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Case Reports
. 2015 Dec;53(6):719-24.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.6.719. Epub 2015 Dec 31.

A Horsehair Worm, Gordius sp. (Nematomorpha: Gordiida), Passed in a Canine Feces

Eui-Ju Hong  1 , Cheolho Sim  2 , Joon-Seok Chae  3 , Hyeon-Cheol Kim  4 , Jinho Park  5 , Kyoung-Seong Choi  6 , Do-Hyeon Yu  7 , Jae-Gyu Yoo  8 , Bae-Keun Park  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A Horsehair Worm, Gordius sp. (Nematomorpha: Gordiida), Passed in a Canine Feces

Eui-Ju Hong et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Nematomorpha, horsehair or Gordian worms, include about 300 freshwater species in 22 genera (Gordiida) and 5 marine species in 1 marine genus (Nectonema). They are parasitic in arthropods during their juvenile stage. In the present study, the used gordian worm was found in the feces of a dog (5-month old, male) in July 2014. Following the worm analysis using light and scanning electron microscopes, the morphological classification was re-evaluated with molecular analysis. The worm was determined to be a male worm having a bi-lobed tail and had male gonads in cross sections. It was identified as Gordius sp. (Nematomorpha: Gordiidae) based on the characteristic morphologies of cross sections and areole on the cuticle. DNA analysis on 18S rRNA partial sequence arrangements was also carried out, and the gordiid worm was assumed to be close to the genus Gordius based on a phylogenic tree analysis.

Keywords: Gordius; Korea; Nematomorpha; dog; horsehair worm.

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Conflict of interest statement

We have no conflict of interest related to this work.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Gross and light microscopic features of Gordius sp. (A) Gross finding of the worm. (B) The rounded calotte. (C) The posterior end. Tail is divided into 2 lobes (arrows).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
SEM finding of Gordius sp. cuticle. (A) Anterior part of the worm. Note the areoles on the cuticle. (B) The magnified square in (A). Spines are scattered on the anterior end. (C) A single spine. (D) The lateral view of the mid-body. Note the areoles found rarely. (E) The ventral view of the mid-body. Spines are not found. (F) Ventral view on the posterior end of a male with V-shaped postcloacal crescent and semicircular row of bristles. Note that the tails are bi-lobed and the inverted V-shaped ridge is containing the bristle. The postcloacal crescent (PCC) is located behind the cloaca (arrow).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Phylogenetic tree (neighbor-Joining) based on sequence analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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