| Skrjabingylus nasicola | |
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| Genus: | Skrjabingylus |
| Species: | S. nasicola |
| Binomial name | |
| Skrjabingylus nasicola (Leuckart, 1842) | |
Skrjabingylus nasicola is a species of parasiticnematode in the familyMetastrongylidae. Its lifecycle includes an intermediary mollusc host and aparatenic host, a shrew or small rodent. The adult worms live in thenasal sinuses ofmustelids that have eaten the paratenic hosts.
Hansson (1977) showed that direct transmission of the nematode from mustelid to mustelid did not occur, nor did infection occur when the mustelid was fed on smallrodents,amphibians, molluscs, arthropods, orearthworms. Infection could occur when the animal was fed on thecommon shrew (Sorex aranea); larvae of the nematode began to be excreted by the mustelid some three weeks later.[1] Research since then has shown that rodents can be a source of infection for mustelids.[2]
Skrjabingylus nasicola has a complexlifecycle. Larvae passed in thefaeces of infected mustelids are ingested by slugs such asDeroceras reticulatum. Mustelids do not usually eat molluscs, but the slugs may be eaten by a mammalianparatenic host such asApodemus sp. orClethrionomys glareolus. No developmental stages take place in this host and the nematode rests in the glandular zones in the head or possibly in the muscle or connective tissue. Further development takes place when this host is eaten by a mustelid and the parasite moves into its nasal tissues.[2]