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Trichuris

Trichuris

Trichuris

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Nematoda
  • Class Adenophorea
  • Order Enoplida
  • Superfamily Trichuroidea
  • Family Trichuridae

Final host

  • Mammals

    Morphology

  • Adults: commonly known as 'whipworms' because of the long filamentous anterior region (about twice as long as the posterior region) which contains a moniliform oesophagus, followed by the broad posterior end that bears the intestine and the genital apparatus
  • The anterior of the worm bears a small point
  • The male tail is tightly coiled and possesses a single spicule in a protrusible sheath
  • Eggs (≈ 70-90 x 30-42 µm) are unsegmented when laid and are lemon-shaped, with a thick smooth shell yellow or brown in colour and a protruding transparent polar plug at both ends

    Cycle

  • Direct

    Location

  • Large intestine

    Feeding

  • Larvae: histophagous
  • Adults: histophagous and haematophagous

    Diagnostic

  • Eggs

    Transmission

  • L1 within the egg