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CDCAscariasisBiology

Biology
CausalAgent:
Ascarislumbricoidesisthelargestnematode(roundworm)parasitizingthehumanintestine.
(Adultfemales:20to35cmadultmale:15to30cm.)

LifeCycle:

Adultworms liveinthelumenofthesmallintestine.Afemalemayproduceapproximately
200,000eggsperday,whicharepassedwiththefeces .Unfertilizedeggsmaybeingested
butarenotinfective.Fertileeggsembryonateandbecomeinfectiveafter18daystoseveral
weeks ,dependingontheenvironmentalconditions(optimum:moist,warm,shadedsoil).
Afterinfectiveeggsareswallowed ,thelarvaehatch ,invadetheintestinalmucosa,andare
carriedviatheportal,thensystemiccirculationtothelungs .Thelarvaematurefurtherinthe
lungs(10to14days),penetratethealveolarwalls,ascendthebronchialtreetothethroat,and
areswallowed .Uponreachingthesmallintestine,theydevelopintoadultworms .Between
2and3monthsarerequiredfromingestionoftheinfectiveeggstoovipositionbytheadult
female.Adultwormscanlive1to2years.
LifecycleimageandinformationcourtesyofDPDx(http://dpd.cdc.gov/).
Pagelastreviewed:January10,2013
Contentsource:GlobalHealthDivisionofParasiticDiseasesandMalaria
Notice:LinkingtoanonfederalsitedoesnotconstituteanendorsementbyHHS,CDCoranyofitsemployeesofthesponsorsorthe
informationandproductspresentedonthesite.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/biology.html

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1/27/2015

CDCAscariasisBiology

CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention1600CliftonRd.Atlanta,GA
303294027,USA
800CDCINFO(8002324636)TTY:(888)2326348ContactCDCINFO

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/biology.html

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