Trichostrongylus axei

Also known as:

Trichostrongylus extenuatus

Hosts

Cattle, sheep, deer, horse, goat, donkey, pig and occasionally man.

Identification

T. axei are small trichostrongyle, typically aroun 5mm. They are grey when young, but become reddish brown when they mature. The spiculus are dissimilar and are not all of the same length.

Life-Cycle

The life cycle of T. axei is typical of a trichostrongyloid, and is direct. The eggs develop into infective L3 in around one week. The larvae are then ingested by the host, and the larvae become exsheathed. They penetrate the mucosa of the small intestine. There are two further moults, and then the larve become adults.

Pathogenicity

Similar to Ostertagia, except L3 penetrate mucosa between gastric glands. Leads to hyperplastic nodular lesions (several cms diameter) and erosions where epithelium is lost. Not usually a primary pathogen in horses.