Difference between revisions of "Strongylus vulgaris"

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''Strongylus vulgaris'' is a parasite of horses.
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''Strongylus vulgaris'' is a clinically important parasite causing verminous arteritis and was a very common cause of colic in horses.  Its prevalence has been on the decrease since the use of wormers containing ivermectin.
  
 
==Appearance==
 
==Appearance==
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*Well developed buccal capsule in male
 
*Well developed buccal capsule in male
  
==Life cycle==
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===Life cycle===
*Eggs shed in faeces onto pasture
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The ''S. vulgaris'' eggs are shed in the faeces.  Under optimal conditions of high humidity and temperatures over 10 degrees, the eggs will transform into rhabditiform L1 larvae within a few days.
*Develop into L3 larvae
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*Ingested by horse
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They then transform into L2, and subsequently L3 without leaving the parasite envelope.  L3 are ingested by the host when feeding on pasture.
*Penetrate intestine mucosa
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*Moult in 7 days to L4 in sub-mucosa
 
*L4 migrate to cranial mesenteric artery
 
*Develop over months
 
*Moult to L5
 
*Migrate to caecum and colon
 
*Form nodules around the larvae
 
*Nodules rupture into the lumen of the intestine
 
*Adults live in the caecum and colon
 
  
 
==Pathogenesis==
 
==Pathogenesis==

Revision as of 08:00, 14 July 2010




Strongylus vulgaris is a clinically important parasite causing verminous arteritis and was a very common cause of colic in horses. Its prevalence has been on the decrease since the use of wormers containing ivermectin.

Appearance

  • Dark red
  • Well developed buccal capsule in male

Life cycle

The S. vulgaris eggs are shed in the faeces. Under optimal conditions of high humidity and temperatures over 10 degrees, the eggs will transform into rhabditiform L1 larvae within a few days.

They then transform into L2, and subsequently L3 without leaving the parasite envelope. L3 are ingested by the host when feeding on pasture.


Pathogenesis

By larvae:

By adults:

  • Accidental damage to blood vessels as a result of feeding on intestinal mucosa