Syngamidae is a family

Family

In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...

 of nematode

Nematode

The nematodes or roundworms are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of nematode...

s which commonly parasitize mammals, birds, and rarely humans. They are classified in the Strongyloidae superfamily and Strongylata order

Order (biology)

In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...

 .

Notable species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 within the Syngamidae family include Syngamus trachea, commonly known as the gapeworm

Gapeworm

A gapeworm is a parasitic nematode worm infecting the tracheas of certain birds. The resulting disease, known as gape or the gapes, occurs when the worms clog and obstruct the airway. The worms are also known as red worms or forked worms due to their red color and the permanent procreative...

, which infests birds, and Mammomonogamus

Mammomonogamus

Mammomonogamus is a genus of parasitic nematode of the family Syngamidae that parasitises the respiratory tract of cattle, sheep, goats, deer, cats, orangutans, and elephants. The nematode can also infect humans and cause the disease called Mammomonogamiasis...

 laryngeus, which is a parasite of ungulates, cats, and orangutans, and which can accidentally infect humans .

Parasitic infection occurs when the host ingests the parasite via contaminated food, water, or intermediate hosts like earthworms, snails, and arthropods. Worms usually migrate and inhabit the respiratory tract of hosts, where the male and females worm join in permanent copulation.

Syngamidae nematodes are globally distributed and are important in veterinary parasitology.