Changes

=== Life-Cycle ===

=== Life-Cycle ===

Each worm has male and female segments, which reproduce via hemaphroditism.  The male segment fertilises the female segment. The reproductive organs then deteriorate, leaving only a uterus full of eggs.

Each worm has male and female segments, which reproduce via hemaphroditism.  The male segment fertilises the female segment. The reproductive organs then deteriorate, leaving only a uterus full of eggs.  This then detachesfrom the rest of the worm and migrates to the large intestine, where it ruptures releasing the eggs.

 

The eggs released are infective to oribatid mites, which act as the intermediate host.

The intermediate hosts of ''A. perfoliata'' are free-living pasture mites. These are ubiquitous, but most numerous on permanent pasture in the summer months. The metacestode form is the cysticercoid. Horses become infected by ingesting the mites while grazing.

The intermediate hosts of ''A. perfoliata'' are free-living pasture mites. These are ubiquitous, but most numerous on permanent pasture in the summer months. The metacestode form is the cysticercoid. Horses become infected by ingesting the mites while grazing.