Trichuris trichiura
Whipworm(s) | |
---|---|
Male | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Nematoda |
Class: | Enoplea |
Order: | Trichocephalida |
Family: | Trichuridae |
Genus: | Trichuris |
Species: | T. trichiura
|
Binomial name | |
Trichuris trichiura (Linnaeus, 1771)
|
Trichuris trichiura, Trichocephalus trichiuris or whipworm, is a
Life cycle
The female T. trichiura produces 2,000–10,000 single-celled eggs per day.
Trichuris trichiura is a roundworm that infects the intestines.[4] It can cause various symptoms and has been known to lead to death.[citation needed] Trichuris trichiura lives in the soil in its egg stage. Once it is ingested, it develops into the larvae stage, finally maturing into the adult stage in the intestines.[5]
Recent studies using genome-wide scanning revealed that two quantitative trait loci on chromosome 9 and chromosome 18 may be responsible for a genetic predisposition or susceptibility to infection of T. trichiura by some individuals.
Morphology
Trichuris trichiura has a narrow anterior esophageal end and shorter and thicker posterior end. These pinkish-white worms are threaded through the
Infection
Trichuriasis, also known as whipworm infection, occurs through ingestion of whipworm eggs and is more common in warmer climates. Whipworm eggs are passed in the feces of infected persons, and if an infected person defecates outdoors or if untreated human feces is used as fertilizer, eggs are deposited on soil where they can mature into an infective stage.[4] Ingestion of these eggs "can happen when hands or fingers that have contaminated dirt on them are put in the mouth or by consuming vegetables or fruits that have not been carefully cooked, washed or peeled."[4] The eggs hatch in the small intestine, then move into the wall of the small intestine and develop. On reaching adulthood, the thinner end (the anterior of the worm) burrows into the large intestine, the thicker (posterior) end projecting into the lumen, where it mates with nearby worms. The females can grow to 50 mm (2.0 in) long.[2]
Trichuris trichiura can cause the serious disease Trichuris dysentery syndrome (TDS), with chronic dysentery, anemia, rectal prolapse, and poor growth.
Whipworm commonly infects patients also infected with Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, Ascaris lumbricoides, and hookworms.[9]
Treatment
Trichuris trichiura can be treated with a single dose of albendazole.[10] In Kenya, half of a group of children who had Trichuris trichiura were given albendazole, while the other half of the children received placebos. It was found that the children who received the drug grew significantly better than the group of children who did not receive the treatment.[citation needed] Another treatment that can be used is mebendazole, or flubendazole.[11] The medication interferes with the parasite’s nutrient intake, which eventually leads to death.
Epidemiology
There is a worldwide distribution of Trichuris trichiura, with an estimated 1 billion human infections.[12][13][14][7] However, it is chiefly tropical, especially in Asia and, to a lesser degree, in Africa and South America. Within the United States, infection is rare overall but may be common in the rural Southeast, where 2.2 million people are thought to be infected. Poor hygiene is associated with trichuriasis as well as the consumption of shaded moist soil, or food that may have been fecally contaminated. Children are especially vulnerable to infection due to their high exposure risk. Eggs are infective about 2–3 weeks after they are deposited in the soil under proper conditions of warmth and moisture, hence its tropical distribution.
A closely related species, Trichuris suis, which typically infects pigs, is capable of infecting humans. This shows that the two species have very close evolutionary histories. However, morphology and developmental stages remain different, making them two separate species.[15]
Treatment of inflammatory disorders
The
References
- ^ EMedicine|article|788570|Trichuris Trichiura
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9631172-1-2.
- PMID 20538949.
- ^ a b c d "CDC - Trichuriasis". 2019-04-25.
- ^ Citation error. See inline comment how to fix. [verification needed]
- ^ "Trichuris trichiura definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of popular medical terms easily defined on MedTerms". Medterms.com. 2000-04-15. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ S2CID 7979360.
- S2CID 7979360.
- ^ "Otzi | Discovery & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ Stephenson, Lani S., et al. “Treatment with a Single Dose of Albendazole Improves Growth of Kenyan Schoolchildren with Hookworm, Trichuris Trichiura, and Ascaris Lumbricoides Infections.” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1 July 1989, www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.1989.41.78.
- ISSN 0399-077X.
- PMID 10386428.
- PMID 14642761.
- ^ "Trichuris trichiura". WrongDiagnosis.com. 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- PMID 1257627.
- S2CID 73016367.
- PMID 15591509.
- S2CID 2605979.
- S2CID 29967284.
in our patient Treg [regulatory T cells] activated by helminthosis [T. suis infestation] were most likely the key element protecting a host with latent ulcerative colitis against development of a severe protcocolitis. (1183)
- ^ "Helminthic Therapy: How to put your Asthma, Colitis, IBD, Crohn's or Multiple Sclerosis into remission with hookworm". Asthmahookworm.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2009-05-19.[self-published source]
- ^ "Allergies: Trichuris suis Ova (TSO) Therapy to Treat Food Allergies". Allergizer.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- PMID 21829616.
- S2CID 1033417.
- ^ "Asphelia Announces Initiation of an Independent TSO Trial for Multiple Sclerosis". redOrbit. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- PMID 23220043.
Caroline Pomeroy, PhD July 9th, 2019.