Johns Hopkins ABX Guide →Pathogens →Parasites

Ascaris

Ascaris is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

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MICROBIOLOGY

Ascaris lumbricoides: largest intestinal nematode (roundworm) that is a human pathogen.
- Soil-transmitted helminth
  - Ova develop on warm, humid soil (about 3 wks) before becoming infective.
  - Adult worms live in lumen of small intestine (up to 2 yrs).
  - Ova excreted in stool.
Life cycle: humans ingest infective ova that hatch and release larvae. Larvae invade intestinal mucosa and travel from portal to systemic circulation to lungs in about 4 days. Larvae penetrate through alveoli, ascend the trachea, and are reingested, then mature in intestines and live for 10 to 24 months.[3]
Ova are hardy. They can sustain freezing and live up to 6 years in moist soil. Adult female worms can produce 200,000 ova/day.

Epidemiology:

Endemic in warm, humid areas especially where human excreta is used as fertilizer, contaminated wastewater is used for irrigation, or geophagy (deliberate/regular consumption of soil) is practiced.
Infection most common in young, but affects all ages.
- Heavy infections can cause malnutrition.[6]
Transmission: hand to mouth.
Ascariasis due to A. suum is a swine-associated zoonosis.[7]

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Last updated: October 13, 2016

Citation

Spacek, Lisa A. "Ascaris." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2016. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540034/all/Ascaris.

Spacek LA. Ascaris. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2016. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540034/all/Ascaris. Accessed January 17, 2019.

Spacek, L. A. (2016). Ascaris. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. Available from https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540034/all/Ascaris

Spacek LA. Ascaris [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2016. [cited 2019 January 17]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540034/all/Ascaris

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TY - ELEC T1 - Ascaris ID - 540034 A1 - Spacek,Lisa,M.D., Ph.D. Y1 - 2016/10/13/ BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540034/all/Ascaris PB - The Johns Hopkins University DB - Pediatrics Central DP - Unbound Medicine ER -