Bumpy Vampire Worm - created from Mind Map

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Nematode

Roundworm

Lifecycle

Epidemiology

Pathology

How pathogenic should these worms be? Goal is not to kill the host..?

Morphology

Locomotion

Able to actively move towards hosts, increases incidence

Size

small worms, smaller than small strongyles

eyes

more complex eyes to be able to see and move towards the hosts. More likely to infect

large mouth

to accommodate the teeth (large bucal capsule)

sharp teeth

blood sucking, attachment

muscular

Its muscles help with locomotion, worms can move longer distances without depleting all their energy.

Sexual dimorphism

Temp sensor?

Should worms have a temperature sensor to know when a host is near? or are eyes enough?

Females larger than males

Females larger than males--hold more reproductive organs

motile larvae & adults

able to move large distances?

Other modes of transportation?

Mechanical vectors

flies/other insects?

small enough to travel through blood vessels

Adult females: 0.5cm

Adult males: 0.3cm

One-host lifecycle

Only one host needed to complete lifecycle. No need for intermediate hosts..makes them more difficult or easier to control?

high reproducibility

One female can produce 500K offspring.

Would it be worthwhile to have worms undergo parthenogenesis? Males only used for genetic diversity?

Host spectrum??

localization

Females lay eggs in intestines? have to ensure eggs are excreted somehow.

environmental stage

Eggs hatch, most conditions are okay, develop in environment until L3 infective stage? then seek out host

monoxenous, oligoxenous

can infect many host species?

Females die after producing eggs?

males die after mating?

livestock species?

wildlife species

targets mutiple organs

no preference in localization, spreads through body via blood. This allows worms to spread and replicate without running out of room (attachment places)

hypobiosis?

Worms halt in development to ensure egg survival in environment.

worldwide occurence

worms are able to tolerate many climates, even arid and cold ones?

pasture contamination?

herd problem?

easily spread in crowded operations

more common during certain seasons?

Dependent on when eggs are most viable? mild weather/warmer weather vs winter?

More of an issue in young or adult animals?

Should worms try to actively target adult animals? Less likelihood to kill/damage host..less likely to be noticed and treated?

Transmission??

Adults are bloodsuckers

Blockages/obstruction

Immunology

Host penetration?

Depending on how worms enter their host (ingestion or penetration of the skin?) Skin lesions could be present (Inflammation of the skin)

anemia in small hosts/young

lesions from attachment sites

loss of function of organ

Loss of function from high burden of worms feeding/causing lesions. Connective tissue will replace damaged organs

Range of clinical signs depending on affected organs

dependent on burden

Host immunity low or high??

Having low or no immune reaction will make worms less detectable..? Able to spread more efficiently through the host?

inflmmation of the skin??

This depending on how worms enter the host..active penetration?