Ascaris lumbricoides

Development

Authors: Javier Gutierrez Jimenez, F Cassassuce, H.A. Najera Aguilar, J.A. Hernandez-
Shilon, M.A. Schlie-Guzman, S.I. Escobar-Megchun
Citation: Javier Gutierrez Jimenez, F Cassassuce, H.A. Najera Aguilar, J.A. Hernandez-
Shilon, M.A. Schlie-Guzman, S.I. Escobar-Megchun. 2012. Ascaris lumbricoides
development.
Publication Date : November 2012
Summary
These images show various stages in the development of Ascaris lumbricoides, including an unfertilized egg, a fertilized egg, an infective egg
containing a larva, and a larva hatching from an infective egg.
Introduction
Figure 1 shows an unfertilized egg of Ascaris lumbricoides containing a mass of refractile granules. It has an average length of 90 μm. Figure 2
depicts a fertilized egg. It appears broad and oval in shape with a thick shell that is stained brown by bile. Figures 3 and 4 show an infective egg of A.
lumbricoides containing a larva and a larva of A. lumbricoides hatching from an infective egg, respectively. After ingestion, the larvae penetrate the
intestinal mucosa where they are subsequently transported by blood circulation to the liver, heart, lungs, and trachea.  From the trachea, the larvae
are transported to the epiglottis where they are then swallowed (1). When swallowed, they pass down into the small intestine where they develop
into adults (Fig. 5, an adult worm of A. lumbricoides showing its blunt and sharp ends). The adults can migrate out of the host by means of the anus,
mouth, or nose (2).
Method
All biological structures, such as ova and adult parasite, shown here were found in the feces of children who were approximately 3 years old. The
feces were collected in a sterile wide-mouth plastic bottle and processed by a direct wet mount in a 0.85% NaCl solution used as diluent. In Figure 4
the same diluent plus a drop of 0.1% aqueous methylene blue were used. The microscopic examination was done with a DM500 light microscope
(Leica Microsystems). The pictures were recorded with a digital camera (Leica) using an oil immersion objective (total magnification of 1,000X),
except for Figure 4 (total magnification of 400X). The adult worm of A. lumbricoides was obtained from a fecal sample washed from detritus and
preserved in a 10% formalin solution.
Discussion
Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most common parasites in the world, transmitted by the fecal-oral route and infecting an estimated 1.2 billion
people globally (1, 3). Human hosts infected with A. lumbricoides tend to experience acute lung inflammation, difficulty in breathing, and fever.
Abdominal distension and pain, nausea, and diarrhea are also typical symptoms (1). Among school children, the infection is associated with appetite
loss, lactose maldigestion, impaired weight gain, and a reduction in cognitive abilities. Large numbers of worms may give rise to allergic symptoms
and eosinophils can accumulate in the lungs in response to ascariasis; this is known as Loeffler's syndrome (3).
References
1. Dold C, Holland CV. 2011. Ascaris and ascariasis. Microbes Infect. 13:632–637.
2. Holland CV. 2009. Predisposition to ascariasis: patterns, mechanisms and implications. Parasitology 136:1537–1547.
3. Neira OP , Pino QG , Muñoz SN , Tobar CP. 2011. Elimination of juvenile stages of Ascaris lumbricoides (Linnaeus, 1758) by mouth. Report of a
case and some epidemiological considerations. Rev. Chilena Infectol. 28:479–483. (In Spanish.)
Unfertilized Egg of Ascaris lumbricoides
The figure shows an unfertilized egg of Ascaris lumbricoides which contains a mass of refractile granules.
American Society For Microbiology ©
Unfertilized Egg of Ascaris lumbricoides (Labeled view)
(Labeled view)
American Society For Microbiology ©
Fertilized Egg of Ascaris lumbricoides
This picture depicts a fertilized egg, broad oval in shape with a coat stained brown by bile.
American Society For Microbiology ©
Fertilized Egg of Ascaris lumbricoides (Labeled view)
(Labeled view)
American Society For Microbiology ©
An Infective Egg of Ascaris lumbricoides with a Larva
An infective egg of Ascaris lumbricoides with a larva.
American Society For Microbiology ©
An Infective Egg of Ascaris lumbricoides with a Larva (Labeled view)
(Labeled view)
American Society For Microbiology ©
A Larva of Ascaris lumbricoides Hatching from the Egg
An infective egg of Ascaris lumbricoides with a larva hatching from the egg.
American Society For Microbiology ©
A Larva of Ascaris lumbricoides Hatching from the Egg (Labeled view)
(Labeled view)
American Society For Microbiology ©
An Adult Worm of Ascaris lumbricoides
An adult worm of Ascaris lumbricoides showing its blunt and sharp ends.
American Society For Microbiology ©
An Adult Worm of Ascaris lumbricoides (Labeled view)
(Labeled view)
American Society For Microbiology ©