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

OESOPHAGOSTOMUM COLUMBIANUM

Oesophagostomum columbianum (Nodular worm of sheep)

• Male : 1.2-1.6 cm; Female : 1.5-2.2 cm
• Host: Sheep and goats
• Location: Large intestine
• Disease caused: Pimply gut

 Head end

• The cuticle at the anterior end is slightly swollen and cone shaped, separated from rest of the body by a constriction forming 'mouth collar’.
• Buccal capsule is shallow.
• External and internal leaf crowns present.
• A groove at the oesophageal region (cervical groove) is present on the ventral aspect only.
• The cuticle anterior to the cervical groove is slightly inflated to form a cephalic vesicle.
• Two finger like projections (cervical papillae) found just below the cervical groove.

Pimply Gut