noun. A genus of round-worms, typical of the family Ascaridæ, infesting the small intestines.

noun. [lowercase; pl. ascarides (as-kar′ i-dēz).] A thread-worm or pinworm of the rectum, formerly placed in this genus, now referred to a different genus, Oxyuris (which see).

noun. the type genus of the family Ascaridae: roundworms with a three-lipped mouth.

noun. type genus of the family Ascaridae: roundworms with a three-lipped mouth

"But who hears about the guts of 1.5 billion people hosting greedy, parasitic, ascaris worms, about 740 million with hookworm voraciously devouring their blood, 200 million with debilitating schistosomiasis or up to 70 million with liver fluke?"