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Which organs do Ascaris roundworms travel through during infection?
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parasitic disease
Trypanosoma brucei in a blood smear (Giemsa-stained light photomicrograph).
During an infection with Ascaris roundworms, the larvae follow a specific migratory path through the human body after being ingested:
- Small Intestine: Upon ingestion, larvae are released in the small intestine and penetrate the intestinal wall.1
- Liver: The larvae migrate from the intestine to the liver.1
- Lungs: From the liver, they travel to the lungs, where they may cause inflammation and fluid retention.1
- Airways and Throat: The larvae pass through the alveolar walls into the airways, migrate up the bronchi, and are eventually swallowed.1
- Small Intestine (Final Destination): Once swallowed, the larvae return to the small intestine, where they mature into adult worms and reside for 10 to 24 months.1
This complex migration is a hallmark of ascariasis, a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.1