Parasites Effects on humans Symptoms Life cycle Synonyms/ Tests for

common identification
names
Ascaris Intestinal worms People infected with Ascaris Upon reaching the small Ascaris Stool tests
increase your risk often show no symptoms. If intestine, they develop into adult lumbricoides (
for anemia and symptoms do occur they can be worms. Between 2 and 3 months human
light and include abdominal
intestinal blockages, are required from ingestion of roundworm)
discomfort. Heavy infections
as well as can cause intestinal blockage the infective eggs to oviposition Ascaris suum
malnutrition. and impair growth in children. by the adult female. Adult (pig
Other symptoms such as cough worms can live 1 to 2 years. roundworm)
are due to migration of the
worms through the body.
Trichuris Can cause anemia and People with light infections The adult worms are fixed in that Human Microscopically
nocturnal stooling, usually have no symptoms. location, with the anterior portions whipworm identifying
colitis and People with heavy threaded into the mucosa. The
malabsorption. females begin to oviposit 60 to 70 whipworm eggs in
infections can
Deficiencies of fat- days after infection. Female worms a stool sample.
soluble vitamins and experience frequent, painful in the cecum shed between 3,000 and
children may have bowel movements that 20,000 eggs per day. The life span of
poor growth and rectal contain a mixture of mucus, the adults is about 1 year.
prolapse. water, and blood.
Enterobius Itching of the anal or Infection occurs via self-inoculation Pinworm Cellophane tape
vaginal area. Insomnia, (transferring eggs to the mouth with infection 
hands that have scratched the perianal test or pinworm
irritability, teeth grinding area) or through exposure to eggs in the paddle test
and restlessness. Occasional environment (e.g. contaminated
stomach pain and nausea. surfaces, clothes, bed linens, etc.)
Rarely, eggs may become airborne and
be inhaled and swallowed.
Trichinella Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, Pork worm blood sample and
fatigue, fever, and abdominal test it for signs
discomfort are often the first suggesting
symptoms of trichinellosis.
trichinosis
Headaches, fevers, chills,
cough, swelling of the face and (eosinophilia)
eyes, aching joints and muscle
pains, itchy skin, diarrhea, or
constipation may follow the
first symptoms.
Strongyloides The majority of people infected The life cycle of Strongyloides Threadworm Strongyloidiasis is
 with Strongyloides do not have
symptoms. Those who do
develop symptoms often have
non-specific, or generalized
complaints. Some people
develop abdominal pain,
bloating, heartburn,
intermittent episodes of
diarrhea and constipation, a dry
cough, and skin rashes.
Ancylostoma Duodenal infects a Itching and a localized rash are
person through the oral often the first signs of infection.
spp. These symptoms occur when the
route (known as
Wakana syndrome),
larvae penetrate the skin. A person
with a light infection may have no
they may experience symptoms. A person with a heavy
nausea, vomiting,
infection may experience
pharyngeal irritation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and loss
cough, dyspnea, and of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and
hoarseness. anemia.
Necator N. americanus causes
americanus hookworm diseases, which
are associated with blood
loss and anemia. Patients
who are infected with
around 25 to 100 worms
experience symptoms such
as fatigue, weight loss, and
slight headaches.
stercoralis. Distinctive features diagnosed by
include (a) random migration of microscopic
autoinfective larvae, (b) identification of
Strongyloides
embryonated egg rapidly hatches
stercoralis larvae and
to rhabditiform larvae, and (c) in the stool, duodenal
single generation of free-living fluid, and/or biopsy
male and female adults. specimens, and sputum
in disseminated
infections.
The eggs secreted in feces into the The Old Kato-Katz and
environment hatch and develop
World formalin-ether
through molting into infective L3- concentration
stage larvae. In suitable conditions Hookworm
technique
this takes 5 days. The dog gets the
infection by swallowing the larva, or (Sedementation)
the larva penetrates the skin, usually
between the toes.
Ova in human faeces develop Hookworm Stool analysis,
into infective larvae in soil or Sedementation
contaminated water. Larvae
penetrate human skin, usually
via the feet, invade the blood,
and migrate via lungs and
trachea to reach the oesophagus.
They then descend to the
intestine where they develop into
adult worms.