This is one of the largest parasitic nematodes known, with females reaching 1 m in length. The parasite lives in the kidneys of carnivores, including humans. It usually infects only the right kidney, which is closest to the point in the duodenum where the infective larva penetrates into the body cavity and begin its search for a kidney. Eventually the kidney will be destroyed, so it is fortunate that usually only one kidney is infected.