VPA 211: General Veterinary Parasitology and Helminthology (3+1)

MORPHOLOGY OF OXYURIS EQUI

Genus	Oxyuris
Species	O.equi
Common name	Pin worms of horses or false whipworm

Morphology

• Small or medium sized worm with inconspicuous lips. Mature female are 10cm in length. Male less than one cm.
• Oesophagus – Hour glass shaped.
• Male tail end is truncated having single pin shaped spicule. Females are usually much larger than males and have long tapering tail end (whip like).
• Eggs are elongate, flattened on one side provided with mucoid plug at one pole.

Oxyuris equi - Egg