Paraspidodera		Contents		Rev: 10/12/2026
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Paraspidodera Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Aspidoderidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification:

• Chromadorea
  Chromadoria

           Rhabditida 

        Spirurina

                          Heterakoidea

Aspidoderidae

Lauroiinae

    Synonyms:
      

Back to Top

Morphology and Anatomy:

Characteristics include:

• Male worms are 11-22 mm long and females 16-27 mm long
•  Both sexes have a large bulb-shaped esophagus, t
• Male spicules are of equal and there is a pre-cloacal sucker
• Eggs small, ellipsoidal, about 43 x 31 um, the shell is thick with a smooth surface
• Parasites of guinea pigs.

Ref: Vetter et al., 2024

Back to Top

Distribution:

Reported from large areas of South America.

Back to Top

Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Paraspidodera

Parasites of the large intestine (cecum and colon) of rodents of guinea pigs (genus Cavia) (Vetter et al., 2024).

Back to Top

Biology and Ecology:

The parasitism of Paraspidodera uncinata in wild rodents is generally no considered pathogenic, although in large infestations can cause weight loss, weakness and diarrhea.

Diagnosis is based on the identification of eggs in the feces, using flotation/sedimentation techniques, or the presence of adult worms in the large in testine (Taylor et al., 2016).

The presence of the parasite in the large intestine of Cavia aperea has been frequently reported in southern Brazil (Trevisan-Gressler et al., 2010),. Studies from Peru reported high prevalences of parasitism. In Cavia porcellus, prevalences of up to 83% have been reported in farmed individuals, without affecting the body condition (Vetter et al., 2024).

Back to Top

Life Cycle:

Probably direct.

Back to Top

Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Back to Top

Management:

Back to Top

References:

Taylor, M.A., Coop, R.L., Wall, R.L., 2016. Parasitologi­a Veterinaria. Guanabara Koogan, Rio de Janeiro, p. 1052.

Trevisan-Gressler, L., Schafer da Silva, A., Kipper da Silva, M., Tonin, A.A., Gonzalez-Monteiro, S., 2010. Gastrointestinal parasites of cavy (Cavia aperea aperea) in southern Brazil. Res. Vet. Sci. 89 (2), 206-208.

Vetter, J.R., Chirife, S.Y., Maciel, S.J. 2024. Presence of Paraspidodera uncinata (Nematoda: Heterakidae) and Gyropus ovalis (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) in a wild specimen of Cavia aperea (Rodentia: Caviidae) from the campus of the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, San Lorenzo, Paraguay. Vet. Parasitol. Regional Studies and Reports 48:100977

Back to Top

Revised by Howard Ferris: October 12, 2026.