Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)

 

Images:

Ova of Trichuris vulpis: 
http://www.k-state.edu/parasitology/625tutorials/Nematodes02.html

TrichurisOvum02

 

Phylogeny                               Order Trichurata.

 

Preferred Definitive host:                  Humans

 

Reservoir hosts:                      Reported in monkeys and dogs.

 

Vector/intermediate host:                  None

 

Geographical location:            Cosmopolitan, but most frequent in tropical countries

 

Organs affected:                      Human cecum, appendix, ileum.

 

Symptoms and

          Clinical signs:                In heavy infections, patients show small blood-streaked diarrheal stools, abdominal pain and tenderness, nausea and vomiting, anemia and weight loss.  Prolapse of the rectum has occurred in some cases.  (Would you like to see a prolapsed rectum?  SURE YOU WOULD!:

http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2002/trichuriasis/TrichurisProlapsedRect2.jpg

 

Treatment:                               Mebendazole.