Parasitology Training Manual

Trichostrongylus species

• Egg size: 73 - 118 microns
• Common parasite of herbivores.
• Accidental infection by man from eating infected vegetation.
• Numerous species involved.
• The egg is not to be confused with hookworm as it is larger with ends slightly pointed.
• Egg yolks typically seen in egg.

Trichostrongylus species Life Cycle

Trichostrongylus species are small intestinal nematodes living in the intestinal mucosa of herbivores. Eggs are released with the evacuation of feces and embryonate and hatch into infective larva. When these infective larva are swallowed by a host they develop into the adult worm.

Return to the Helminth Introduction