List of parasites of humans
Roundworms

List of parasites of humans

Section Title: Roundworms
Table Section Text: None

Common name of organism or disease	Latin name (sorted)	Body parts affected	Diagnostic specimen	Prevalence	Transmission/Vector

Ancylostomiasis/Hookworm	Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus	lungs, small intestine, blood	stool	common in tropical, warm, moist climates	penetration of skin by L3 larva

Angiostrongyliasis	Angiostrongylus costaricensis	intestine	stool	ingestion of infected faeces or infected slugs

Anisakiasis	Anisakis	allergic reaction	biopsy	incidental host	ingestion of raw fish, squid, cuttlefish, octopus

Roundworm – Parasitic pneumonia	Ascaris sp. Ascaris lumbricoides	Intestines, liver, appendix, pancreas, lungs, Löffler's syndrome	stool	common in tropical and subtropical regions

Roundworm – Baylisascariasis	Baylisascaris procyonis	Intestines, liver, lungs, brain, eye	rare: North America	stool from raccoons

Roundworm-lymphatic filariasis	Brugia malayi, Brugia timori	lymph nodes	blood samples	tropical regions of Asia	arthropods

Dioctophyme renalis infection	Dioctophyme renale	kidneys (typically the right)	urine	rare	ingestion of undercooked or raw freshwater fish

Guinea worm – Dracunculiasis	Dracunculus medinensis	subcutaneous tissues, muscle	skin blister/ulcer	South Sudan (eradication ongoing)

Pinworm – Enterobiasis	Enterobius vermicularis, Enterobius gregorii	intestines, anus	stool; tape test around anus	widespread; temperate regions

Gnathostomiasis	Gnathostoma spinigerum, Gnathostoma hispidum	subcutaneous tissues (under the skin)	physical examination	rare – Southeast Asia	ingestion of raw or undercooked meat (e.g., freshwater fish, chicken, snails, frogs, pigs) or contaminated water

Halicephalobiasis	Halicephalobus gingivalis	brain	soil-contaminated wounds

Loa loa filariasis, Calabar swellings	Loa loa filaria	connective tissue, lungs, eye	blood (Giemsa, haematoxylin, eosin stain)	rain forest of West Africa – 12–13 million people	Tabanidae – horsefly, bites in the day

Mansonelliasis, filariasis	Mansonella streptocerca	subcutaneous layer of skin	insect

River blindness, onchocerciasis	Onchocerca volvulus	skin, eye, tissue	bloodless skin snip	Africa, Yemen, Central and South America near cool, fast flowing rivers	Simulium/black fly, bites during the day

Strongyloidiasis – Parasitic pneumonia	Strongyloides stercoralis	intestines, lungs, skin (Larva currens)	stool, blood	skin penetration

Thelaziasis	Thelazia californiensis, Thelazia callipaeda	eyes	ocular examination	Asia, Europe	Amiota (Phortica) variegata, Phortica okadai

Toxocariasis	Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati	liver, brain, eyes (Toxocara canis – visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans)	blood, ocular examination	worldwide distribution	pica, unwashed food contamined with Toxocara eggs, undercooked livers of chicken

Trichinosis	Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella britovi, Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella nativa	muscle, periorbital region, small intestine	blood	more common in developing countries due to improved feeding practices in developed countries.	ingestion of undercooked pork

Whipworm	Trichuris trichiura, Trichuris vulpis	large intestine, anus	stool (eggs)	common worldwide	accidental ingestion of eggs in dry goods such as beans, rice, and various grains or soil contaminated with human feces

Elephantiasis – Lymphatic filariasis	Wuchereria bancrofti	lymphatic system	thick blood smears stained with hematoxylin.	tropical and subtropical	mosquito, bites at night

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