Metastrongylosis is a

parasitic disease A parasitic disease, also known as parasitosis, is an infectious disease caused by parasites. Parasites are organisms which derive sustenance from its host while causing it harm. The study of parasites and parasitic diseases is known as parasitolo ...

that affects

wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...

s and

pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus ...

s which live outdoors. It is caused by various species of roundworms of the genus ''

Metastrongylus ''Metastrongylus'' is a genus of nematodes of the family Metastrongylidae, usually found as lungworms in pigs and sometimes causing parasitic bronchitis. It causes a disease called metastrongylosis. Species *'' Metastrongylus elongatus'' ...

''. A handful of cases of metastrongylosis have been reported in humans. ''Metastrongylus'' species have a life cycle which involves

earthworm An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. T ...

s as an intermediate host. Pigs root for

s in

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...

, and ingest the ''Metastrongylus'' larvae which are infesting the earthworms. The larvae migrate to the lungs, and cause the pig to cough and have difficulty breathing.

References

External links

Swine diseases Helminthiases Veterinary helminthology {{Veterinary-med-stub