Ascaris lumbricoides

1. Ascaris lumbricoides

2. Life Cycle • These parasites have a direct lifecycle, with no intermediate hosts. • The female parasite is highly prolific, laying an estimated 2 million eggs daily. • When larvae that have hatched from the ingested eggs in the lumen of the small intestine penetrate into the tissues and by way of the lymph and blood systems reach the lungs. In the lungs, the larvae break out of the pulmonary capillaries into the air sacs, ascend into the throat and descend to the small intestine again where they grow. • The adult parasite lives in the lumen of the small intestine of man, usually only feeding on the semi-digested contents of the gut, although there is some evidence that they can bite the intestinal mucous membrane and feed on blood and tissue fluids.

3. Adult worms live in the lumen of the small intestine.  A female may produce approximately 200,000 eggs per day, which are passed with the feces .  Unfertilized eggs may be ingested but are not infective.  Fertile eggs embryonate and become infective after 18 days to several weeks , depending on the environmental conditions (optimum: moist, warm, shaded soil).  After infective eggs are swallowed , the larvae hatch , invade the intestinal mucosa, and are carried via the portal, then systemic circulation to the lungs .  The larvae mature further in the lungs (10 to 14 days), penetrate the alveolar walls, ascend the bronchial tree to the throat, and are swallowed .  Upon reaching the small intestine, they develop into adult worms .  Between 2 and 3 months are required from ingestion of the infective eggs to oviposition by the adult female.  Adult worms can live 1 to 2 years.

5. Transmission • It can be in the soil for years given the right conditions. • The eggs of these worms are found in insufficiently treated sewage-fertilizer and in soils where they embryonate ‘ • It can contaminate vegetation that was not lethally treated. • We get the disease mainly from contaminated raw food. (cabbage) • The eggs can survive outside of the body and are sticky so it can be caught from another person. So wash your Flipping HANDS.

6. Some Crazy Info. • Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the largest and most common parasites found in humans.  The adult females of this species can measure up to 18 inches long (males are generally shorter), and it is estimated that 25% of the A single female can produce up to 200,000 eggs each day! Some Tremor Crap

7. Effects • Asymptomatic • The migration of the larvae through the lungs causes the blood vessels of the lungs to hemorrhage, and there is an inflammatory response accompanied by edema.  The resulting accumulation of fluids in the lungs results in "ascaris pneumonia," and this can be fatal. • The large size of the adult worms also presents problems, especially if the worms physically block the gastrointestinal tract.  Ascaris is notorious for its reputation to migrate within the small intestine, and when a large worm begins to migrate there is not much that can stop it.  Instances have been reported in which Ascaris have migrated into and blocked the bile or pancreatic duct or in which the worms have penetrated the small intestine resulting in acute (and fatal) peritonitis.  • Choking can occur if the worm travels up to the esophagus. • Also the worms expel poisons that the body is allergic to.

8. Treatment • Benzimidazoles are the mainstay of treatment for symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. They are poorly systemically absorbed and exert their action directly on worms. • Treatment for bowel obstruction includes intravenous hydration, nasogastric suctioning, electrolyte monitoring, and laparotomy if conservative measures fail. • albendazole and mebendazole • Prevention- education, cleaner waste management, and cleaning fruit well. • Or after a while it will self correct.

9. Reference • http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~schisto/Nematodes/Ascaris.html • http://www.frequencyrising.com/parasitecleanse_Ascaris.htm • http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic840.htm