Triodontophorus

Triodontophorus

Members of this common genus of non-migratory large strongyles frequently occur in large numbers in the colon and contribute to the deleterious effects of mixed strongyle infection.

Species	Hosts	Location/Site	Distribution
Triodontophorus serratus T. tenuicollis T. brevicauda T. minor	Horses and donkeys	Caecum and colon	Worldwide

Identification

Gross:

• Robust, reddish worms 1.0-2.5 cm in length readily visible on the colonic mucosa.
•  In one species, T. tenuicollis, groups of adult worms are characteristi­cally found feeding in groups.

Microscopic:

• Species differentiation is based on buccal capsule characteristics, especially the number and shape of the teeth present in all species.

Life Cycle

• Little information is available on the developmental cycle of this genus, but it is thought to be similar to that of the genus Trichonema.

Pathogenesis

Like the other horse strongyles, the pathogenic effect of these worms is damage to the large intestinal mucosa from the feeding habits of the adult parasites; in particular, T. tenuicollis, whose adults feed in groups and cause the formation of large deep ulcers which may be several centimetres across.