covered. • Drink water obtained from safe source. • Prevent defecation in the open. PREVENTION CONTROL • Maintain proper hygiene in food and drink. • Medicines : • Oil of chenopodium with tetrachloroethylene. • Piperazine,diathiazanine etc . • Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) ,Chirayeta (Swertia chirayeta) etc • Surgery may be required in case of excessive infection REFERENCES • Agarwal VK(2011). Zoology for Degree Students B Sc First year; First edition,S Chand & Company,378-395. • Chatterjee KD (2009).Parasitology;13e,CBS Publishers & disributors, 229-235. • Ganguli BB, Sinha AK and Adhikari S (2001).Biology of Animals; 6e,New Central Book Agency, • Ruppert EE, Fox RS and Barnes RD(2004). Invertebrate Zoology;7e,Cengage Learning, 667 - 670 REFERENCES contd …. • https://www.google.co.in/sear • www.studyandscore.com • www.wikipedia.com • www.khanacademy.org • www.msu.edu • www.microbiologybook.com • www.slideshare.net • www.researchgate.net • www.study.com