Syngamus laryngeus

Also known as:

Mammomonogamus trachea

Overview

There is very little literature available on this parasite, however it is of veterinary significance in cattle in areas of Asia and South America. The predeliction site for this parasite is in the trachea of the animal where it causes laryngitis. In countries in which this worm is endemic there is a chance of it being zoonotic, occasionally causing gape in affeced humans.

Life Cycle

The current literature does not describe an exact life cycle for this worm but it is hypothesised that infection is caused by the ingestion of infective eggs or larvae. Once ingested the larvae move to the trachea by hepato-tracheal migration, at the trachea they attach to the mucosa and sexual reproduction takes place. Eggs are then coughed up and swallow to be passed with the hosts faecs, or released in sputum.