PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY 2 – NEMATODES ANCYCLOSTOMA DUODENALE

USTMED ’07 Sec C – AsM; pictures provided by JV.N.

Ancyclostoma braziliense mouth part
HOOKWORM

Hookworm species fertilized ovum.

Typically have a thin,
hyaline shell and are
bluntly rounded at the
ends. They usually are in
4-8 cell stage in fresh
feces and the developing
ovum tends to fill the
shell. In feces, it is not
possible to differentiate
the eggs of human
Hookworm like Necator Ancyclostoma caninum adult mouth part
or Ancyclostoma.

The anterior portion of an adult is responsible for the attachment which is

known as the mouth part. Take note of the dental patterns of this parasite.

Ancyclostoma species adult male

Hookworm Rhabditiform larvae.

NECATOR AMERICANUS
Hookworm first-stage (rhabditoid) larvae. These larvae may be confused
with Strongyloides larvae, normally passed in feces. The hookworm larva Necator americanus adults. Female worm
has a long, tubular, buccal canal and the genital primordium cannot be (left). Male worm showing copulatory bursa
seen. (middle). Frontal view of head showing
pronounced anterior bend or “hook” and
Hookworm Filariform larvae cutting plates (below).

Hookworm, third-stage, filariform (infective) larva. The third-stage larva is

much longer and more slender than its rhabditoid stage, has a short
esophagus, a long intestine, and a sharply pointed tail. The iodine stain
used here demonstrates the relative length of the esophagus and intestine –
a ratio of approximately 1:4 in hookworm larvae. This stage normally is
found in soil or in feces cultured for five days or longer. It is possible to
differentiate species of the genera Necator and Ancyclostoma based on the
morphology of third-stage larva. Necator americanus female adult worm

Hookworm adult male

Hookworm adult female

Necator americanus male adult worm

ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES Ascaris lumbricoides female x-section

Ascaris lumbricoides male x-section

Eggs. Fertile eggs are bile-stained, have a mammillated, thick shell,

measures 66-75 u by 35-50 u, and are in the one-celled stage when passed
in feces. In some instances, the outer albuminoid, mammillated layer is
absent (decorticated eggs). Infertile eggs are elongate, 85-95 u by 43-47 u,
and have thin shells, with the mammillated layer varying from grossly
irregular mammillations to a relatively smooth layer almost completely
lacking mammillations. The internal contents are a mass of disorganized,
highly refractive granules.

Ascaris lumbricoides
fertilized ova. Note the
characteristic bile
stained, mammillated
external layer of the
thick shell. This well
STRONGYLOIDES STERCORALIS
defined ovum is in the
one-cell stage, that
normally found in fresh Strongyloides rhabditiform larvae
feces.

Ascaris
lumbricoides
embryonated
ovum. This typical
embryonated egg
contains an
infective, second
stage larva. This
egg normally
develops in the
soil.
Strongyloides Filariform larvae
Ascaris
Strongyloides third-stage, filariform
lumbricoides
(infective) larvae. The filariform larvae of
fertilized ovum. In
S. stercoralis, as in hookworms, are longer
this otherwise
and more slender than their rhabditoid
normal egg, the
stage. With iodine stain (left) or unstained
external
(right) the larva is easily differentiated
mammillated layer
from that of hookworm by its long
is absent, and the
esophagus equal in length to the intestine,
egg is referred to
and by its blunt, notched tail. This
as “decorticated.”
filariform larva normally occurs only in soil
or in cultured feces.
Ascaris
lumbricoides
unfertilized ovum.
This infertile egg
has a poorly
developed irregular
mammillated layer.

Ascaris lumbricoides adult worms.

Morphology- males are 15-31 cm by 2-4 mm,
and have a curved tail. Females are 20-35 cm
by 3-6 mm, and have a straight tail.

Strongyloides stercoralis adult

(right) The parasitic, adult

Ascaris lumbricoides adult female
Ascaris lumbricoides Anterior (tri-radiate)
female of Strongyloides
Ascaris lumbricoides adult male lives threaded into the
mucosal epithelium of the
human small intestine.
There is no parasitic male;
the female reproduces by
parthogenesis. In contrast
to the free-living adults,
the female appears small,
very slender and
filariform, and has a short
pointed tail. Parasitic
females rarely are seen in
feces.
(left) Free-living adult female, iodine stain. If feces are allowed to stand at
room temperature and remain moist for two to three days, the rhabditoid
larvae (arrow) may develop into free-living adult worm.

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