Ascaris lumbricoides: Classification, Description, Diagnosis, and Strategies for control of Ascaris
Ascaris lumbricoides, Linnaeus, 1758 and Ascaris suum, Goeze, 1782 are parasitic nematode (Family Ascarididae) infections of humans. Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most frequent intestinal parasites that cause Ascariasis in children under the age of five in developing nations with poor sanitation (Schulze et al., 2005; Steinberg et al., 2003). In endemic locations, worm infection affects about 30% of adults and 60-70 per cent of children (Khuroo et al., 1989). The majority of cases, however, are asymptomatic; yet, in cases when the worm burden is substantial, catastrophic problems such as intestinal blockage or perforation can occur, necessitating immediate surgical intervention (Agrawal et al., 2016). Though microbiologic diagnosis of Ascaris lumbricoides infection is possible (Arora et al., 2005), X-ray and ultrasonography are rapid, safe, and non-invasive methods for early diagnosis (Mehta et al., 2010; Mani et al., 1997).