Crenosoma vulpis
 |
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| Also known as: | Fox lungworm |
| Crenosoma vulpis | |
|---|---|
| Class | Nematoda |
| Super-family | Metastrongyloidea |
Hosts
Definitive host: Dogs and foxes. Intermediate host: Slugs and snails.
Identification
The adults are thin, white worms, with many capable of growing up to 1.5cm in length. The male have well developed larvae with a large dorsal ray. The parasite is of the super-family Metastrongyloidea.
Life Cycle
The female is ovo-viviparous and immature L1 larvae are passed in the faeces. The larvae penetrate the intermediate host and the mollusc then becomes infective. The definitive host is infected through ingestion of the molluscan host.
The digestive enzymes break down the larval coat, and L3 are released. They travel to the lungs via the blood and lymphatics. They complete their development, and become adults.
The prepatent period is 3 weeks.
References
Taylor, M.A, Coop, R.L., Wall,R.L. (2007) Veterinary Parasitology Blackwell Publishing