Hyostrongylus rubidis

Also known as:

Red stomach worm

Scientific Classification

Class	Nematoda
Superfamily	Trichostrongyloidea

Hosts

Pigs. It is mostly seen in outdoor pigs; as its fecundity is too low to maintain its life-cycle, when faeces are regularly removed from buildings.

Identification

H. rubidis are red worms. The females are larger than the males at around 10mm in length. Males have a well developed bursa.

Life Cycle

Infection of the host is via ingestion of L3. The larvae may become hypobiotic; resuming development when the sow begins lactation. The larvae mature, and adults develop. These reside in the glandular part of the stomach, and produce eggs, which are passed out in the host faeces.

H. rubidis is very similar to Ostertagia (which does not occur in pigs) in appearance, life-cycle, epidemiology and pathogenesis, but pigs do not develop any useful immunity.