In these cases, worms have been found in the mucosal tissues of the lips, cheek, tongue, tonsils, gums, and occasionally esophagus. Human infections occur following the ingestion of intermediate host arthropods, either intentionally or accidentally, in contaminated food or water. Maturation is completed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Migration of larvae often creates characteristic zig-zag or sinusoidal tracks in the affected epithelial tissues. Larvae are released in the stomach, which embed in the gastric or duodenal mucosa, and eventually migrate to the upper gastrointestinal tract after 2-3 months.

Suitable definitive hosts become infected after ingesting infected intermediate hosts. Larvae develop in the hemocoel of the intermediate host, eventually becoming encapsulated as infective third-stage (元) larvae in the thoracic muscles. Intermediate host insects become infected after ingesting eggs in host feces. Expelled eggs are released from the tunnels during epithelial desquamation, and are carried down the gastrointestinal tract and shed in the feces. The long, thin adults are found in shallow tunnels in the squamous epithelial surfaces of these tissues the female produces thick-shelled, embryonated eggs containing first-stage (L1) larvae. Adult Gongylonema inhabit the upper gastrointestinal tract of the definitive host in sites such as the mouth, esophagus, rumen, and stomach.

Worm with flat shell