About Worms

There are more than 4,400 species of worms, with more than 2,700 species of earthworms alone. Earthworms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, bark, and under rocks, and along rivers, near springs, and near ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is in the earth’s rich soil. During the winter months they burrow deep within the earth until the surface warms again during the spring. During the warm summer months worms stay closer to the tops of soil where they create tunnels to wiggle in and out of. These tunnels are extremely important for plant life as they create a path for water and air, which is essential for the survival of plant life.

While worms of all kinds can be found all over the world, especially earthworms (2,700 species), places like China, Australia, Greenland, and the Sahara Desert have their own indigenous species of worms. Besides the Sahara Desert, it is unlikely that you will find large numbers of worms living in “sandy” areas, especially sandy beaches. You see, the vast majority of worms on our planet can only survive under certain conditions.

For starters, worms have no lungs. This means, they breathe through their skin, so the worm’s environment and the worm’s skin must be moist at all times. This allows the worm to breathe in oxygen. While the sand may be moist and wet closer the water, the majority of the sand is dry. If the worm’s skin dries out, the worm will die from suffocation. In addition, too much moisture can also be detrimental to worms. If too much water is present, it takes the place of oxygen, which will cause the worms to flee to the surface. Once on the surface, worms will be exposed to sunlight. If worms remain in the sunlight for too long, they can become paralyzed.

Next, worms must remain close to their food supply. Worms feed off of leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi to the worm. Worms feast on dirt as well, especially if they live deeper inside the earth. Worms also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables.

Believe it or not, worms do have mouths. Their mouths are actually big enough and powerful enough to grab a leaf and drag it around. They also have a pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. When the worm eats its food, it pulls the materials into its mouth with the help of the pharynx and its prostomium (also called acron). This creates a suction motion. This suction motion aids in helping the worm consume large amounts of food in a sort amount of time. The gizzard grinds the food. Worms eat so much that they typically produce excrement equal to their own weight every 24 hours.

All major nervous, circulatory, and digestive organs are located near the head. The posterior segments, which are nearly identical to each other, contain peripheral structures for all of these systems. This means that if you cut the worm in half, it will die. However, if you cut the worm near the posterior portion (a third or less away from the very end) the worm can regrow that portion of its body. The posterior portion will not grow a new head.

Parasitic worms come in all shapes and sizes. Each produces specific symptoms, but for the most part, most worms can be easily treated. The most dangerous parasitic worm of them all, however, is the heartworm. Heartworms live in the dog’s heart and in the blood vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs. The female heartworm can grow up to 14 inches long and the male heartworm can grow up to seven inches long. Dog’s can have as many as 300 heartworms. If left untreated, heartworms can clog the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart. They can obstruct valve action in the heart, which can lead to malfunctioning of all other vital organs in the dogs body such as the lungs, liver, and kidneys.

While heartworms do not produce symptoms for up to two years, if caught early (through twice yearly heartworm screenings) heartworms can be treated successfully. It’s up to the owner to have the pet screened multiple times throughout the year so that the infestation does not get out of control.

Before you can treat dog worms, the first thing you must do is figure out what kind of dog worm your pooch has and how he came in contact with them. Your dog can have any number of parasitic worms in his system, such as the half-inch-long hookworm or a tapeworm. The tapeworm can reach up to a whopping three feet long if left untreated and it has many as 90 segments.

Other types of parasitic worms common to dogs include: roundworm, tapeworms, whipworm, and hookworms. Unlike heartworms, which live in the dog’s heart and blood vessels, these types of worms live in the dog’s intestines. Roundworms look like spaghetti and tapeworm segments look like grains of rice. The tapeworm can reach up to a whopping three feet long if left untreated and it has many as 90 segments. The hookworm is roughly a half-inch-long and whipworms have a large head and a whip-like thin tail section.

How to detect dog worms

One of the most obvious ways to detect dog worms is to simply examine your dog’s feces. This can be accomplished by sight alone. Dog worms can also be found in your dog’s food, on or buried in your dog’s fur, around his anus, and around his paws (from scratching). It is not uncommon to find parasitic worms in your dog’s ears.

Where do dog worms come from?

Fleas are a major source of certain types of worms, such as tapeworms. When a dog accidentally swallows an infected flea, worms can hatch in the dog’s intestines. These types of tapeworms can also be transmitted to humans as well. Animal carcasses such as rodents and rabbits may also contain tapeworms, so be sure to keep your pets away from them at all costs.

Dog worms can also be contracted from other pet’s feces, which can be easily be found in parks, on pet runs, and even in your own backyard. Whipworm and roundworm eggs can remain infectious for years, and hookworm larvae can multiply in the soil in and around a dog run, park or yard.

Symptoms of dog worms

Symptoms of dog worms include:

·Change in your dog’s appetite
·Coughing and hiccupping (due to heartworm)
·Diarrhea
·Distended abdomen in puppies
·Dull coat
·Inability to exercise
·Vomiting
·Weakness
·Weight loss

How to prevent dog worms

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent dog worms. One of the most important ways to prevent a serious dog worm infection is to have your pet screened for worms twice per year. If your dog is considered high-risk for worms, you should have him screened more than twice a year. High-risk dogs typically live in condensed urban areas and they usually live in a home with more than one pet. Show pets and hunting dogs are also considered high-risk. Caring for a dog with worms should be done only under the care of a vet. Most non-prescription medications don’t work. Your vet will have access to a number of cutting edge preventatives that are extremely effective against the most aggressive types of parasites such as roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, and heartworm.

In addition to preventative measures, it’s also a good idea to keep your dog clean and well groomed. You should also dispose of dog feces immediately. Never leave it in piles around your yard, dog run, etc. If you notice any of the symptoms of dog worms listed above, please contact your vet immediately.

Back in the U.S., however, a worm is just a worm. Most Americans prefer their worms neatly tucked away in the soil, only to come to the surface at night when most of us are fast asleep.
While America has no desire to fry, sauté or dip its night crawlers in chocolate, America loves to come up with tasty sweet treats and candies with fun names like “worms dirt dessert” or “dirt cake gummy worms.” These types of treats are made especially for kids and the candies are shaped like worms, of course!

One of the most popular candies for kids today is the gummy worm. Gummy worms are made from edible gelatin and loads of sugar. Gummy worms can be eaten alone or used as part of a recipe to make cupcakes, cookies, and cakes. A popular gummy worm dessert is the “worms dirt dessert.”

The worms dirt dessert is a novelty cake of sorts, made from ingredients kids love such as Oreo cookies, cool whip, chocolate pudding, and gummy worms. Used mostly for kid’s birthday parties or Halloween, the “worms dirt dessert” has many different versions, but the following recipe happens to be a favorite. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 bag of gummy worms
1 1/4 lb. pkg. Oreo cookies
1 12 oz. tub Cool Whip (can use chocolate)
2 3 1/2 oz. pkg. instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
1/2 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups milk
Flower pot (8 inch diameter)

Crush Oreos. Put 1/3 of the crushed Oreos into brand new flower pot. Set aside.

Mix sugar, butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Set aside.

Stir milk and pudding mix together. Fold Cool Whip into the pudding.

Fold pudding mixture and butter-cream cheese mixture together.

Layer the mixture (about 1/3) onto the crumbled cookies. Add another layer of the pudding mixture, then another layer of cookie crumbs. Continue until all ingredients have been used.

Place the gummy worms in the “soil” with their heads poking out. Embellish with decorative pieces like edible flowers or plastic daisies.

Chill for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

For a low-sugar dirt cake with gummy worms, replace the powdered sugar with “powdered Splenda” made from scratch. The following recipe is perfect because dirt cake with gummy worms does not require baking.

Try the following Splenda recipe for powdered sugar:

1 cup granulated Splenda (buy a box of loose Splenda, not the sugar packets)
1 tsp cornstarch

Place the Splenda and the cornstarch in a mixer or food processor. Blend on high speed for one minute until the texture is similar to powdered sugar. The mixture can be stored in an airtight container for up to one month. While Splenda can be used for baking, keep in mind that this particular Splenda mixture is not intended for baking. Click here for Splenda baking tips.

A computer worm is a sub-class of viruses. A computer worm can spread from computer to computer, travel across networks, copy address books and send itself out to everyone in it. A computer worm can even freeze or disable entire servers. Some of the most sophisticated computer worms can actually tunnel into your computer and give users remote access to your computer. One of the most notorious of these is the Blaster Worm. The Blaster Worm, created in part by an 18-year-old kid from Minnesota back in 2003, spread on computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000. This computer worm virus was also called “Lovsan” and “Lovesan.”

A Trojan Horse may sound less severe, but it can still cause damage to your computer. A Trojan or “Trojan Horse” is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It will present itself as helpful program, but once you install it on your computer, it will wreak havoc on your system almost immediately. A Trojan Horse may appear in the form of a file or software program that has been sent from a legitimate source. The Trojan Horse will install and a number of things can happen. Some Trojans will simply rearrange your desktop or add annoying icons to your desktop and others will delete files. Some of the more advanced Trojans can open the door to predators looking to steal your identity. These types of Trojans can give users unlimited access to your system. Trojans do not reproduce or replicate. Worms, on the other hand, can reproduce, self-replicate and infect other files.

To get rid of malicious software there are a number of free computer worms removal software downloads available on the web. The problem is that you have to make sure that the download is from a trusted source. If you are running Windows, stick with Microsoft software downloads. Microsoft offers its “Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool” free of charge for its Windows operating system. The great thing about this free worm removal tool is that it updates once a month and reports if malicious software is found.

Other malicious software and computer worm removal tools include: Norton AntiVirus and McAfee Antivirus. These software programs are not free. It is important to note that while the Microsoft Software Removal Tool helps remove infections, it does not prevent them. If you want added security, it’s best to install Norton or McAfee as well.

From Microsoft:

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 computers for and helps remove infections by specific, prevalent malicious software including Blaster Worm, Sasser, and Mydoom. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed. The tool creates a log file named mrt.log in the %WINDIR%\debug folder. Version 1.30 adds Win32/Allaple to the list of malicious software this tool detects.

You can download directly from the Microsoft website or Cnet.com.

In order to get rid of a worm or other malicious software such as a Trojan Horse, it is important to understand the effects Trojans and worms can have on your computer.

Worms are a sub-class of viruses. They can spread from computer to computer, travel across networks, copy your address book and send itself out to everyone in it, and it can freeze or disable entire servers. Some of the most sophisticated worms can actually tunnel into your computer and give users remote access to your computer. One of the most notorious of these is the Blaster Worm. The Blaster Worm, created in part by an 18-year-old kid from Minnesota back in 2003, spread on computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000. The worm virus was also called “Lovsan” and “Lovesan.”

A Trojan Horse may sound less severe, but it can still cause damage to your computer. A Trojan or “Trojan Horse” is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It will present itself as helpful program, but once you install it on your computer, it will wreak havoc on your system almost immediately. A Trojan Horse may appear in the form of a file or software program that has been sent from a legitimate source. The Trojan Horse will install and a number of things can happen. Some Trojans will simply rearrange your desktop or add annoying icons to your desktop and others will delete files. Some of the more advanced Trojans can open the door to predators looking to steal your identity. These types of Trojans can give users unlimited access to your system. As stated earlier, Trojans do not reproduce or replicate. Worms on the other hand, can reproduce, self-replicate and infect other files.

To get rid of malicious software there are a number of free worm removal software downloads available on the web. The problem is that you have to make sure that the download is from a trusted source. If you are running Windows, stick with Microsoft software downloads. Microsoft offers its “Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool” free of charge for its Windows operating system. The great thing about this free worm removal tool is that it updates once a month and reports if malicious software is found.

Other malicious software and worm removal tools include: Norton AntiVirus and McAfee Antivirus. These software programs are not free. It is important to note that while the Microsoft Software Removal Tool helps remove infections, it does not prevent them. If you want added security, it’s best to install Norton or McAfee as well.

From Microsoft:

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 computers for and helps remove infections by specific, prevalent malicious software including Blaster Worm, Sasser, and Mydoom. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed. The tool creates a log file named mrt.log in the %WINDIR%\debug folder.

Version 1.30 adds Win32/Allaple to the list of malicious software this tool detects.

You can download directly from the Microsoft website or Cnet.com.

Red worms are epigeic earthworms. This means that they belong to the ecological group of worms that are litter feeders, litter dwellers, pigmented, and small in size. Epigeic worms live in the top 12 inches of soil and they do not burrow. Red worms feed on organic decaying matter – they have been breaking down organic waste to make natural fertilizer for millions of years, and they are non-migratory. Although red worms are non-migratory, they are adaptable to many environments.

Rd worms have many “uses.” They are used for composting and for fish bait. Red worms are used to recycle food scraps by vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is a method of composting food scraps by adding red worms to them in a specially prepared bin or box. In just one day, red worms can consume organic material equivalent to their body weight to produce castings equal to 75% of their body weight. Red worms can convert organic materials into high quality humus, which will provide gardens with earthworm castings, which is considered a complete (and powerful) natural fertilizer.

The great thing about red worms with regard to composting is that you will never run out of them. Red worms are very productive breeders. They lay one egg capsule every seven days or so and. each capsule hatches an average of three to four earthworms. Hatched earthworms typically grow into breeders in roughly three months. The way to keep the red worms productive is to keep them healthy and happy. If you have a roomy bin (a 5-gallon bucket or other container), the best type of “bedding” such as peat moss, water for moisture, and organic materials such as fruit and vegetable peels, your red worms will be well-fed, comfortable, and productive.

General maintenance is also important to the health of your red worms for composting. This means there are several do’s and don’ts of raising red worms. These include:

·Don’t keep your worm bin in direct sunlight.
·Do keep your worms ideal locations such as the basement, a closet or under the kitchen sink.
·Do lightly toss the bedding every week or two, allowing the bedding at the bottom of the bin to be on the top. This process will allow sufficient oxygen to be throughout the bedding. Remember, red worms absorb oxygen through their bodies.
·Do lightly spray red worm bedding that appears to be getting dry.

Red worms as fish bait

Trout, crappie, perch, and bluegill prefer red worms. These are just a few of the types of fish that prefer small baits. Red worms are quite easy to use as bait as they can ‘survive’ a wide range of temperatures ranging from 38 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Once on the hook, the red worm becomes quite active. Red worms can last a long time under water, unlike many other different types of earthworms.

To purchase red worms, visit any pet store or fish & bait store. You can also order live red worms through a number of online retailers. Simply use your favorite search engine to find a suitable red worm seller. Use the search phrase “buy red worms.”

“Although insects were studied as early as the 4th century bc, particularly by Aristotle, the modern science did not begin to develop until the 17th century ad. The science of entomology received great impetus in the 19th century, largely as a result of the publication of On the Origin of Species (1859) Charles Darwin, which showed how the study of insects illuminates certain aspects of evolution. In the 20th century, entomological research was further stimulated by successes in the search for solutions to medical and economic problems involving insects. Today, there is more research done and literature published annually in this field than in any other branch of zoology.”

Because there are thousands of different worm species – more than 2,700 species of earthworms alone, to correctly identify worms, there are several important steps that should be taken. For starters, you should become familiar with the key characteristics used to identify earthworms. Just a few of the characteristics used to identify earthworms include: Genital tumescene (GT), the Tubercula pubertatis (TP), and the Clitellum.

The clitellum of adult earthworms contains features called genital tumescence, and tubercula pubertatis. The clitellum features, the male pores, and female pores are found above the clitellum and are all parts of the earthworm reproductive system. The earthworm also has “setae” which are tiny hair-like projections that are arranged in rows along the earthworm body. The setae are used are used for locomotion by the earthworm. The prostomium is the earthworm mouth. The size, shape, and position of the different characteristics of the worm are different in different species of earthworms and will help you to identify the species of earthworms you may be dealing with.

After you have become familiar with the earthworm characteristics, you should familiarize your self with the characteristics of earthworms that indicate which ecological group they belong to. There are three broad ecological groups that have been identified for earthworms including: epigeic, endogeic, and anecic. The groups are based on what the earthworms eat and where they tend to live in the soil. The epigeic group is a litter feeder, litter dweller, pigmented, small in size, and it doesn’t burrow. The endogeic group consists of rich soil feeders, topsoil dwellers, has no pigmentation, burrows horizontally, and it is small in size. The anecic consists of litter and soil feeders, soil dwellers, dorsally pigmented bodies, extensive vertical burrows, and a large size. Size and color are usually good distinguishers for adult earthworms.

For more information about identifying worms, you can download an online identification key for earthworms by clicking here to visit The Backyard Nature websites key or to access an online field guide to earthworms, click here.

About the Ohio Players

The Ohio Players formed in 1959 under the name the Ohio Untouchables. When the Untouchables broke up, two band members formed the Ohio Players. The Ohio Players have been credited with pioneering a type of sound called “street funk” in the 1970s. The band’s influenced included: James Brown, Miles Davis, George Benson and Sly and the Family Stone.

Many other bands and artists went on to adopt the Ohio Players new sound, bands such as Kool & the Gang and Rick James.

The Funky Worm has been sampled by:

2Low - “Send Ya Fa Ya Mama”
3XDope - “Mr. Sandman”
Above the Law - “B.M.L. (Commercial)”
Above the Law - “Black Superman”
AMG - “Vertical Joyride”
Beastie Boys - “Funky Boss”
Big Scoob - “Suckaz Can’t Hang”
Brotha Lynch Hung - “Deep Down”
Bushwick Bill - “Dollars and Sense”
C.E.B. - “Seems that You Forgot”
Cru - “Pronto”
Daddy-O - “Funky Worm Outro”
De la Soul - “Me, Myself and I”
Digable Planets - “Escapism (Gettin’ Free)”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - “Boom! Shake the Room!”
DJ Krush - “Hitotsu No Marai”
Domino - “That’s Real”
Dr. Dre - “Chronic Intro”
Dre Dog - “Alcatraz”
Erick Sermon - “The Ill Shit”
Group Home - “Be Like That”
Hi-C - “?”
Ice Cube - “Wicked”
Insane Poetry - “If Rhymes Could Kill”
Jaz - “A Nation Divided”
Jungle Brothers - “Belly Dancing Dina”
Keith Murray - “The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World”
Kris Kross - “2 da Beat Ch’yall”
Kris Kross - “Jump”
Lifer’s Group - “Jack U. Back (So You Wanna Be a Gangsta)”
Masta Ace - “Born to Roll”
MC Breed - “No Future in Yo’ Frontin’”
Montell Jordan - “Gotta Get My Roll On”
Naughty by Nature - “Klickow Klickow”
NWA - “Dopeman”
NWA - “Dopeman”
NWA - “Gangsta, Gangsta”
PMD - “I Saw it Cummin’”
Public Enemy - “I Stand Accused”
Redman - “Cosmic Slop”
Ruff Ryders - “Bugout”
Rumpletilskinz - “Attitudes”
Snoop Dogg - “Serial Killa”
South Central Cartel - “You Want Sum a Dis”
Terminator X - “Back to the Scene of the Rhyme”
Tim Dog - “Skip to My Loot”
Too $hort - “Sample the Funk”
X-Clan - “Xodus”
Xzibit - “Shroomz”
Yo-Yo - “Letter to the Pen”

The Ohio Players Discography

Albums

1966: Trespassin’
1968: Observations in Time (Capitol)
1971: Pain (Westbound) - US Pop #177, US R&B #21
1972: Pleasure (Westbound) - US Pop #63, US R&B #4
1973: Ecstasy (Westbound) - US Pop #70, US R&B #19
1974: Climax (Westbound) - US Pop #102, US R&B #24
1974: Skin Tight (Mercury) - US Pop #11, US R&B #1
1974: Superpak (Capitol) - US R&B #32
1975: Fire (Mercury) - US Pop #1, US R&B #1
1975: Honey (Mercury) - US Pop #2, US R&B #1
1975: Rattlesnake (Westbound) - US Pop #61, US R&B #8
1975: Greatest Hits (Westbound) - US Pop #92, US R&B #22
1976: Contradiction (Mercury) - US Pop #12, US R&B #1
1976: Gold (Mercury) - US Pop #31, US R&B #10
1977: Angel (Mercury) - US Pop #41, US R&B #9
1977: Mr. Mean (Mercury) - US Pop #68, US R&B #11
1977: The Best of the Early Years, Vol. 1 (Westbound) - US R&B #58
1978: Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee (Mercury) - US Pop # 69, US R&B #15
1979: Everybody Up (Arista) - US Pop #80, US R&B #19
1981: Tenderness (Boardwalk) - US Pop #165, US R&B #49
1982: Ouch! (Boardwalk)
1984: Graduation (Century Vista)
1988: Back (Track Record) - US R&B #55

The Ohio Players Live Albums

1997: Ol’ School “On Tour” (Castle Records)

The Ohio Players Singles

1972: “Pain (Part 1)” - US Pop # 64, US R&B #35
1972: “Pleasure” - US R&B #45
1973: “Funky Worm” - US Pop #15, US R&B #1
1973: “Ecstacy” - US Pop #31, US R&B #12
1974: “Jive Turkey (Part 1)” - US Pop #47, US R&B #6
1974: “Skin Tight” - US Pop #13, US R&B #2
1975: “Fire” - US Pop #1, US R&B #1
1975: “I Want to Be Free” - US Pop #44 , US R&B #6
1975: “Sweet Sticky Thing” - US Pop #33, US R&B #1
1975: “Love Rollercoaster” - US Pop #1, US R&B #1
1976: “Fopp” - US Pop #30, US R&B #9
1976: “Who’d She Coo?” - US Pop #18, US R&B #1
1976: “Far East Mississippi” - US R&B #26
1977: “Feel the Beat (Everybody Disco)” - US Pop #61, US R&B #31
1977: “O-H-I-O” - US Pop #45, US R&B #9
1977: “Body Vibes” - US R&B #19
1978: “Funk-O-Nots” - US R&B #27
1978: “Good Luck Charm (Part 1)” - US R&B #51
1978: “Magic Trick” - US R&B #93
1978: “Time Slips Away” - US R&B #53
1981: “Skinny” - US R&B #46
1981: “Try a Little Tenderness” - US R&B #40

A Trojan or “Trojan Horse” will present itself as helpful program, but once you install it on your computer, it will wreak havoc on your system almost immediately. A Trojan Horse may appear in the form of a file or software program that has been sent from a legitimate source. The Trojan Horse will install and a number of things can happen. Some Trojans will simply rearrange your desktop or add annoying icons to your desktop and others will delete files. Some of the more advanced Trojans can open the door to predators looking to steal your identity. These types of Trojans can give users unlimited access to your system. Trojans do not reproduce or replicate. Worms, on the other hand, can reproduce, self-replicate and infect other files.

Worms are a sub-class of viruses. They can spread from computer to computer, travel across networks and copy your address book and send them out to everyone in it. Worms can freeze or disable entire servers. Some of the most sophisticated worms can actually tunnel into your computer and give users remote access to your computer. One of the most notorious of these is the Blaster Worm. The Blaster Worm, created in part by an 18-year-old kid from Minnesota back in 2003, spread on computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000. The worm was also
“Lovsan” and “Lovesan.”

To get rid of malicious software (malware) there are a number of free Trojan and worm removal software tool downloads available on the web. It is important to make sure that that the worm removal tool download is from a trusted source. If you are running Windows, stick with Microsoft software downloads. Microsoft offers its “Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool” free of charge for its Windows operating system. The great thing about this free Trojan and worm removal tool is that it updates once a month and reports if malicious software is found.

Other malware and worm removal tools include: Norton AntiVirus and McAfee Antivirus. These software programs are not free. It is important to note that while the Microsoft Software Removal Tool helps remove infections, it does not prevent them. If you want added security, it’s best to install Norton or McAfee as well.

From Microsoft:

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 computers for and helps remove infections by specific, prevalent malicious software including Blaster Worm, Sasser, and Mydoom. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed. The tool creates a log file named mrt.log in the %WINDIR%\debug folder.

Version 1.30 adds Win32/Allaple to the list of malicious software this tool detects.

You can download directly from the Microsoft website or Cnet.com.

While round worms are free-living, parasitic forms of the round worm represent the greatest risk. Ascaroid nematodes, an important group of parasitic round worms includes the threadworms and the common puppy worm. Another parasitic round worm is the eelworm, which produces root knot of cotton. Others produce earcockle of wheat. The parasitic forms that produce earcockle of wheat belong to the genus Tylenchus. Threadworms belong to the genus Ascaris. The puppy worm is classified as Toxocara canis and eelworms belong to the genus Heterodera.

Other groups of round worms that pose great medical risks include the various genera known as hookworm. These include the filaria, the cause of elephantiasis; the trichina worm, which causes trichinosis; and the whipworm, which infests the human intestine. The human whipworm is classified as Trichuris trichiura and the trichina worm belongs to the genus Trichinella.

Round worms cylindrical bodies consist of an interior gut and a muscular outer wall. The gut and the outerwall are separated by a fluid-filled cavity called a pseudocoel. The outer wall secretes an elastic cuticle. This cuticle molts roughly four times during the round worms lifetime. Round worm species range in size from microscopic to about 4 inches long. While some round worms are hermaphroditic, like most worm species, oddly most round worm species have separate sexes and fertilization is internal. Young round worms develop without metamorphosis.

There are several treatments for round worms. According to MedicineHealth:

“Albendazole (Albenza) is the most common treatment for round worms. Treatment is a single tablet, which kills the worms. There are different strengths for adults and children younger than 2 years. To lessen the chance of reinfection, the infected person will have to take a second dose two weeks after treatment. Round worm eggs can survive for a few weeks. Other treatments such as Mebendazole (Vermox) and pyrantel pamoate (Pin-Rid, Pin-X) also work. They are also taken in a single dose and repeated 2 weeks later.”

There are several things that must be done after treatment (and beyond) to prevent reinfection. The treated individual should:

·Avoid biting the fingernails.
·Clean and vacuum play areas. Continue this practice indefinitely.
·Get into the habit of thoroughly washing the hands after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and before preparing food.
·Launder all bedding every 3-7 days for 3 weeks.
·Make sure the child or infected person changes his/her underwear daily.
·Thoroughly wash all bedding, clothing, pajamas, and toys with hot water and soap to destroy any lingering eggs.
·Wash underwear and pajamas daily for 2 weeks.

If you have been treated for round worms and you have carefully followed all of the steps listed above and you still become reinfected, do not get discouraged. It is common to become reinfected several months or so after treatment. Simply call your doctor to get started on another round of treatment.