Guide to the Nematode Superfamilies of Veterinary Medical Importance
Bursate tails:
Hair-like, well developed bursa, short (except Dictyocaulus), no buccal capsule
Stomach and small intestines
Short, stout, well developed bursa, large buccal capsule, leaf crowns, ventral teeth and cutting plates
Strongyloidea Mostly large intestines (hookworms in small intestines)
Long, slender, poorly developed bursa (blunt rays)
Metastrongyloidea Respiratory tract and nervous system
Extremely long, stout, fleshy bursa (giant kidney worm)
Dictophymoidea Peritoneal cavity and kidneys Without bursate tails:
Long, slender
Filarioidea Blood vessels, lymph ducts, serosal-lined organs, connective tissue
Extremely long, slender
Dracunculoidea Subcutaneous connective tissue Extremely short, slender, no parasitic males, esophagus 1/3 the body length
Rhabditoidea Small intestines
Neck a stichosome
Trichuroidea Lower alimentary tract, nasal sinuses, respiratory tract, liver, urinary bladder Long, stout, three lips, some with cervical alae
Ascaridoidea Small intestines
Stout, length variable, ornate cuticular and oral structures, with or without lips or caudal alae
Spiruroidea Upper alimentary tract, eyes, skin
Females with pointed tails (pinworms), males with single spicule
Oxyuroidea Cecum and colon
