Introduction
- Trichuris ovis, commonly known as a whipworm, is a nematode belonging to the genus Trichuris. This whipworm species was first discovered in 1795 and is known to infect sheep and goats.
- They have a direct life cycle, moving directly into the definitive host from the infective L1 egg stage. Once ingested the larva is freed from the egg casing due to digestion of the plugs at either end of the egg. The larvae then form mucosal nodules in which to develop before emerging into the lumen of the large intestine and caecum of the host.
Morphology
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The anterior portion of the worm is long and slender, while the posterior part is short and stout.
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Male's tail end is spirally coiled and has single spicule enclosed in a spiny sheath.
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Female is oviparous.
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Eggs are brown in colour, barrel-shaped, transparent and have plug at both ends.
Trichuris ovis Life cycle
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Unembryonated egg passed in faeces of the host .Under favourable condition the infective stage(L1) is reached in about a weeks (infective stage is L1).
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The D/H acquires infection by ingestion of embryonated egg-containing L1.
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The eggs are hatched in the small intestine, the liberated L1 penetrate the intestinal mucosa, where all the moulting occurs.
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The adult worms reenter into the lumen and moves to the caecum. In the caecum the filamentous anterior end embedded in the caecal mucosa.Pathogenesis
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Generally not pathogenic. But the heavy infection is causative for diphtheritic inflammation.
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Mainly occurs due to continuous moving of worm for attachment.Diagnosis
- Diagnosis can be done by gross examination of adult parasites and identification of eggs in the faecal eggs.
- The eggs of Trichuris species are yellow/brown in colour and are bi-operculated (have a plug in each end).
- Levamisole - 7.5mg/Kg.b.wt
- Fenbendazole - 5mg/Kg. b.wt
- Methyridine - 200mg/Kg. b.wt
- Thiabendazole- 44mg/ Kg b.wt ( very effective )
- Mebendazole is also highly effected.
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| Trichuris eggs |
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