page_title: Oesophagostomum
section_title: Transmission
hierarchical_section_title: Oesophagostomum / Transmission
caption_attribution_description: English: Gastrointestinal parasites in seven primates of the Taï National Park - Helminths Figure 3e of paper. Egg of Oesophagostomum sp.
context_page_description: Oesophagostomum is a genus of parasitic nematodes of the family Strongylidae. These worms occur in Africa, Brazil, China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The majority of human infection with Oesophagostomum is localized to northern Togo and Ghana. Because the eggs may be indistinguishable from those of the hookworms, the species causing human helminthomas are rarely identified with accuracy. Oesophagostomum, especially O. bifurcum, are common parasites of livestock and animals like goats, pigs and non-human primates, although it seems that humans are increasingly becoming favorable hosts as well. The disease they cause, oesophagostomiasis, is known for the nodule formation it causes in the intestines of its infected hosts, which can lead to more serious problems such as dysentery. Although the routes of human infection have yet to be elucidated sufficiently, it is believed that transmission occurs through oral-fecal means, with infected humans unknowingly ingesting soil containing the infectious filariform larvae.
  Oesophagostomum infection is largely localized to northern Togo and Ghana in western Africa where it is a serious public health problem.
context_section_description: Transmission of Oesophagostomum is believed to be oral-fecal for both humans and animals, largely because percutaneous infection with Oesophagostomum has never been reported.  It is unclear whether or not parasite transmission is specifically waterborne, foodborne, or both.  Regardless, introduction of the stage three infective larvae is necessary for human infection.  Much about the biological mechanism of transmission is still unknown, and current knowledge of oral-fecal transmission mechanisms does not explain why Oesophagostomum are mostly localized to Northern Togo and Ghana.  It is possible that there are behavioral factors or unique soil conditions that facilitate larval development and are not found outside the current endemic areas.
  Oesophagostomiasis is generally classified as a zoonotic disease, which is an infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans. This has been called into question recently, as recent research has found that human-to-human transmission is possible.
caption: Egg of Oesophagostomum sp. from primates in Côte d'Ivoire
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