Ternidens

TERNIDENS, a genus of nematodes of the order Strongylata, family Strongylidae, subfamily Oesophagostominae. The only species is T. dominutus (Railliet et Henry, 1905). The parasite has been recorded in humans, as well as in gorillas and some other monkeys of Africa and Asia (Macacus sinicus, M. cynomolgus). In humans, it was first found in 1865 in a member of the Mayotte tribe (Monestier, 1876). Railliet and Henry (1905) identified these specimens as Triodontophorus deminutus, and in 1909 transferred them to the independent genus Ternidens. The second case in humans was recorded by Turner in a native of Nyasaland (identified by Leiper, 1908). There are no further references in the literature to cases of finding T. d. in humans until Sandground (1931), who pointed to the wide distribution of this parasite among natives in Africa; in certain localities of Southern Rhodesia, the infection rate among natives varies from 55% to 60%. In the USSR, T. d. has not been found. Sandground suggests that by analogy with esophagostomes, T. d. should be capable of causing significant pathological changes in the human intestine.

Description of T.d. The cuticle is finely transversely striated. The ventral groove is at a distance of 0.21 mm, the cervical papillae are 0.5 mm from the anterior end. The mouth is slanted toward the dorsal side. The oral capsule is hemispherical, the external and internal corona radiata each consist of 22-24 leaflets. The esophageal funnel is expanded and contains 3 teeth, each of which consists of two plates extending into the depth of the capsule. The male is 9.5 mm in length; the spicules are 0.9 mm in length. The female is 11.7-16 mm in length; the anus is 0.27 mm, the vulva is 0.68-0.70 mm from the end of the tail. The eggs are about 0.060 mm in length and 0.038 mm in width; they are very similar to those of Necator americanus, but larger (see figure). From the eggs in the external environment, rhabditiform larvae hatch, which pass two molts and after 8-10 days become invasive. Infection occurs perorally; the larvae do not penetrate through the skin. Localization of parasites - the large intestine. Therapy: carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene are used, however, complete elimination of the parasites is usually not achieved.

II. Shishpalova.