Giant Kidney Worm Life Cycle. The pathogenesis of dioctophymatosis is mainly associated with the extent of renal atrophy caused by the parasites the risk of bilateral renal infestation and the location of the parasite extrarenal cases. Transactions of the american microscopical society 1950 vol 69 no 1 pp 21 46.
It has an indirect life cycle with carnivores serving as final hosts and earthworms as intermediate hosts. Aspects of the life cycle pathogenesis and epidemiology associated with this parasitism in brazil are also discussed. These eggs are ingested by an aquatic oligochaete hatch penetrate blood vessels and develop into a stage three larvae.
Barrel shaped yellow brown eggs with a thick pitted shell measuring 71 84 45 52 μm are shed into the urine.
The fish used were secured from the klekot farm 25 miles north of ann arbor. Barrel shaped yellow brown eggs with a thick pitted shell measuring 71 84 45 52 μm are shed into the urine. Detailed descriptions of the biological cycle could be consulted soulsby 1978 freitas 1980 bowman 1999. Both male and female worms must be present in the same kidney to complete the life cycle.