Oesophagostomum

Oesophagostomum
Class	Nematoda
Super-family	Strongyloidea

Introduction

Oesophagostomum is from the superfamily Strongyloidea. The female is larger than the male at around 2cm in length. The family is characterized by a large buccal capsule, and has leaf crowns surrounding the mouth.

O. radiatum

Also known as: Nodular worm

Hosts

Cattle and buffalo.

Identification

O. radiatum are thin white worms around 2cm in length. In the male, the bursa is large and well developed. In both the male and the female, there are numerous leaf crowns surrounding the mouth, and there is a bottle necked appearance on the anterior end.

Life Cycle

Infection of the host is via ingestion of L3. They moult and transform into L4 within the small and large intestine. The larvae move to the colon where they mature into adults.

The prepatent period is 35-40 days.

O. dentatum

Also known as: Nodular worm

Hosts

Pigs

Identification

The adults are around 1cm in length, and have shallow buccal capsules.

Life Cycle

The larvae enter the intestine, and burrow into the wall where they remain for several weeks, forming nodules. The larvae then re-enter the lumen of the intestine where they mature, and lay eggs.

The prepatent period is 40-50 days.

O. columbianum

Also known as: Nodular worm

Hosts

Sheep and goats.

Identification

The adults are large thin worms around 2cm in length. The male has a large, well developed bursa.

Life Cycle

Infection is by ingestion of the L3, which pass into the small or large intestine, and burrow in the mucosal wall forming nodules. The larvae then develop into L4 and move to the colon, where they fully mature into adults.

The prepatent period is around 45 days.

O. venulosum

Also known as: Oesophagostomum viginimembrum — Large bowel worm

Hosts

Sheep, deer, goats, and camels.

Identification

The females are larger than the males at around 2mm in length. The male has a well developed bursa.

Life Cycle

The eggs are past out into the environment in faeces. They hatch quickly, forming L1. L1 then transforms in L2, which moults into L3; which is the infective stage. The host then becomes infected by ingesting the infective larvae when grazing on the pasture. The L3 mature into L4 within the intestine, and then pass onto the colon to complete development.

The prepatent period is around 49 days.

Literature Search

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Oesophagostomum publications