Trichuris

• Also known as the "whipworm"
  • Derives its name from its characteristic whiplike shape

Trichuris ovis from sheep faeces - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Trichuris ovis in caecum - Supplied by Biomed Image Archive

Trichuris vulpis - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Trichuris Species

• The whipworms have a stout posterior end and a long narrow neck, which is superficially inserted into the caecal mucosa
• Eggs are brown, barrel-shaped, with a plug at either end, and can survive for up to 12 years
• The infective stage is the embryonated egg.
• The life-cycle is direct
• After the egg is swallowed, the larva initially forms a mucosal nodule before emerging into the lumen

Species

• Trichuris vulpis - dog whipworm
• Trichuris campanula (Europe) and Trichuris serrata (North America) - cat whipworms.
  • Are quite rare.
• Trichuris suis - pig whipworm

Life Cycle

• Faeco-oral spread
• Eggs become infective after 10-14 days in soil.
• Larvae hatch in small intestine.
  • Grow and moult.
• Finally take up resisidence in large intestine.
  • I.e. NO tissue migratory phase.

Clinical

• Adult buries its thin anterior half into the intestinal mucosa and feeds on tissue secretions (not blood).
  • The caecum and colon are the most commonly infected sites.
  • Causes eosinophilia.
• Signs may include:
  • Diarrhoea
    • Catarrhal enteritis
  • Anemia
  • Dehydration