Identification & Life cycle of Trichostrongylus

Identification:

Gross:

·         The adults are small and hair like usually less than 7.0 mm long and difficult to see with naked

Microscopically:

·         The worms have no obvious buccal capsule

·         Distinct excretory notch in the oesophageal region

·         The spicules are thick, unbranched and in case of T.  axei are also un equal in length

·         Tail is bluntly tapered in female and there is no vulvar flap.

·         In T. axei, the eggs are arranged pole to pole longitudinally.

Life Cycle

• Similar except exsheathment of the L₃ of intestinal species occurs in the abomasums.
• Under optimal condition, development from the egg to infective stage occurs in 1-2 weeks.
• The parasitic phase is non migratory.
• PPP

o   2-3 wks in ruminants.

o   In horse (T. axei) ppp is 25 days

o   in game birds (T. tenuis) it is 10days.