Nematodes Health Dictionary

A genus of nematodes which includes the intestinal roundworm of humans, Ascaris lumbricoides).... ascaris

The pre-adult stage in insects and nematodes occurring between the egg and the sexually mature adult.... larva

A genus of nematodes that includes the nodular worms.... oesophagostomum

A winged-like expansion of cuticular integument of nematodes; an expansion at the oesophageal region called “cervical alae”, e.g. in Toxocara species, or at the posterior end called “caudal alae” and in the larval stages of some nematodes the expansion may extend almost entire lateral aspects of the body, these expansions are called “lateral alae”. In Oxyuridae, e.g. Enterobius vermicularis, the cuticle at the anterior end expands dorso-ventrally into “cephalic alae”.... ala

A parasitic infection caused by the nematodes Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, resulting in hookworm disease. These infections are exceedingly common in tropical and developing countries, millions of people being affected. Classically, A. duodenale occurred in the Far East, Mediterranean littoral, and Middle East, and N. americanus in tropical Africa, Central and South America, and the Far East; however, in recent years, geographical separation of the two human species is less distinct. In areas where standards of hygiene and sanitation are unsatisfactory, larvae (embryos) enter via intact skin, usually the feet. ‘Ground itch’ occasionally occurs as larvae enter the body. They then undergo a complex life-cycle, migrating through the lungs, trachea, and pharynx. Adult worms are 5–13 (mean 12) mm in length; their normal habitat is the small INTESTINE – especially the jejunum – where they adhere to the mucosa by hooks, thus causing seepage of blood into the lumen. A worm-pair produces large numbers of eggs, which are excreted in faeces; when deposited on moist soil they remain viable for many weeks or months. Clinical manifestations include microcytic hypochromic ANAEMIA, hypoalbuminaemia (low serum protein) and, in a severe case, OEDEMA. A chronic infection in childhood can give rise to physical, mental and sexual retardation. Treatment is with one of the benzimidazole compounds, usually mebendazole or albendazole; however, in developing countries, cheaper preparations are used, including tetrachloroethylene, bephenium hydroxynaphthoate, and pyrantel embonate. Anaemia usually responds to iron supplements; blood transfusion is rarely indicated.

Ancylostoma braziliensis A nematode infection of dogs, which in humans causes local disease (larva migrans) only, generally on the soles of the feet. It is usually acquired by walking on beaches contaminated with dog faeces in places such as the Caribbean.... ancylostomiasis

In nematodes, an opening of the alimentary system on the ventral side at the posterior end of the female nematodes.... anus

The thickening of the cuticular lining of buccal cavity; buccal capsule may be large, small, vestigial or absent. In some nematodes, the cuticle lining within the buccal capsule may be modified to be chitinous teeth or cutting plates as in Ancylostomatidae or a stylet as in Trichinelloidea.... buccal capsule

An umbrella-like expansion of the cuticle at the posterior end of some male nematodes as in Ancylostomatidae and Metastrongylidae. The bursa is supported by elongated stalks called “rays”. The shape and size of the bursa and the arrangement and size of the rays are used for identification of the nematodes... bursa

A group of sensory organs at the posterior end of some male nematodes (excluding “phasmids” which are situated on the lateral aspects of the tip of the tail); the number and arrangement of caudal papillae are used for identification of nematodes such as in Ascarididae and Thelaziidae.... caudal papillae

A group of sensory organs around the mouth opening (excluding amphids which are situated on the lateral aspects of the mouth); the number and arrangement of the cephalic papillae are significant for the classification of nematodes.... cephalic papillae

A common opening of the alimentary and reproductive systems of male nematodes, normally situated on the ventral side at the posterior end of the body.... cloaca

A cuticular thickening of the dorsal wall of the spicular pouch in nematodes.... gubernaculum

Another name for parasitic worms such as FLUKES, tapeworms (see TAENIASIS) and nematodes (see ASCARIASIS).... helminths

The cuticular extension to fine pointed processes in the nematodes which have no lip; extension from the rim of the mouth called “external leaf-crown”, from the rim of the buccal capsule called “internal leaf-crown” as in Strongyloidea.... leaf-crown

An extension of cuticle around the mouth of nematodes; there may be three, one dorsal and two subventral as in Ascaroidea or two as in Spiruroidea or absent as in Strongyloides and Filarioidea.... lip

Filarial nematodes transmitted by the horse fly (Chrysops) in west central Africa. Causes loiasis, characterised by fugitive, subcutaneous (Calabar) swellings.... loa loa

An effective and safe benzamidazole anthelmintic with a wide spectrum of action against intestinal nematodes including hookworms, Ascaris, Enterobius and Trichuris.... mebendazole

Nematodes which live in nodules in the wall of the large intestine. Belong to the genus Oesophagostomum. Infect a range of mammal species including humans.... nodular worms

(Linn.) Hassk.

Synonym: E. prostrata Roxb.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, up to 2,000 m on the hills.

English: Trailing Eclipta Plant.

Ayurvedic: Bhringaraaja, Bhringa, Bhringaja, Bhrngaaraka, Bhrngaara, Maarkava, Kesharaaja, Keshranjana.

Siddha/Tamil: Karisalaankanni.

Folk: Bhangaraa.

Action: Deobstruent, antihepato- toxic, anticatarrhal, febrifuge. Used in hepatitis, spleen enlargements, chronic skin diseases. Leaf—promotes hair growth. Its extract in oil is applied to scalp before bed time in insomnia. The herb is also used as an ingredient in shampoos.

Key application: As hepatoprotec- tive. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia; The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)

The herb should be dried at room temperature under shade. Its active principles are lost due to aerial oxidation during sun drying or drying under reduced pressure below 40°C. The herb contains wedelolactone and demethyl- wedelolactone, which showed a dose- dependenteffectagainstCCl4, d-galac- tosamine- or phalloidin-induced cyto- toxicity in primary cultured rat hep- atocytes, and exhibited potent anti- hepatotoxic property. The whole plant shows effect on liver cell regeneration. Immunoactive property has been observed against surface antigen of hepatitis B-virus. The plant is also reported to be effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer, inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the gallbladder and skin infections.

Aqueous extract of leaves exhibits myocardial depressant and hypoten- sive activity (unrelated to cholinergic and histaminergic effects).

The roots are very rich in thio- phene acetylenes. Thiophene derivatives show activity against nematodes.

Dosage: Whole plant—3-6 ml fresh juice; 13-36 g for decoction. (API Vol. II.)... eclipta alba

The stages of development through which a plant or animal passes during its life. For mosquitoes these stages are: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Normally, development of nematodes included four moults and five successive stages as follows: Adult eggs • (fourth moult) ¯ • Fourth-stage larva First-stage larva • (third moult) (first moult) • Third-stage larva ¬ Second-stage larva (second moult) Generally, there are two types of life cycle for nematodes: direct and indirect types. 1. Direct Life Cycle: requires no intermediate host, after hatching from the eggs the larvae develop in the open from free-living to infective stages and gain access to the definitive host by mouth or penetration through skin. 2. Indirect Life Cycle: requires one or two intermediate hosts for development to infective stage.... life cycle

A male accessory reproductive organ in nematodes helping to attach the male to the female during copulation. There may be one or two or it may be absent in some nematodes.... spicule

A short buccal muscular structure with waist found in nematodes, such as Ancylostomatidae.... strongyliform

A genus of intestinal nematodes which includes Strongyloides stercoralis in humans and S. fu?lleborni in monkeys and humans.... strongyloides

A cuticular thickening of the ventral wall of the spicular pouch in nematodes. Both gubernaculum and telamon are for guiding the spicules out of the body. Shape and size and number of the spicules, gubernaculum and telamon are also used for identification of the nematodes.... telamon

A genus of animal parasitic intestinal nematodes. Can infect humans. The egg, passed in the faeces, is similar to, and is often confused with, hookworm.... trichostrongylus

A syndro me found in certain tropical areas in which patients present with hypereosinophilia, pulmonary infiltration, cough, chest pain and asthma-like attacks. Associated with infection by the filarial nematodes Wuchereriabancrofti and Brugia malayi. These infections are usually amicrofilaraemic, , especially in expatriates, i.e. no microfilariae can be detected in peripheral blood.... tropical eosinophilia

An opening of the female reproductive system, may be situated at the anterior, middle or posterior parts and on the ventral side of the body according to groups of nematodes.... vulva

Also known as nematodes, a class of elongated, cylindrical worms. Some are human parasites and usually inhabit the intestines. The only common roundworm disease in the is threadworm infestation; occasionally, ascariasis, whipworm infestation, atrichinoisis, and toxocariasis occur. Some people return from abroad with hookworm infestation. Most infestations are treated with anthelmintic drugs.... roundworms

(Ankylostoma) n. a genus of small parasitic nematodes (see hookworm) that inhabit the small intestine and are widely distributed in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. The worms suck blood from the gut wall, to which they are attached by means of cutting teeth. Humans are the principal and optimum hosts for A. duodenale.... ancylostoma

n. (pl. filariae) any of the long threadlike nematode worms that, as adults, are parasites of human connective and lymphatic tissues capable of causing disease. They include the genera *Brugia, *Loa, *Onchocerca, and *Wuchereria. Filariae differ from the intestinal nematodes (see hookworm) in that they undergo part of their development in the body of a bloodsucking insect, e.g. a mosquito, on which they subsequently depend for their transmission to another human host. See also microfilaria. —filarial adj.... filaria

n. a genus of parasitic nematodes. Adult worms are commonly found in the intestines of tigers, leopards, and dogs. The presence of the larval stage of G. spinigerum in humans, who are not the normal hosts, causes a skin condition called *creeping eruption.... gnathostoma

n. any of the various parasitic worms, including the *flukes, *tapeworms, and *nematodes.... helminth

1. n. an animal without a backbone. The following are invertebrate groups of medical importance: *insects, *ticks, *nematodes, *flukes, and *tapeworms. 2. adj. not possessing a backbone.... invertebrate

n. (pl. microfilariae) the motile embryo of certain nematodes (see filaria). The slender microfilariae, 150–300 ?m in length, are commonly found in the circulating blood or lymph of patients suffering an infection with any of the filarial worms, e.g. Wuchereria. They mature into larvae, which are infective, within the body of a bloodsucking insect, such as a mosquito.... microfilaria

(roundworm) n. any one of a large group of worms having an unsegmented cylindrical body, tapering at both ends. This distinguishes nematodes from other *helminths. Nematodes occur either as free-living forms in the sea, fresh water, and soil or as parasites of plants, animals, and humans. *Hookworms and *threadworms infest the alimentary canal. *Filariae are found in the lymphatic tissues. The *guinea worm and *Onchocerca affect connective tissue. Some nematodes (e.g. threadworms) are transmitted from host to host by the ingestion of eggs; others (e.g. *Wuchereria) by the bite of a bloodsucking insect.... nematode