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| Thelazia lacrymalis | |
|---|---|
| Class | Nematoda |
| Super-family | Spiruroidea |
| Also known as: | Equine eye worm |
Hosts
Intermediate hosts: Muscid flies
Definitive hosts: Horses
Identification
T. lacrymalis is a nematode of the superfamily Spiruroidea. The adults are small, at only 1-2cm in length, and are a pale yellow colour.
Life Cycle
The female worms are viviparous. L1 is passed by the female worm, and is ingested by the fly, acting as the intermediate host. The L1 develop into L2, then into L3 inside the ovarian follicles of the fly. The fly infects the definitive host whilst feeding.
The prepatent period of T. lacrymalis is 3-6 weeks.