Mammomonogamus - Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Classification

Classification of Mammomonogamus falls under the Syngamidae family. Syngamidae is in the Strongyloidae superfamily and Strongylata order, making them close relatives to hookworms and other nematodes.

The genus name Mammomonogamus is derived from the Latin root “Mammo-” (breast) and the Greek roots “mono” (single) and “gamus” (marriage), which most likely is referring to the distinct characteristic of the male and female worm acting as a single unit through the male being joined in permanent copulation to the middle portion of the female’s body.

Species within this genus are Mammomonogamus laryngeus, Mammomonogamus nasicola, and Mammomonogamus gangguiensis. Only M. laryngeus is known to infect and cause disease in humans. Because of M. laryngeus’ close resemblance to the gapeworm from the Syngamus genus that commonly infect birds, M. laryngeus was originally called Syngamus laryngeus and Syngamus kingi. The classification was revised in 1948 when Ryzhikov reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship of the Syngamidae family and re-categorized the parasite as M. laryngeus.

Infestation with M. laryngeus has been called Mammomonogamiasis, Mammomonogamosis, Syngamosis, or Syngamiasis