Phylum Nematoda

Group 5
 Phylum Nematoda

 Nematodes have a elongated and perfectly cylindrical body, hence the name roundworm. In
general, the class is characterized by having a complete digestive system. Although there is
superficial annulation in the cuticular layer of some species, there is no true body segmentation,
there is no retractile proboscis, there is complete absence of cilia.
 Internally the nematodes are distinguished by relative constancy in cell numbers for most organ
systems. The muscle layers is composed entirely of longitudinal fibers. The nervous system is highly
developed, with a brain which is circumpharyngeal ring and having a dorsal, lateral, ventral
nerve cords that make contact with muscles and organs. The principal sensilla are in the form of
papillae, setae, amphids and phamids.
 the Nematoda phylum does not have a circulatory system. It utilizes a different method of
survival where it takes advantage of diffusion. This organism takes in various nutrients and gases
from the environment nearby, in addition it also releases the resources it does not need through
the same process. This diffusion does not require a host like many other nematodes do.
 Ascaris

 Ascaris is a genus of parasitic nematode worms known as the "small intestinal roundworms",
which is a type of parasitic worm. One species, Ascaris lumbricoides, affects humans and
causes the disease ascariasis. Another species, Ascaris suum, typically infects pigs. Parascaris
equorum, the equine roundworm, is also commonly called an "Ascarid".
 Their eggs are deposited in feces and soil. Plants with the eggs on them infect any organism
that consumes them. A. lumbricoides is the largest intestinal roundworm and is the most
common helminth infection of humans worldwide. Infestation can cause morbidity by
compromising nutritional status, affecting cognitive processes, inducing tissue reactions such
as granuloma to larval stages, and by causing intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal.
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Ascaris female x.s.

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Ascaris female x.s.

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Ascaris Female and Male
Tubatrix aceti

 Turbatrix aceti (vinegar eels, vinegar nematode, Anguillula aceti) are free-living
nematodes that feed on the microbial culture.
 The Turbatrix Aceti are commonly known as Vinegar Eels, they are neither harmful nor
parasitic to anything. They are also approximately 2mm long and survive by eating the
bacteria that is commonly found on apples and various other fruits and vegetables. These
organisms can not only be used to create vinegar, but can also be found in vinegar that is
not properly filtered.
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Turbatrix aceti.

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Turbatrix aceti.
Enterobius vermicularis

 Enterobius vermicularis, also known pinworm or as threadworm (in the United Kingdom
and Australasia) or seatworm, is a parasitic worm. is a nematode (roundworm) and a
common intestinal parasite or helminth, especially in humans. The medical condition
associated with pinworm infestation is known as pinworm infection (enterobiasis) (a type of
helminthiasis).
Enterobius vermicularis.

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Enterobius vermicularis.
Enterobius vermicularis

 Enterobius vermicularis, also known pinworm or as threadworm (in the United Kingdom
and Australasia) or seatworm, is a parasitic worm. is a nematode (roundworm) and a
common intestinal parasite or helminth, especially in humans. The medical condition
associated with pinworm infestation is known as pinworm infection (enterobiasis) (a type of
helminthiasis).
1. Anatomy of Ascaris pointing out those
features that typify roundworms.

 Ascaris is a cylindrical worm with white to light pinkish in colour, tapering at both ends.
Female measures 30-40 cm and male 15-30 cm. Four longitudinal streaks run through the
body. The triangular mouth is surrounded by one mid-dorsal and two ventrolateral lips. Tail
is straight in female carrying a transverse anus and a chemoreceptor called amphid. In
male, tail is curved and two chitinous spicules or penial setae project out. In ascaris skin,
Epidermis is the outermost syncytial layer covered on the outer surface by cuticle- a thick,
transparent and noncellular layer secreted by the underlying epidermis. Pseudocoelom is
characteristic body cavity of round worms filled with protein rich pseudocoelomic fluid
carrying five giant mesenchyme cells. Alimentary canal is a straight tube extending from
mouth to anus and comprises mouth, a short pharynx The posterior part of intestine opens
into rectum that terminates in anus or cloaca. Food consists of blood is sucked by the
pumping action. Digested food is absorbed by intestinal cells, Some also engulf small
particles by phagocytosis and digest them intracellularly. Food digested by the host
intestine is also directly absorbed through the skin.
1. Anatomy of Ascaris pointing out those
features that typify roundworms.

 Ascaris respires anaerobically because of lack of oxygen in host intestine. There is a single
giant H-shaped rennet cell forming excretory system. It consists of two lateral longitudinal
excretory canals, connected below the pharynx by transverse canalicular network.
Nitrogenous wastes, chiefly urea, are collected from different parts of body. The body is
covered externally by cuticle that helps to resist digestive juices of the host.The worm also
secretes antienzymes to protect it from the digestive enzymes of the host.Adhesive organs
are not found but there are papillae on lips to anchor on to the villi of intestine.Muscular
pharynx facilitates ingestion of tissue and blood by sucking action.There is a continuous
supply of food digested by the host intestine, which it absorbs readily through its skin.There
are no elaborate digestive glands as it feeds on partially digested food.Pseudocoelomic
fluid serves carries out absorption, transport and distribution of food, oxygen and
wastes.Mode of respiration is obligatory anaerobic as it lives in an oxygen deficient
environment in intestine.Sense organs are very poorly developed because of
endoparasitic life.
 2. Illustrate the life cycle of Enterobius
vermicularis.
 Eggs are deposited at night by the gravid females.
Eggs are ingested via person-to-person transmission
through the handling of contaminated surfaces (such as
clothing, linen, curtains, and carpeting), or airbourne eggs
may be inhaled and swallowed. Self-infection may also
occur if eggs are transferred from to the mouth by fingers
that have scratched the perianal area.
After ingestion, larvae hatch from the eggs in the small
intestine. The adults then migrate to the colon. The life span
of the adults is about two months. Adults mate in the colon,
and the males die after mating.
Gravid females migrate nocturnally to the anus and
ovideposit eggs in the perianal area. The females die after
laying their eggs. The time period from ingestion of infective
eggs to the ovideposition of eggs by females is
approximately one month.
The larvae develop and the eggs become infection within
4-6 hours. Newly hatched larvae may also migrate back
into the anus, and this is known as retroinfection
3.Diff. the nematodes from flatworms
based on the following criteria.
Reproductive system

 . Flatworm Reproduction Generally all flatworms are hermaphroditic, meaning an individual flatworm has
both male and female reproductive components. They engage in sexual and asexual reproduction, with the
dominant mode of reproduction varying among species. Asexually, flatworms procreate via fragmentation
and budding. Fragmentation, also called cloning, occurs when a flatworm splits off a part of its body,
allowing the separated portion to regenerate into a new worm. With budding, a flatworm grows an
extension from its body. This extension, or bud, becomes a new worm and separates from the original
flatworm. There are also multiple methods of flatworm sexual reproduction. Because a flatworm is
hermaphroditic, it can produce eggs within its body and also fertilize them with sperm, also generated in its
body. Another method of reproduction involves physical contact between two flatworms, where the sperm
of one flatworm is absorbed into the skin of another. With some species, this occurs through penis fencing,
where flatworms use their penis to compete in trying to pierce the skin of a potential mother. Ultimately,
fertilized eggs are encased in a cocoon within a flatworm’s body. The cocoon is released into environments
such as amid water weeds. The cocoon nourishes the eggs, which develop and later hatch.
 b. Roundworm Reproduction Unlike flatworms that are primarily hermaphroditic, roundworms have
hermaphroditic and gender-specific species, with sexual reproduction being the dominant mode of
procreation. With gender-specific roundworms, copulation occurs between the male and female; whereas
hermaphroditic roundworms self-fertilize their eggs. Some roundworms bear live young, and yet most release
their eggs into various habitats. The eggs develop into larvae, and depending on the species, may molt
several times before maturity.
Digestive System

 Digestive system and body cavities- flatworms have a incomplete system like a
gastrovascular cavity with a single opening where excretion is completed using flame cells
and they lack a coelom (acoelomate); roundworms are more complex with a complete
digestive system with two opening's. They are known as having a pseudocoelom (fluid-filled
cavity between the endoderm and mesoderm).
Excretory System

 Flatworms have an excretory system with a network of tubules throughout the body that
open to the environment and nearby flame cells, whose cilia beat to direct waste fluids
concentrated in the tubules out of the body. The system is responsible for regulation of
dissolved salts and excretion of nitrogenous wastes. While nematode , it has a network of
excretory tubes, which transfer the much of the solid waste to an anus of the worms. They
are one of the simplest creature to have two openings for excretion, rather than one in
similarly developed organisms. The excretion of nitrogenous waste though within the
Nematoda phylum is not nearly as structured. The waste leaves the body through the
outer layer of skin within the worm, and is not attributed to any particular organ. The
worms also release salt through the body. There are two ways to release this based of the
nature of the worm. Parasitic worms tend to have a glandular process to excrete, while
nonparasitic worms tend to have a much more tubular method of releasing their salty
waste.
 http://www.iaszoology.com/ascaris/2/
 https://sciencing.com/flatworms-roundworms-reproduce-10021662.html
 https://urinarysystems.weebly.com/nematoda.html
 http://web.stanford.edu/group/parasites/ParaSites2006/Enterobius/life%20cycle.htm