Phylum Nematoda

Phylum Nematoda (Roundworms)

 Nematos = a thread
 Live in a wide variety of habitats. Ocean, freshwater
lakes and streams, soil, from the poles to the equator.
 Most are free-living
 decomposers and predators
A Little About Roundworms!
 Good topsoil may contain billions of nematodes/acre.
 Parasitize almost every type of plant and animal.
 Most average about 5 cm (2 inches) in length.
 However, they range in size from being microscopic
to some almost 1 meter in length.
Lifestyle of a Nematode:
 Cuticle – thick covering  Some parasitic:
protecting from ◦ Ascaris, hookworm,
environment heartworm
◦ Ex: protection from stomach
acid
 Movement:
 Sexually Reproduce: ◦ whipping motion with
bodies
◦ Most are separate sexes
◦ Some are
hermaphrodites
Body Systems
 Simple Nervous System
 Two nerve cords with nerve ring in head

 Simple Muscular System

 Longitudinal muscles

 Simple Excretory System

 Complete, but Simple Digestive System
 Dioecious Reproductive System
 NO Respiratory System
 Nematode Anatomy and Locomotion
 Nematodes have longitudinal muscles ONLY
 Longitudinal muscles work antagonistically
against the outer cuticle like a spring.

 Creates a whipping movement

Nematode Digestive System
 The digestive system of nematodes is
complete but simple

Consisting of:
 Intestine
 Mouth
 Anus
 Pharynx
Nematode Nervous System

 ring-shaped ganglia at the anterior end of

the body that connects to two nerve cords
that run the length of the body.
Nematode Reproduction
 Most nematodes are dioecious (males
and females are separate sexes).
 They exhibit sexual dimorphism; males
are usually smaller than females.
 Fertilization is internal and eggs are stored
in the uterus.
 Eggs are deposited by the female, embryo
develops, juvenile hatches from an egg.
 There are four juvenile stages, and each
juvenile stage is separated by a molting or
shedding of the cuticle.
Nematode Reproduction
• Dioecious – separate sexes
 FINISH THE POWERPOINT AFTER THIS
SLIDE

Which is the female?

Nematode Parasites
Ascaris lumbricoides
 live in intestines
feeding off of blood

 Females can grow up

to 30 cm long (1 foot).

 Females produce up to
200,000 eggs a day.

 Adults live in the small

intestine and eggs
leave the host's body
in the feces.
 Ascaris lumbricoides
• Ingest eggs – dirty hands or
unwashed vegetables
contaminated with fecal
matter

• Eggs hatch in intestines 

enter bloodstream

• Larval worms bore into

lungs – must be coughed
up and swallowed

• Move to intestines  mature

  Live in intestines
Hookworms
 Feed on blood  causing
major damage to
intestines

 Eggs deposited on soil

from contaminated
waste

 Larvae live in soil

 Burrow into feet/exposed

skin of host

 burrow hook mouths into

the intestines of humans
to mature
Hookworms
 Trichinella

 Juveniles develop into

cysts in the muscle tissue
called nurse cells.

 meat from an animal

(usually pork) containing
cysts is ingested

 Cysts open up for juvenile

worms into the intestine
where they mature.
Trichinella spiralis
Pinworms
 Children most commonly infected
 Lives in intestines

 Eggs can be ingested from contaminated soil or sand

 Females migrate to anus at night to lay eggs...

Filarial Worms  Cause obstruction and
inflammation of
lymphatic system

 Can be carried by
mosquitoes

 Day = lungs
 Night = skin

 Mild cases  filariasis

 Severe 
elephantiasis
Filarial Worms
 The most common form of filarial worm in the
US is the dog heartworm.

 Carried and transmitted by mosquitos.

 Can also infect cats, ferrets, sea lions and

occasionally humans.
Loa loa
 Eye worm

 River blindness

 2nd leading cause

of blindness

 Vector – deer fly

or black fly
Nematoda Checkpoint Questions:
1. What type of worms belong to this
phylum?
2. What type of body cavity do nematodes
have? Explain.
3. Are most nematodes parasitic or free-
living?
4. Nematodes are very small… why can’t
nematodes grow to become much larger
animals? (must explain)