How Are Roundworms Transmitted?

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Ascaris lumbricoides alone accounts for 1.4 billion roundworm infections throughout the world. Understanding how roundworms are transmitted helps explain the prevalence of this common human parasitic infection.

Typical Transmission

• Transmission of most roundworms that infect humans--including Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, pinworms and whipworms--occurs when roundworm eggs or larvae in the soil get into your body through your mouth or directly through your skin.

Warning

• The NIAID states that transmission of Trichinella spirali, a parasitic roundworm that infects meat-eating mammals, occurs when larvae migrate to the muscle tissue of their host animals. When you eat undercooked meat from a contaminated animal, digestive juices release the larvae, which then infect your body.

Time Frame

• Most types of roundworm eggs leave the host body in contaminated feces. According to the World Health Organization, these eggs require a period of time in direct contact with soil to mature (usually about two to three weeks) before they actually become infective and can be transmitted to other hosts.

Considerations

• Some types of roundworms that infect animal species, such as dogs and cats, can be transmitted to humans, as well; transmission typically occurs when you ingest an infected animal's contaminated feces.

Prevention/Solution

• Key steps to preventing roundworm transmission include practicing good personal hygiene (such as washing hands after using the restroom), wearing shoes outside and cooking meat completely.