A worm is a long and thin animal that usually lives in the soil. They have soft bodies that are long and rounded and they have neither legs nor backbones.
Did you know that there are thousands of different kinds of worms? The largest of the species can be several feet or meters in length, while a microscope can’t see the smallest. While some live in water, worms usually live in soil. Many of them eat small plants and animals for food, while others feed on decaying matters.
Most worms have well developed senses of touch and have specialized organs that respond to chemicals found in their surroundings. Many species have a sense of sight, and they have either eyes or eyespots in their heads.
People believe that caterpillars and grubs are also worms. They are actually insects in their juvenile form and do not look like worms when they mature.
Other varieties of worm actually live as parasites inside the bodies of plants, animals and even humans. These worms are the cause of a number of diseases.
A hookworm is a parasite that lives in the intestines of cats and dogs, and they can be passed on to humans. According to health statistics, one billion people all over the world, especially in tropical and subtropical climates, are afflicted with hookworms.
Another common parasites found in pets are the roundworm that could also cause diseases among humans. Ringworms can also be transmitted by direct contact with the infected animal or person. Tapeworms can also infect humans, although it is more common in pets and in livestock.
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Dog Worms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Some dogs develop dog worms. What are these worms and what are the signs of infestation? The main species of worms that dog owners have problems with are round worms and tapeworms. Round worms are common among puppies, and are a cause of headache for...
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Tape Worms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Did you know that tapeworms could infect any mammals including humans? In the United States alone, they are most commonly seen among pets and livestock. There are various types of tapeworms that are host specific, such as those found in fish and pigs. Tapeworm infestation...
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A Guide To Ring Worm
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Did you know that ringworms can infect both humans and animals, and they can even catch the disease from each other? Ringworm is contacted when there is direct contact on the infected area of a person or an animal that is already infected. The common...
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Symbiotic Relationships
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Relationships are inevitable for any living being whether it is an animal, a plant, a microscopic organism or a human being. Symbiotic relationships are relationships where two organisms of different species live and work together, each one of them benefiting from mutual cooperation. This term...
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Ticks
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Ticks constitute a menace that can cause debilitating diseases in humans and animals. Ticks are not insects, but arachnids. They belong to the same family as mites, spiders, and scorpions. Although they thrive in warm regions, they stay away from direct sunlight. They are parasitic...
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Carnivorous Plants
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Animals are attracted to carnivorous plants. These plants capture and kill the animals and suck the nutrients from them. There are even some non-carnivorous plants that may exhibit some of the qualities of the carnivorous group. However, they do not qualify as carnivorous plants if...
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Ring Worm
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Ringworm, also termed tinea corporis, is an infectious skin disease caused by mold-like fungi called Dermatophytes. This disease usually transmits through direct contact with ringworm-infected animals or with humans by sharing combs, clothing or by touching infected areas. Despite its name, there are no worms...
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Cause of Ring Worm
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Ringworm, unlike its name, is caused by fungi and not by any worm. Sometimes also termed as ‘tinea corporis’, ringworm is an infectious skin disease caused by mold like fungi called Dermatophytes. Dermatophytes thrive on dead tissues present on skin surface and follows circular path...
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Tick-Bite Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Tick bites occur when a tick attaches itself to a host and feeds on it. Not all tick bites cause diseases. In fact, a majority of tick bites are harmless. However, if...
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Ring Worm in Dogs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Ringworm is one of the most common diseases in pets, especially dogs. Unlike its name, Ringworm is not a worm but fungi called Dermatophytes that thrives on dead tissues present on skin surface and follows circular path to spread infection. Ringworm is an infectious skin...