ACTIVITY 8

PHYLUM NEMATODA
I. INTRODUCTION
Phylum Nematoda is a large group of some 15,000 species of threadlike triploblastic, bilaterally
symmetrical pseudocoelomates known commonly as roundworms. All nematodes have the same basic
body structure: cylindrical bodies with tapering ends and size ranges from less than 1 mm to several
meters long. Nematodes are covered by a resistant cuticle, unique to this group, which functions as a
support and leverage point for movement. The pseudocoel is a fluid-filled cavity containing visceral
organs and forms a hydrostatic support. Nematodes have a complete digestive system, can do an eel-like
movement through contraction of their longitudinal muscles, and regulate water and excrete wastes
using the glandular and tubular systems. They exchange gases directly with the environment by diffusion,
are dioecious, and the nervous system consists of a series of longitudinal nerves.
II. OBJECTIVES:
1. To be able to familiarize oneself to representative species of Phylum Nematoda.
2. To be able to identify important features of representative species.
3. To be able to classify organisms from Kingdom down to species.
III. MATERIALS
Microscope
Prepared slides:
Trichinella spiralis
Trichuris trichiura male and female
Ancylostoma male and female
Enterobius vermicularis
Ascaris lumbricoides

IV. PROCEDURE
Two Classes:
A. Class Adenophora (Aphasmida). This consists of 12 orders in which members are predominantly
free-living nematodes lacking phasmids; amphids located behind anterior end. Males lack lateral
extensions of the tail. Examples are Trichinella spiralis (trichina worm) and Trichuris trichiura
(whipworm).
Observational Procedure: Trichinella spiralis
1. Examine a section of muscle with encysted larvae. How might a heavy infection affect host muscle
function?
Observational Procedure: Trichuris trichiura
1. Examine a whole mount of a male and a female whipworm. The esophagus is a long, thin-walled,
multiglandular tube called the stichosome. There are no lips. The buccal cavity is armed with a
minute stylet which may be seen under high magnification. How do you distinguish between the male
and the female of this nematode?

B. Class Secernentea (Phasmida). This consists of 8 orders in which members are predominantly
parasitic or free-living terrestrial nematodes having phasmids; amphids located forward in the
anterior end. Males often have lateral extensions of the tail. Examples are Ascaris lumbricoides
(intestinal roundworm), Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm).
Observational Procedure: Ascaris lumbricoides (intestinal roundworm)
A. lumbricoides is characterized by its great size. Males are 24 mm (0.080.2 in) in diameter and 15
31 cm (5.912 in) long. The male's posterior end is curved ventrally and has a bluntly pointed tail
(penial spicule). Females are 36 mm (0.10.2 in) wide and 2049 cm (7.919 in) long. The vulva is
located in the anterior end and accounts for about one-third of its body length. Uteri may contain up
to 27 million eggs at a time, with 200,000 being laid per day.

Observational Procedure: Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)

The adult female has a sharply pointed posterior end, is 8 to 13 mm long, and 0.5 mm thick.The adult
male is considerably smaller, measuring 2 to 5 mm long and 0.2 mm thick, and has a curved posterior
end.

Observational Procedure: Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm)

A male is 10 to 12 mm long and 0.36 mm wide; a female is 14 to 20 mm long by 0.5 mm wide and has
a pointed tail. The anterior end is bent dorsally so that the arrangement of the hookworm's ventral
and dorsal sides are reversed. In the head of the hookworm is an area called the buccal capsule
which contains the mouth and teeth. Ventrally, there is one pair of teeth, each with three points. In
the depth of the capsule there is a pair of triangular dorsal teeth and a pair of ventro-lateral teeth. At
its posterior end, a male A. caninum has a prominent bursa. The female reproductive organ, the
vulva, is found near the junction of the second and last thirds of the body.

Trichinella spiralis, (a) male; (b) female

Trichiuris trichiura, (a) female; (b) male

Ascaris lumbricoides

Enterobius vermicularis

Name: __________________________________________________________________
Date:__________________
Prof:___________________________________________________
Program Code/Group No. :__________________

ACTIVITY 8
Phylum Nematoda
(Roundworms)
I. Draw and label the different specimens observed.
Class Adenophora

Class Secernentea

male

female

Trichinella spiralis (_____X)

Trichuris trichiura (_____X)

Class Secernentea

Class Secernentea

male
Ascaris lumbricoides: pickled

female

Ascaris lumbricoides (_____X)

Class Adenophora

Class Adenophora

male

female

Enterobius vermicularis (_____X)

male

female

Ancylostoma caninum (_____X)

II. Guide questions:

1. Define the following terms:
zoonosis_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
rhabditiform__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
filariform______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
microfilaria___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
phasmid_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the diseases caused by the following nematodes?
Wuchereria bancrofti ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ancylostoma duodenale______________________________________________________________________________________________
Trichinella spiralis ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Trichuris trichiura____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ascaris lumbricoides__________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the functions of the following?
cuticle_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
bursa__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
spicules________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
cutting plates_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
stichosome____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
stylet___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Describe the life cycle of Necator americanus.

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5. Describe the life cycle of Wuchereria bancrofti.
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Conclusions:
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References:
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