What is "ascaridia"

Ascaridia \Ascaridia\ n. a roundworm having a preanal sucker.

Syn: genus Ascaridia.

Ascaridia is the name of a genus of parasitic nematodes. Members of the genus are primarily intestinal parasites of birds. There are three well known species, namely, A. galli found mostly in chicken, A. dissimilis in turkeys, and A. columbae in pigeons. Lesser known species such as A. hermaphrodita, A. sergiomeirai, A. ornata, A. nicobarensis and A. platyceri are found in parrots.

Among these A. galli is the most important and most pathogenic species, responsible for 'ascaridiasis' of poultry. The eggs of these nematodes are characterized by a thick shell, smooth and ellipsoidal, and composed of three distinct layers.

The eggs of A. dissimilis is marginally bigger than A. galli and A. columbae in marginally smaller. All these ascarid eggs are very similar in appearance to Heterakis gallinarum.

All three species exhibit a direct life cycle involving the release of eggs into the soil and the subsequent re-ingestion of them in food. A. columbae may also migrate through the liver.