Trichuris trichiura

B. H. Ransom, 1911 (Railliet, 1915)

Trichuris trichiura is the human pathologically most important representative of the Trichuridae (whipworms). Trichuris trichiura is a parasite in the nematode family. Trichuridae lack phasmids, which are gland-like sense organs. Trichuris trichuria, along with Trichuris suis and Trichuris vulpis, is the causative agent of trichuriasis, a worldwide worm disease with approximately 500 million infestations. Although occurring worldwide, subtropical (Turkey) and tropical regions of the world are the main areas of infection.

Like all families in the superfamily Trichuroidea, the Trichuridae have a longer, narrower anterior end and a thick whip-stalk-like posterior end. Members of the family are characterized by the females being oviparous and the males having only one spicule.

Human infection occurs through oral ingestion of eggs of Trichuris trichiura (lettuce, crops, etc.). The larvae hatch from the eggs and penetrate the epithelium of the large intestine. Here they develop into the adult worms, which attach themselves to the intestinal mucosa (ileum, appendix, colon, rectum) with the blood-sucking front part. The females excrete up to 10,000 eggs per day.

Only mass infestation leads to clinical symptoms such as diarrhea, hemorrhages, colic. High colonization rates lead to iron deficiency anemia, in children to failure to thrive.

Microscopic worm detection.

1. Hof H et al (2019) TrichuridaeIn: Hof H, Schlüter D, Dörries R, eds Duale Reihe Medizinische Mikrobiologie. 7th, completely revised and expanded edition. Stuttgart: Thieme p 565-566