Oesophagostomum

Description:

Oesophagostomum

L3 larva of Oesophagostomum sp., obtained via coproculture from the feces of a baboon (Papio ursinus) in South Africa. Note the long, thin, pointed tail. Image courtesy of the UTC Baboon Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

The definitive hosts of Oesophagostomum spp. become infected from the ingestion of infective L3 larvae, which develop in the environment. L3 larvae are longer than the L3 larvae of hookworms, measuring 710-950 µm in length. The intestine is made-up of alternating triangular-shaped cells (zigzag gut cells). The tail end has a long, thin, tapered sheath, with a considerable gap between the end of the tail and the end of the sheath.

From CDC-DPDx