Nematodes

Common Mode of Special

Scientific Name Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Morphology
Name Transmission Characteristics
Produces a
Abdominal pain, Large, pinkish-white
Ascaris Giant Albendazole, Stool exam Ingestion of eggs protease inhibitor
malnutrition, cough worms; eggs have
lumbricoides roundworm Mebendazole (ova in feces) (fecal-oral) that helps evade
(Löffler's syndrome) thick shell
host immunity
Stool exam
Thin anterior, thick Contains TT47, an
Trichuris Diarrhea, rectal Albendazole, (barrel-shaped Ingestion of eggs
Whipworm posterior; eggs have immunodominant
trichiura prolapse, anemia Mebendazole eggs with (fecal-oral)
bipolar plugs protein
bipolar plugs)
Hookworms
Curved anterior end,
(Ancylostoma Iron-deficiency Stool exam Anticoagulants in
Albendazole, Skin penetration buccal capsule with
duodenale, Hookworms anemia, ground itch, (oval, thin- saliva prevent
Mebendazole by larvae cutting plates or
Necator respiratory symptoms shelled eggs) blood clotting
teeth
americanus)

Diarrhea, abdominal Stool exam Can cause

Skin penetration Short buccal cavity,
Strongyloides pain, skin rashes, Ivermectin, (rhabditiform autoinfection,
Threadworm by larvae, prominent genital
stercoralis hyperinfection in Albendazole larvae), leading to lifelong
autoinfection primordium
immunocompromised serology infection

Scotch tape Ingestion or Small white worms; Females migrate to

Enterobius Perianal itching Albendazole,
Pinworm test (eggs inhalation of eggs eggs are flattened on perianal region to
vermicularis (especially at night) Mebendazole
around anus) (fecal-oral) one side lay eggs at night
Ingestion of Can undergo
Chronic diarrhea, Stool exam Thin, filamentous
Capillaria Intestinal Albendazole, raw/undercooked autoinfection,
protein loss, weight (eggs, larvae, adult worms; peanut-
philippinensis capillariasis Mebendazole fish containing leading to severe
loss or adult worms) shaped eggs
larvae malnutrition
 Nematodes

Scientific Common Mode of Special

Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Morphology
Name Name Transmission Characteristics

Albendazole,
Myalgia, fever, Ingestion of
Trichinella Mebendazole, Muscle biopsy, Encysted larvae in Larvae encyst in
Trichina worm periorbital undercooked meat
spiralis steroids for severe serology striated muscles skeletal muscles
edema (larvae in muscle)
cases

Eosinophilic CSF Ingestion of infected Most common

Supportive care (no
Parastrongylus meningitis, eosinophilia, snails, slugs, or Slender worms with cause of
Rat lungworm specific
cantonensis headache, history of contaminated pointed tails eosinophilic
anthelmintic)
nausea exposure vegetables meningitis

Diethylcarbamazine
Lymphedema, Blood smear Nocturnal
Wuchereria Bancroftian (DEC), Mosquito bite (Culex, Long, thread-like
elephantiasis, (microfilariae at periodicity of
bancrofti filariasis Albendazole, Anopheles, Aedes) filarial worms
hydrocele night), serology microfilariae
Ivermectin
Blood smear
Diethylcarbamazine Smaller than W. Similar to W.
Lymphedema (microfilariae Mosquito bite
Malayan (DEC), bancrofti, bancrofti, but
Brugia malayi (commonly in with terminal (Mansonia,
filariasis Albendazole, microfilariae with two restricted to
lower limbs) nuclei), Anopheles)
Ivermectin terminal nuclei Southeast Asia
serology
Severe Endoscopic Ingestion of Causes gastric
Endoscopy,
abdominal pain, removal, raw/undercooked Spiral-shaped larvae or intestinal
Anisakis spp. Anisakiasis histological
nausea, symptomatic seafood (larvae in in marine fish inflammation
examination
vomiting treatment tissue) after ingestion
Visceral larva
Albendazole, Causes larva
migrans (VLM), Serology Ingestion of eggs Large ascarid-like
Dog Mebendazole, migrans
Toxocara canis ocular larva (ELISA), clinical from contaminated worms; eggs have
roundworm corticosteroids for syndromes in
migrans (OLM), presentation soil or dog feces thick shell
severe cases humans
eosinophilia
 Hosts (Nematodes)

Scientific Name Definitive Host Intermediate Host

Ascaris lumbricoides Humans None (direct life cycle)

Trichuris trichiura Humans None (direct life cycle)

Hookworms (Ancylostoma
Humans None (direct life cycle)
duodenale, Necator americanus)
Strongyloides stercoralis Humans None (direct life cycle)

Enterobius vermicularis Humans None (direct life cycle)

Capillaria philippinensis Humans Fish (paratenic host)

Humans, Pigs, Bears, None (larvae encyst in muscle

Trichinella spiralis
Other carnivores tissue of the same host)
Parastrongylus cantonensis Rats Snails, Slugs
Mosquito (Culex, Anopheles,
Wuchereria bancrofti Humans
Aedes)
Mosquito (Mansonia,
Brugia malayi Humans, Cats
Anopheles)
Marine Mammals (e.g.,
Anisakis spp. Crustaceans → Fish/Squid
Whales, Dolphins)
None (humans are accidental
Toxocara canis Dogs
hosts)
 Site of Infection

Site of Infection Scientific Name

Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis,
Small Intestine
Capillaria philippinensis
Large Intestine
(Cecum, Colon, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis
Rectum)
Lymphatic System Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi
Skeletal Muscle Trichinella spiralis
Brain & Meninges Parastrongylus cantonensis
Lungs (During Larval
Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis
Migration)
Stomach &
Anisakis spp.
Intestinal Wall
Various Tissues
(Liver, Lungs, Eyes, Toxocara canis (Visceral/Ocular Larva Migrans)
Brain)
Blood (Microfilariae
Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi
Circulation)
Perianal Region Enterobius vermicularis (Egg-laying site)

Key Insights:
• Intestinal Nematodes → Ascaris, Hookworms, Trichuris, Strongyloides, Enterobius, Capillaria.
• Lymphatic Filarial Worms → Wuchereria, Brugia.
• Tissue-Dwelling Parasites → Trichinella (muscle), Toxocara (various organs), Parastrongylus (brain), Anisakis
(stomach wall).
• Migratory Larvae → Ascaris, Hookworms, Strongyloides (lung migration), Toxocara (visceral migration).
 Cestodes

Common Mode of
Scientific Name Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Morphology Special Characteristics
Name Transmission
Ingestion of Scolex: No hooks, 4
Stool exam
Beef Mild GI discomfort, Praziquantel, undercooked beef suckers; Proglottids: Causes taeniasis, no
Taenia saginata (proglottids,
Tapeworm weight loss Niclosamide containing Motile, longer than cysticercosis
eggs)
cysticerci wide
Praziquantel Ingestion of
Mild GI symptoms Stool exam Scolex: Hooks + 4
(taeniasis), undercooked Neurocysticercosis
Pork (taeniasis); (taeniasis), suckers; Proglottids:
Taenia solium Albendazole + pork (taeniasis); when larvae infect the
Tapeworm Neurocysticercosis: CT/MRI Less motile, shorter
Steroids ingestion of eggs brain
seizures, headaches (cysticercosis) than T. saginata
(neurocysticercosis) (cysticercosis)
Abdominal pain, Direct ingestion Only tapeworm with a
Hymenolepis Dwarf diarrhea, weight loss Praziquantel, Stool exam of eggs Small, thin-walled eggs direct life cycle (no
nana Tapeworm (especially in Niclosamide (eggs) (autoinfection with polar filaments intermediate host
children) possible) needed)
Mostly Humans infected
Hymenolepis Stool exam Ingestion of Large eggs, no polar
Rat Tapeworm asymptomatic, mild Praziquantel accidentally by eating
diminuta (eggs) infected insects filaments
diarrhea contaminated insects
 Cestodes

Common Mode of
Scientific Name Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Morphology Special Characteristics
Name Transmission
Asymptomatic, Stool exam Scolex: 4 suckers;
Dipylidium Dog Praziquantel, Ingestion of Eggs in packets, often
perianal itching, (proglottids, Proglottids: Pumpkin
caninum Tapeworm Niclosamide infected flea larvae seen in pet feces
mild GI symptoms eggs in packets) seed-shaped, motile
Vitamin B12 Stool exam Ingestion of
Scolex: Bothria Largest human
Diphyllobothrium Broad Fish deficiency → Praziquantel, (operculated undercooked
(grooves), no tapeworm (up to 10m);
latum Tapeworm megaloblastic Niclosamide eggs, freshwater fish
suckers/hooks causes B12 deficiency
anemia proglottids) with larvae
Hydatid cysts in
liver, lungs → Albendazole, Imaging (US, Small tapeworm (3 Hydatid cysts contain
Echinococcus Hydatid Ingestion of eggs
pressure effects, Surgical removal CT, MRI), proglottids); Eggs protoscolices (hydatid
granulosus Tapeworm from dog feces
anaphylaxis if (PAIR technique) Serology resemble Taenia sand)
ruptured
Alveolar Invasive tumor-like Albendazole, Imaging (US, Ingestion of eggs Small tapeworm Alveolar cysts grow
Echinococcus
Hydatid cysts (liver, lungs, Surgery (if CT, MRI), from carnivore (similar to E. aggressively, mimicking
multilocularis
Tapeworm brain) possible) Serology feces granulosus) cancer
Subcutaneous
Imaging (if Ingestion of
nodules, eye Scolex: Bothria Humans act as
Sparganosis Surgical removal, larva in infected water
Spirometra spp. inflammation, CNS (grooves), no accidental second
Tapeworm Albendazole tissues), (copepods) or raw
symptoms (if brain suckers/hooks intermediate host
Serology amphibians/reptiles
affected)

Key Takeaways:
• Intestinal Tapeworms → Taenia spp., Hymenolepis spp., Dipylidium caninum, Diphyllobothrium latum
• Tissue-Infecting Tapeworms (Larval Stage in Humans) → Echinococcus spp. (hydatid cysts), Spirometra spp. (sparganosis),
Taenia solium (neurocysticercosis)
• Special Cases:
o Hymenolepis nana is the only tapeworm with a direct life cycle (no intermediate host needed).
o Diphyllobothrium latum is the largest human tapeworm and causes B12 deficiency.
o Echinococcus spp. and Spirometra spp. do not mature in humans, but their larvae cause severe disease.
o Dipylidium caninum eggs are found in packets, and infection is commonly seen in children who accidentally ingest fleas.
 Hosts (Cestodes)
Scientific Name Definitive Host(s) Intermediate Host(s)
Taenia saginata (Beef
Humans Cattle
Tapeworm)

Taenia solium (Pork Pigs, Humans (accidental for

Humans
Tapeworm) cysticercosis)

Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf None (direct cycle), but insects can

Humans, Rodents
Tapeworm) serve as optional intermediate hosts

Hymenolepis diminuta (Rat

Humans, Rodents Insects (beetles, fleas)
Tapeworm)
Dipylidium caninum (Dog
Dogs, Cats, Humans (accidental) Fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.)
Tapeworm)

Diphyllobothrium latum Humans, Fish-eating Mammals 1st: Copepods (Cyclops); 2nd:

(Broad Fish Tapeworm) (Bears, Seals, Cats, Dogs) Freshwater Fish

Echinococcus granulosus
Dogs, Canids Sheep, Cattle, Humans (accidental)
(Hydatid Tapeworm)

Echinococcus multilocularis
Foxes, Dogs Rodents, Humans (accidental)
(Alveolar Hydatid Tapeworm)

1st: Copepods (Cyclops); 2nd:

Spirometra spp. (Sparganosis
Cats, Dogs, Wild Carnivores Amphibians, Reptiles, Humans
Tapeworm)
(accidental)
Key Takeaways:
• Humans as Definitive Hosts: Taenia spp., Hymenolepis spp., Dipylidium caninum, Diphyllobothrium latum (adults in the
intestine).
• Humans as Accidental Intermediate Hosts: Taenia solium (cysticercosis), Echinococcus spp. (hydatid disease), Spirometra spp.
(sparganosis).
• Tapeworms Requiring Two Intermediate Hosts: Diphyllobothrium latum and Spirometra spp. (copepod + fish/amphibian).
 Site of infection (cestodes)

Site of Infection Scientific Name

Taenia spp. (Taenia solium, Taenia saginata), Hymenolepis nana,

Small Intestine
Hymenolepis diminuta, Dipylidium caninum, Diphyllobothrium latum

Various Organs (Liver, Lungs, Echinococcus spp. (Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis)
Brain, etc.) (Hydatid cysts)
Subcutaneous Tissue, Eyes, CNS Spirometra spp. (Sparganosis)

Key Insights:
• Intestinal Tapeworms → Taenia spp., Hymenolepis spp., Dipylidium caninum, Diphyllobothrium latum (adults remain
in the small intestine).
• Tissue-Dwelling Tapeworms (Larval Stage) → Echinococcus spp. (hydatid cysts in various organs), Spirometra spp.
(sparganosis in subcutaneous tissues, eyes, or CNS).