Whipworm
| Whipworm | ||||||||||||
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Whipworm egg ( Trichuris trichiura ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Trichuris trichiura | ||||||||||||
| Linnaeus , 1771 |
The whipworm ( Trichuris trichiura ; synonym: Trichocephalus dispar ) belongs to the tribe of roundworms . It has a thread-like head part and a short, thick tail end. It is a parasite in humans ( trichuriasis ). No intermediate hosts are involved .
distribution
Widespread worldwide, but most commonly found in the tropics and subtropics . Around 750 million people are infected worldwide.
features
The worm becomes up to 50 millimeters long, with the thread-like front end taking up almost two thirds of the total length of the worm. This is followed by the rear end with the intestines and genital organs, which have a very thickened appearance. This makes the worm look like a whip, hence the name.
Life cycle
The adult worm settles in the transition area between the small and large intestines , where it lives on the contents of the intestinal mucous membrane cells, the walls of which it dissolves. The eggs are also excreted there and are released into the open via the faeces . It takes 3 to 4 months for the eggs to mature and be ready for re-infection. A larva hatches in the body, settles in the same area as the adult worm and sheds its skin several times.
Harmful effect
Only problematic if there is a high level of infestation. More than 100 worms cause diarrhea, bleeding and, less often, ileus .
prevention
Hygiene. Avoiding manure - fertilizing vegetables that are eaten raw, such as lettuce.
treatment
The drugs mebendazole and albendazole are the drugs of choice for treating whipworm infestation . Both preparations should not be used during pregnancy.
Therapy option for autoimmune diseases
The intestinal application of whipworms can be used for the therapy of some autoimmune diseases .
See also
- Parasites of humans ,
- Pig whipworm ( Trichuris suis )
- Allergic rhinitis : An experimental treatment of people with Crohn's disease who also suffer from allergies with the whipworm then showed an improvement in the symptoms of Crohn's and the allergy.
- Whipworm infestation in the dog
literature
- H. Mehlhorn; G. Piekarski: Outline of parasite science. 6th edition. Heidelberg 2002.
- I. Schiefke; R. Schmäschke et al .: Tropical and subtropical helminth pants. In: The internist. Volume 47, 2006, pp. 801-809.
- Hans Adolf Kühn: Trichocephalus dispar (whipworm). In: Ludwig Heilmeyer (ed.): Textbook of internal medicine. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1955; 2nd edition, ibid. 1961, p. 839.
