Gnathostoma

**Semantic type:** Animal

**Definition:** A genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Gnathostomatidae. The Gnathostoma lifecycle involves copepods as the first intermediate host; fish, frogs, or snakes as the second intermediate host; and pigs, cats, dogs, or wild animals as its natural definitive host. Humans may become infested by eating infested fish or fowl. Infestation causes gnathostomiasis.

**Synonyms:** - GNATHOSTOMA