Trichostrongylus

The hairworm, or bankrupt or black scour worm; an economically important genus (about 30 species) of small slender nematodes (family Trichostrongylidae) that inhabit the small intestine, in some cases the stomach, of a variety of herbivorous animals and gallinaceous birds. They burrow into the mucosa and suck blood; in large numbers they do serious damage, especially to young hosts. [tricho- + G. strongylos, round]

- T. axei the most common species in cattle, occurring also in the abomasum of sheep, horses, antelope, bison, llama, and deer, and in the stomach of pigs and horses.

- T. capricola a species that occurs in the small intestine and abomasum of sheep, goats, deer, and pronghorn.

- T. colubriformis a species that occurs in anterior portions of the small intestine and sometimes in the abomasum of sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and some wild ruminants, and in the stomach of primates (including humans), rabbits, and squirrels; it is distributed worldwide and is common in the U.S., especially in sheep.

- T. longispicularis a species found in the small intestine of cattle, sheep, and goats; it is distributed worldwide but uncommon in the U.S.

- T. tenuis a species that is a widespread pathogenic parasite of the ceca and small intestines of fowl, including ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasants, and partridges.

- T. vitrinus a species that is an important pathogen of lambs, found chiefly in the duodenum of sheep, camels, rabbits, and goats but also reported from humans and pigs.

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Tricho·stron·gy·lus .trik-ō-'strän-jə-ləs n the type genus of the family Trichostrongylidae containing nematode worms that are parasites of birds and of mammals including humans and comprising forms formerly placed in the genus Strongylus

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Tricho·stron·gy·lus (trik″o-stronґjə-ləs) a genus of nematodes of the family Trichostrongylidae, comprising some species formerly included in the genus Strongylus. Adult worms are small and embed their heads in the mucosa of the small intestines of mammals; their eggs are often mistaken for those of the hookworm. See trichostrongyliasis.