Parascaris equorum

For the disease in humans caused by Ascaris, see Ascariasis.

Parascaris equorum
Male (top) and female (bottom) P. equorum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Chromadorea
Order: Ascaridida
Family: Ascarididae
Genus: Parascaris
Species:
P. equorum
Binomial name
Parascaris equorum
(Goeze, 1782)
Synonyms[1]
  • Ascaris equorum Goeze, 1782
  • Ascaris megalocephala Cloquet, 1824

Parascaris equorum is a species of ascarid that is the equine roundworm. Amongst horse owners, the parasites are colloquially called "Ascarids". This is a host-specific helminth intestinal parasite that can infect horses, donkeys, and zebras. Horses up to six months of age are the most susceptible to infection. After this time, infection rates begin to decline and is extremely uncommon in horses over twelve months of age.[2] It cannot infect humans or other animals.[3] It is yellow-white in color, and females can become as large as 15 inches (38 cm) in length.[4] Found worldwide, P. equorum is one of the most difficult equine parasites to kill, requiring larger doses of more powerful anthelmintic medications than are needed for other equine parasites.[3]

  1. ^ "Parascaris equorum (Goeze, 1782)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ Johnstone, Dr.Colin (24 January 2000). "Parascaris equorum". University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b Briggs, Karen (March 1, 2004). "Ascarids: A Growing Problem". The Horse. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wood1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).