Dictyocaulus arnfieldi from horse faeces - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona


Also known as: Equine lungworm

Scientific Classification

Class Nematoda
Superfamily Trichodectidae

Hosts

Donkeys, and occasionally horses.

Identification

Adults are slender, thread-like and white. Females are larger than males at around 6.5cm in length. The males have a small non-lobulated bursa.

The embryonated eggs are 80-100µm in length.

Life Cycle

The lifecycle is not greatly known, but it is currently thought to be similar to that of Dictyocaulus viviparus.

The prepatent period is 2-3 months.