Roundworms or nematodes make up the nematode kingdom, classifying it as a group of insects. It is an extremely diverse type of invertebrate that spans a wide range of aquatic habitats. It is estimated that about one hundred and fifty species live in North America.
Their main food plants, as well as freshwater shrimp and snails, can contain them in large quantities. Most of them live off decaying organic matter in the soil, around stones and roots. However, roundworms prefer humid places where they can live for several years. Most species have dark, silvery gray, or brown bodies; some have brightly colored red or yellow heads that grow long enough to fully develop.
Larger larvae have a pair of spiracles (horns). They are used as airways. The worm lays twelve to twenty thousand eggs at a time, and this can occur in water, soil, or mud. Eggs are laid in groups and then buried in the host plant. Once inside, they develop and multiply into roundworm cysts or nematodes.
The most common parasitic roundworms are flatworm dermatophytes, also called "scaly toenails." Commonly found in the United States and Canada, roundworms are easily distinguished from other types by their rounded, silvery-gray body, lack of external "spores" and lack of spiracles on the head. The roundworm does not have a muscular tail. This allows him to easily pass through the soil.
Roundworms tend to grow in soil near a body of water. They can infect other aquatic organisms, including mussels and other freshwater crustaceans. Roundworms often infect a human host and spread through the bloodstream, causing infection in humans. You can find out more about this disease and the possibilities of its treatment on the website Sarjana.
Ascaris larvae do not feed, so they live off decaying organic matter and living plants. They feed on roots and plant nutrients. A specific type of roundworm called Dermatophyllia feeds on a specific type of plant called aeolus and is a food source for many aquatic snails and aquatic shrimp. Roundworms can also feed on snails, which feed on rotting organic matter such as leaves, wood, or logs. and other debris, or even on the soil itself.
Most roundworm cysts, when present in the water, are soft, whitish or creamy and are shaped like a capsule
The body of a roundworm can be smooth or rough, and may appear as a lumpy mass, resembling that of a pea. The outer layer of the roundworm usually contains a brown or grey-brown "seed" which, when pulled away, reveals a white or yellow "dung".
Roundworms, like most other types of cysts, are anaerobes and have a highly reduced ability to break down. If anaerobic conditions are allowed to prevail, they will die. The decomposition process is accelerated if the water supply is warm enough, and the worms die within twenty days. There are several types of treatment available to prevent the cysts from multiplying.
One of the first treatment options is to destroy the cysts. When you destroy the cysts, their eggs are not released into the environment. They can then no longer reproduce, and new ones will not be produced. The cost of this treatment is relatively minimal; usually less than one dollar per treatment.
Another option is to place a bait-like substance in the water. The bait is released into the water periodically. The bait will attract the anaerobic worms, which will kill the cysts before they can multiply. This treatment is much more expensive than the earlier one.
The third option involves draining or washing the water that the worms live in. The treatment may involve killing all the cysts and allowing for the complete breakdown of the cysts. This treatment is much more expensive than the other two options, but the cost is well worth it because the treatment is permanent.
As previously mentioned, the most effective roundworm treatment options are those that target the eggs. The eggs can remain viable for as long as three months after they are released into the water.