Capillaria philippinensis

• Common name?

  Pudoc worm
• Disease name?

  Intestinal Capillariasis, Pudoc’s disease
• Two female types?

  • Typical female: Lays eggs (oviparous) and carries a small number (8-10) arranged in a single row in its uterus. These eggs develop outside the body.
  • Atypical female: Gives birth to live larvae (larviparous) and carries a larger number of eggs (40-45) arranged in 2-3 rows within its uterus. The larvae hatch inside the female before being released.
• Female anatomy: Females have two distinct sections:

  • Anterior (front) section: Contains the esophagus and stichosomes (thought to be sensory organs).
  • Posterior (back) section: Contains the intestine and reproductive organs.
• Male anatomy: Males have an unusually long, smooth spicular sheath, a structure involved in reproduction.
• • Two types based on female: The type of egg depends on the female worm that produced it?

  Typical eggs and Atypical eggs
• Typical eggs:

  • Laid by oviparous females.
  • Yellowish color with a moderately thick striated shell.
  • Flattened plugs on both ends (bipolar plugs).
  • Measure around 42 micrometers long and 20 micrometers wide.
  • Distinctive peanut shape due to a central indentation.
  • Found at a single or two-celled stage of development when passed in feces.
• Atypical eggs:

  • Produced by larviparous females.
  • Have a thin shell and lack the bipolar plugs.
  • Appear multi-segmented or already contain an embryo.
  • Hatch inside the female's uterus, releasing first-stage larvae.
• Habitat?

  small intestine
• There are two types of females with different reproductive strategies?


  • Typical females: Lay eggs (oviparous) that are passed in feces.
  • Atypical females: Give birth to live larvae (larviparous) within their bodies.
• Eggs:

  • Typical eggs: Develop outside the body in the environment.
  • Atypical eggs: Hatch inside the female, releasing larvae.
• Human infection: Humans become infected by eating raw or undercooked fish containing infective larvae.
• Diagnosis: The specimen of choice is stool. DFS, conc. technique like AECT, FECT reveal eggs and larvae and sometimes even adult worms
• Prevention and control: Since infection is acquired by eating raw or improperly cooked fish, fish should be thoroughly cooked to prevent disease in man. Proper sanitary practices should also be practice. All infected individuals should be treated immediately, and feces should be disposed properly