Strongyles are commonly referred to as what?

• A. Roundworms
• B. Blood worms
• C. Tapeworms
• D. Heartworms

Answer: (B)

Strongyles are a group of nematodes whose activity in the host often involves tissue movement and blood loss, especially as they migrate through tissues or feed on blood-related fluids. Because of this association with blood loss and vascular involvement, they are commonly described by the descriptive name “blood worms.” This name emphasizes the clinical link to bleeding and damage in the host, which helps distinguish them from other intestinal parasites. In contrast, roundworms are a broader category of nematodes like Ascaris, tapeworms are flat, segmented parasites, and heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries, not in the same intestinal nematode group as strongyles.