HELMINTH PARASITES

PWAVENO HULADEINO BAMAIYI, PhD

SENIOR LECTURER
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN

PARASITE TAXONOMY

PARASITIC WORMS
Phylum-Platyhelminthes (flatworms,
flukes and tapeworms)
Phylum-Nemathelminthes (roundworms)
Phylum-Acanthocephala (thorny-headed
worms)
Phylum-Annelida (segmented worms,
night crawlers)
Phylum-Arthropoda (tongue worms)

Fasciola spp.

1. F. hepatica
2. F. gigantica

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Trematoda
Subclass: Digenea
Order Echinostomida
Family: Fasciolidea
Genus: Fasciola
Species:hepatica &
gigantica

General Information
- Commonly known as liver fluke
- A parasitic flatworm

Geographical Distribution
- Found in Rural areas of
temperate and tropical
regions
- Especially located in regions
with cattle and sheep
herding
- Found on every continent
with nearly 180 million
people at risk and an
estimated 2.4 million
people already infected
worldwide.

Transmission
- Occurs through the ingestion of raw, fresh water
vegetation
- Plants become exposed to the metacercariae when
the body of water that the vegetation is growing in
becomes contaminated by eggs in the fecal mater of
the infested host
- A form of infection known as halzoun (in the Middle
East) is contracted by eating the raw liver of an
infected animal

Morphology
- Adult has a flat leaflike body
- About 20-30 mm long by 815 mm wide
- Has an anterior elongation
where oral and ventral
suckers are located
- Intestines are very branched

Hosts
- Cattle
- Sheep
- Goats
- Sometimes humans

Life Cycle

Life Cycle (Contd)

- The adult F. hepatica lives in bile ducts of the hosts liver
- Begin to produce eggs 2-4 months after initial infection
- Eggs pass down the bile duct through gastrointestinal tract and
are released in the hosts feces
- Require water of temperature above 10 C to hatch
- The egg hatches and releases miracidiae within two weeks
- These newly hatched miracidiae must find a Lymanae snail
host within 24 of hatching or they will die

Life Cycle (Contd)

- Inside the Lymanaea miracidium loses its cilia and
develops into a sporocyst
- Each sporocyst develops into a redia which then
burst the sporocyst and migrate to the hepatopancreas of the snail
- Redia then develop into cercariae
- Cercariae attach to plant matter and encyst,
forming metacercariae which is the infective form
of the fluke
- Mammalian host consumes the vegetation with the
metacercariae which then excyst in the small
intestine

Life Cycle (Contd)

- Metacercariae burrow through the intestinal wall,
move through the peritoneal cavity and enter the
liver parenchyma
- Immature flukes migrate through the liver
patanchyma for 6-8 weeks giving rise to acute
symptoms
- Once mature they settle in the bile ducts and begin
to produce their own eggs after about a month.

http://www.cdfound.to.it/hTML/fh2a.htm

Four Symptomatic Patterns

-

Acute Phase
Cronic Phase
Halzoun
Ectopic Infection

Acute Phase
- Rarely seen in humans
- Fever, tender hepatomegaly, and abdominal
pain are frequent symptoms.
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia may also be
present

Chronic Phase
- More common in human population
- Symptoms include: bilary cholic, abdominal pain,
tender hepatomegaly, and jaundice
- In children: severe anemia is common
- Inflammation of the bile ducts eventually leads to
fibrosis and a condition called pipestem liver
- Severe infections can lead to death

Halzoun & Ectopic Infection

- Occurs when an individual
consumes infected raw liver
- The adult worms can cause
considerable pain, edema,
and bleeding that can
interfere with respiration
- Adults can live in biliary
ducts and cause symptoms
for up to 10 years.

- In frequent, but can occur in

peritoneal cavity, intestinal
wall, lungs, subcutaneous
tissue, and very rarely in
other locations.

Diagnostic Tests
- Most widely used form of diagnosis is the directly observed
presence of F. hepatica eggs either in a stool sample,
duodenal aspirate or biliary aspirate
- Flukes do not begin to produce eggs until about 4 months
after infection, so you cannot test the stool
- Prior to 4 months: serological tests can be used
- FAST-ELISA (most popular)

- Ultrasound can be used to visualize adult flukes in the bile

ducts
- CT scan can reveal burrow tracts made by the worms

Treatment
- Many countries use a 5-10 day course of oral
bithionol at 30mg/kg body weight
- Triclabendazole is a preferred antihelmintic agent,
but is unavailable in most countries.
- The resistance is rising to this drug

- Along with pharmaceutical therapy, surgery may be

necessary in very extreme cases to clear the biliary
tract

Control Methods
- Education
- Molluscicides: application of malluscicides to
decrease the population of Lymnaea snails
- Chemotherapy

Review Questions
-

1. What is the average size of an adult F. hepatica?

a. 20 mm x 5mm
b. 30 mm x 13 mm
c. 10 mm x 5 mm
2. What continent can F. Hepatica be found?
a. Africa
b. Asia
c. America
d. All of the above

Review (Contd)
- 3. What is the most effective way to treat fascioliasis?
a. bithionol
b. flagyl
c. triclabendazole

References
Sarah Richards and Max Karpyak
- Fascioliasis Retrieved: 2/19/2007 by Richards and
Karpyak
http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/fascioli
asis/Fasciola.htm
- Fasciola hepatica. Wikipedia, free encyclopedia.
Retrieved: 2/19/2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciola_hepatica
- Fasciola hepatica. Retrieved: 2/19/2007
http://www.cdfound.to.it/html/fas1.htm

Trichostrongylus spp.
Morphology:

Zoonoses spp.

T. axei
T. orientalis
T. probolorus
T. skirjabini
T. colubriformis

Definitive host

Trichostrongylus colubriformis third-stage larva obtained after culture of faeces

from an artificially infected sheep.

Life cycle

Prepatent period: 2-3 weeks

Trich. spicules

Moniezia spp.

Introduction
Monieziosis is a cestodiasis caused by Moniezia sp. including
Moniezia expansa and M.benedni

They are found in the small intestine of ruminants, like

cattle,sheep,and camel,
especially in lamb and calf.
M.expansa :The more common in
sheep and goat than in cattle
M.benedni: The more common in cattle
than in sheep and goat

Morphology
Moniezia spp. have unarmed scolices
with four large sucker and very wide segments with
bilateral genitalia.

scolices

M. expansa

M. benedeni

Difference of M. expansa and M. benedeni

Interproglottidal glands at the posterior margin of each

segment extend the full width of M. expansa but occupy
only the midzone of the M. benedeni segment.

Characteristic of eggs
The egg of Moniezia spp. found
in cattle feces is
one of the few eggs that
appears square, and internally
the pear-shaped (pyriform
apparatus) characterristic of
anoplocephalid eggs can be
seen.

Pyriform apparatus

Life cycle of Moniezia spp

Definitive host:
ruminants.
Site of infection: small
intestine
Intermediate host:
Forage mites
Infective stage:
cysticercoid
Prepatent preiod :
month 3

Moniezia is living in small intestine of ruminant. The

definitive host leaves the gravid proglottids and eggs
in the feces .
The oncosphere migrate into the body cavity of the
mite where they develop into cysticercoids for at least
40 d and infection of the definitive host is by ingestion
of infected mites during grazing.
The prepatent preiod is approximately 45~60 d, but
the adult worms appear to be short-lived, persist for
only three months.

Epidemiology
The Monieziosis distribbution is world-wide.
Moniezia spp. are the commonest in young animals,
and are of low pathogenicity
Their incidence shows a seasonal fluctuation,
coinciding with the active period of the vectors.

Symptoms
When there are lots of Moniezia, the intestines will become
enteremphraxia even have been ruptured
The toxin of parasite cause young animals being neurosis,
including walking in circles spasm, non-food mastication.

clinical symptoms
Decreased appetite, emaciation, anaemia, listless, diarrhea,
gravid proglottid in feces

Lesions
The disease can make corpse become thin , the colour of
muscle turn light and make exudates in abdomen
increase.

Others: enteremphraxia, contortion,hemorrhage

Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on a history of residence in
an endemic area and symptoms.
Fecal examination:
When there is no proglottids in feces ,using the
flotation method

Treatment
1.Bithionol: 50mg per kilogram of body weight for cattle,
or 75mg to 100mg for sheep, P.O.
2.Niclosamide:50mg per kilogram of body weight for
cattle, or 60mg to 75mg for sheep, P.O.

3.Mebendazole10mg per kilogram of body weight for

cattle, or 15mg for sheep, P.O.
4.Albendazole:5mg per kilogram of body weight for
cattle, or 20mg for sheep, P.O.
5.Praziquantel5mg to 10mg per kilogram of body
weight for cattle, or 10mg to 15mg for sheep, P.O

Prevention
1. Deworm before adult stage
2.Harmless disposal of feces
3.Improvement of breeding and management
ploughing and reseeding to avoid pasturing in the early
morning or at dust, when the peak of forage mite activities
regularly testing forage mite within the pasture

PARASITES OF SWINE (PIGS)

Introductory Recaps
Parasitism occurs in varying degrees:
1. parasitiasis- here the parasite is present in or
on the animal host, and is potentially
pathogenic but the animal does not show any
outward clinical signs of disease

Introductory Recaps cont.

Parasitism occurs in varying degrees:
1. parasitosis- here the parasite is present in or
on the body of the animal and does produce
obvious injury or harm to the host manifesting
in clinical signs of parasitism.

Introductory Recaps cont.

LINNAEAN CLASSIFICATION SCHEME:
1. Kingdom
2. Phylum
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species
Mnemonic: King Philip came over for good spagheti

Local pigs

Internal Parasites
The large roundworm (ascarid) is the most
common internal parasite of swine
Other roundworms include: stomach worms,
intestinal treadworms, kidney worms,
lungworms and nodular worms
Symptoms of worm infestation include: poor
growth, thin rough hair coat, diarrhea and
coughing

Internal parasites continued

Ascarid migration increases susceptibility to
pneumonia
Ascarid migration results in white spots in the
liver
Worms can be controlled by the use of
anthelmintics and good sanitation

Common vs Technical Terms for Internal

Parasites

Large roundworms = Ascarid

Stomach worms = Hydrostrongylus
Intestinal threadworms = Strongyloides
Kidney worms = Stephanurus
Lungworms = Metastrongylus
Nodular worms = Oesophagostomum
Whipworms = Trichuris

Internal parasites continued

Some common dewormers include:

Atgard = Dichlorvos (feed)
Banminth = Pyrantel Tartrate (feed)
Tramisol = Levamisole (feed or water)
Ivermectin = Ivomec (injectable

Endoparasites

Ascaris suum - roundworm

Ascariasis
PPP: 8 weeks
CS: unthriftiness, failure to gain
weight, rough hair coat,
pendulous abdomen, chronic
paroxysmal coughing and
occasionally, abdominal
expiratory dyspnea (thumping).
Dx: fecal flotation, worms
intestines, milk spots - liver
Tx: Ivermectin, fenbendazole,
dichlorvos, doramectin,
hygromycin, levamisole,
Picture Credit:
piperazine
http://caltest.vet.upenn.edu/merial/swine/s
ZOONOTIC: ingestion of eggs
wine_6.htm (original image no longer
available)
Image: Ascaris suum in small intestine of pig.

Figure 6-48 Characteristic ovum of Ascaris suum, the swine ascarid or the large intestinal roundworm of pigs. The eggs are oval and
golden brown, with a thick, albuminous shell bearing prominent projections. They measure 70 to 89 m by 37 to 40 m.

(From Hendrix CM, Robinson E: Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians, ed 3, St Louis, 2006, Mosby.)

Trichuris suis - whipworm

PPP: 6 weeks
CS: diarrhea,
unthriftiness
Dx: fecal flotation,
adults - LI
Tx: Ivermectin,
dichlorvos, hygromycin,
levamisole,
fenbendazole

Strongyloides ransomi - threadworm

PPP: 7 days
CS: severe diarrhea: 10
14 days with high
mortality
Dx: fecal flotation
Tx: Ivermectin,
dichlorvos, hygromycin,
fenbendazole

Eimeria spp. - coccidia

PPP: 14 days
CS: piglets: enterocolitis
Dx: fecal flotation
Tx: piglets
sulfamethazine; sows decoquinate

Isospora suis - coccidia

PPP: 14 days
CS: piglets: 6 21 days, stunted, mortality
Dx: fecal flotation
Tx: piglets sulfamethazine; sows decoquinate

Figure 6-52 Oocyst of Isospora suis.

(From Hendrix CM, Robinson E: Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians, ed 3, St Louis, 2006, Mosby.)

Metastrongylus spp. Lung worm

PPP: 1 month
CS: coughing, poor
growth
Dx: fecal flotation;
Adults - LI
Tx: Ivermectin,
doramectin,
fenbendazole,
levamisole

Lung of pig showing lesions caused by lungworm

(Metastrongylus).

Oesophagostomum dentatum
nodular worm
PPP: 40 days
CS: asymptomatic, nodules
gut: enteritis
Dx: fecal flotation; Adults
LI
Condemnation intestine
Tx: Ivermectin, doramectin,
fenbendazole, levamisole,
pyrantel tartrate,
hygromycin, dichlorvos

Ascarops strongylina stomach

worm
PPP: 6 weeks
Dung beetle:
intermediate host

CS: nonpathogenic
Dx: fecal sedimentation;
Adults stomach
Tx: Ivermectin,
doramectin, dichlorvos
Ascarops strongylina, egg. Courtesy of Dr.
Dietrich Barth, Merial

Stephanurus dentatus kidney worm

PPP: 8 16 months
CS: loss of weight,
condemnation organs
migrating larvae
Dx: eggs urine
sedimentation; adults
cysts perirenal fat and
pelvis of kidney; larvae liver
Tx: Ivermectin,
doramectin

Figure 6-53 Egg of Stephanurus dentatus, the swine kidney worm. These eggs are strongyle type; that is, they are oval, thin-shelled
eggs containing 4 to 16 cells and measuring 90 to 120 m by 43 to 70 m. Eggs can be recovered from the urine by urine
sedimentation.
(From Hendrix CM, Robinson E: Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians, ed 3, St Louis, 2006, Mosby.)

Trichinella spiralis Trichina worm

LC: 4 days; 20 days for larvae to
be infective
Dx: necopsy
Tx: none, dont feed uncooked
garbage to pigs, cook all meat to
recommended temperature and
time
ZOONOTIC: ingestion of raw
meat

Taenia solium Pork tapeworm

Taeniasis, cysticercosis
LC: 2 months, swine
intermediate host
Dx: necopsy cysterci;
serologic test humans/
pigs; eggs feces - humans
Tx: none, dont feed human
feces, cook all meat to
recommended temperature
and time
ZOONOTIC: ingestion of
raw meat

Taenia solium cysticerci in the masseter

muscle of an adult pig.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. A. Lee Willingham III,

WHO/FAO Collaborating Center for Parasitic
Zoonoses, Denmark

Balantidium coli

Protozoa
LC: 6 14 days
CS: mild severe enteritis
Dx: necopsy - LI ; fecal flotation
Tx: Tetracycline, metronidazole
ZOONOTIC

Figure 6-51 A, Balantidium coli of swine in histopathologic section. This photomicrograph was taken at low magnification. Note that
B. coli is quite large and easily visible (arrows). B, B. coli of swine in histopathologic section. This photomicrograph was taken at
higher magnification than A.
(From Hendrix CM, Robinson E: Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians, ed 3, St Louis, 2006, Mosby.)

Figure 6-50 Trophozoite stage of Balantidium coli, the ciliated protozoan found in the large intestine of swine. The trophozoites
may be 150 by 120 m, with a sausage- to kidney-shaped macronucleus. They are covered with numerous rows of cilia and move
about the microscopic field with lively motility. The cyst is spherical to ovoid and 40 to 60 m in diameter, with a slight greenish-yellow
color.
(From Hendrix CM, Robinson E: Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians, ed 3, St Louis, 2006, Mosby.)

Treatments

External Parasites
Lice (hog louse)
Are blood suckers. Approximately long
Result in economic loss due to reduced
performance
Control by use of insecticides
Insecticides available as a spray, pour-on,
dust, granule or injectible

Mange
Caused by microscopic mites that burrow
beneath the skin.
Causes severe itching
Will reduce swine performance
Control by the use of insecticides.
Ivermectin is the insecticide of choice

ECTOPARASITES

Sarcoptes scabiei Mange mite

LC: 3 weeks
CS: pruritis and papules.
Dx: Skin scrapings
Tx: Ivermectin
ZOONOTIC

Haematopinus suis Hog Louse

Pediculosis, host
specific, contagious
LC: 3 weeks
CS: pruritis
Dx: check skin
Tx: Amitraz, Ivermectin
Prevention: Hygiene

Figure 7-4 A, Thousands of nits can be cemented by female lice to the haircoat of domesticated animals. This calfs tail contains
thousands of nits. B, Pediculosis can be defined as infestation by either chewing or sucking lice, in this case, Haematopinus suis
infestation in a pig. C, Appearance of operculated nits viewed by compound microscope.
(From Hendrix CM, Robinson E: Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians, ed 3, St Louis, 2006, Mosby.)

References
K Holtgrew-Bohling , Large Animal Clinical Procedures for
Veterinary Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012, ISBN:
97803223077323
Laboratory procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 5th edition,
2007, Hendrix C.M; Sirois M.
http://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/new-vdpam-employees/foodsupply-veterinary-medicine/swine/swine-diseases
http://www.flockandherd.net.au/other/reader/sarcoptes%20pigs.
html
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/
http://nematode.net/NN3_frontpage.cgi?navbar_selection=specie
stable&subnav_selection=Ascaris_suum

References
http://www.ecvpath.org/october-2008/
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/dxendopar/parasitepages/hookl
ungstrongyloides/s_ransomi.html
http://parasitology.cvm.ncsu.edu/quiz/swine/exam2/swinequizEA.
php
http://uk.merial.com/producers/swine/woe/woe_04.asp
http://vetpda.ucdavis.edu/parasitolog/Parasite.cfm?ID=94
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/2
2605.htm
http://www.wormbook.org/chapters/www_genomesTrichinella/g
enomesTrichinella.html
http://www.cesa.life.ku.dk/Cysticercosis.aspx

Parasites of Dogs and Cats

Arthropods and Protozoa

Insects

Trichodectes canis (Biting louse)

Linognathus setosus (Sucking louse)
Ctenocephalides (Flea)
Cuterebra (Rodent Bot Fly)

Trichodectes canis (Biting louse)

Found as felicola sustratus in the cat
Cause roughened hair coat, itching and
dermatitis
May act as intermediate host to Dipylidium
caninum

Linognathus setosus (Sucking louse of

dogs)
Causes skin irritation, itching, dermatitis,
alopecia, anemia, roughened hair coat
Usually transmitted by direct contact, but all
life stages may be transmitted by fomites
Are species specific

Ctenocephalides (Flea)
Infest dogs and cats
Vector for Dipylidium caninum, tularemia,
plague, etc.
Die at temperatures below 20 F for 48 hours
or at temperatures above 120 for several
days
Over 200 species of fleas worldwide
Severe infestations can cause anemia

Cuterebra (Rodent Bot Fly)

Infests rodents, companion animals and
occasionally humans
Larval stage that infests skin
Acts as an irritant
Migration may be fatal
Have a cutaneous lump with a breathing hole
Use care when extracting as crushing larva may
result in anaphylaxis

Arachnids

Sarcoptes scabiei (Scabies)

Demodex canis (Demodectic mange)
Otodectes cynotis (Ear mites)
Cheyletiella (Walking dander mite)
Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown dog tick)
Dermacentor variabilis (American Dog tick)
Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick)

Sarcoptes Scabiei (Scabies)

Found as Notoedres cati in cats
Causes intense itching, dry and thickened
skin.
Is contagious to humans and other pets
Mites burrow under the skin so may be
difficult to diagnose
Diagnose through a skin scraping
Usually have ventral blowout

Demodex canis (Demodectic Mange)

Rare in cats
Causes areas of alopecia on head, neck, forelimbs.
Can be localized or generalized.
Diagnosed with skin scraping.
Is not contagious
Small numbers considered normal on skin flora
Genetic predisposition

Otodectes cynotis (Ear mites)

Intense pruritis of the ear canal.
Can be found on any area of the body
Feed on epidermal debris and are easily
transmitted

Cheyletiella (Walking Dander mite)

Causes mild alopecia and pruritis

May cause dermatitis in humans
Ingest keratin debris and tissue fluids
Have enormous hook like accessory
mouthparts
Are visible to the naked eye

Rhipicephalus sanuineus (Brown dog

tick)
Vector for canine
babesiosis and
canine ehrlichiosis
May cause anemia
or tick paralysis
when found in
large numbers

Dermacentor Variabilis (American Dog

Tick)
Feeds on small mammals but can also feed
on dogs and humans
Vector for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,
tularemia, and can cause tick paralysis in
animals and humans

Anblyomma americanum (Lone Star

tick)
Gets name from white spot
on apex of scutum
Feeds on animals and
humans
May be vector for Rocky
Mountain Spotted Fever
and tularemia.
Vector of Ehrlichia

Protozoa

Neospora caninum (Neospora)

Isopora (Coccidia)
Giardia canis (Giardia)
Toxoplasma gondii (Toxo)
Sarcocystis (Sarcocystis)

Neospora caninum (Neospora)

Transmitted
transplacentally or orally
May cause ascending
paralysis
A type of coccidia

Isopora (Coccidia)
Diarrhea in kittens and puppies.
May be fatal
One of most commonly diagnosed protozan
disorders in puppies and kittens.
Rarely a problem in mature animals
Very small in comparison to other parasites

Toxoplasma gondii (Toxo)

May cause
transient
diarrhea in
cats
Highly
pathogenic
to humans,
especially
fetus in utero

Sarcocystis
Not very
pathogenic
in cats
Very
pathogenic
in sheep

Giardia canis (Giardia)

Causes diarrhea
Occur as cysts or
trophozoites in fecal
flotation.
May also be tested for
through a snap test
now available.