Strongyloides stercoralis

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 Classification
• Phylum : Aschelminthes
• Class : Nematoda
• Subclass : Secernentea (Phasmidia)
• Super family : Rhabditoidea
• Family : Strongyloididae
• Genus : Strongyloides
• Species : Strongyloides stercoralis

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 Distribution
• Worldwide, especially in parts of tropical
South Africa, China and South-east Asia
• High prevalence in inmates of institutions
such as mental hospitals, prisons and the
mentally retarded children’s homes
• A serious problems in immunocompromised
patient

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 Definitive Host
• Man, causing Strongyloidiasis

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 Morphology
The smallest nematode parasites of human
which has 2 forms : parasitic and free living.
Parasitic form
• Only female
• Size 2 mm- 2,5 mm x 0,034 mm
• Double bulb oesophagus occupying a quarter
of the body

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 Morphology
• Vulva in the posterior third of the body
• Uterus containing eggs (size 50 µm- 58 µm x
30 µm - 34 µm)
• Eggs can be produced parthenogenetically

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 Morphology
Free living forms
• Male : size up to 0,9 mm x 40 µm – 50 µm,
two simple spicules, the pointed tail is curved
ventrally
• Filariform larva: 0.4-0.7 mm in length, slender,
unsheated, a half is occupied with esophagus,
forked tail

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 Morphology

• Rhabditiform larva: only

can be differentiated with
those of Ancylostomatidae
through electron
microscopy, 225 µm in
length, double bulb
oesophagus, taper end tail

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 Life Cycle &
Transmission

Infective stage:
filariform larvae
Diagnostic stage :
rhabditiform larvae in
feces

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
• The Strongyloides life cycle is more complex
than that of most nematodes with its
alternation between free-living and parasitic
cycles, and its potential for autoinfection and
multiplication within the host.

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
• Two types of cycles exist:
Free-living cycle:
1,2,6.The rhabditiform larvae passed in the stool
can either molt twice and become infective
filariform larvae (direct development) or molt
four times and become free-living adult males
and females

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
3. After copulation, eggs produced by fertilized
female worms
4. Rhabditiform larvae hatch from embryonated
eggs
5. Rhabditiform larvae develop into free-living
adults , or into infective filariform larvae .
6. The filariform larvae penetrate the human host
skin to initiate the parasitic cycle

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
Parasitic cycle
6. Filariform larvae in contaminated soil penetrate
the human skin
7. Filariform larvae transported to the lungs where
they penetrate the alveolar spaces; they are
carried through the bronchial tree to the pharynx,
are swallowed and then reach the small intestine .
In the small intestine they molt twice and become
adult female worms.

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
8. The females live threaded in the epithelium
of the small intestine and by parthenogenesis
produce eggs , which yield rhabditiform
larvae.
9. The rhabditiform larvae can either be passed
in the stool or can cause autoinfection.

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
10. Autoinfection occurs by:
• In intestinal, rhabditiform larvae become
filariform larvae → penetrate the
intestinal mucosa (internal autoinfection)
• Perianal area contaminated by
rhabditiform larvae which become
filariform larva → penetrate the skin
(external autoinfection)

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 Life Cycle & Transmission
In either case, the filariform larvae may follow
the previously described route, being carried
successively to the lungs, the bronchial tree,
the pharynx, and the small intestine where
they mature into adults; or they may
disseminate widely in the body.

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