Trichuris
Encyclopedia
The roundworm family
Trichuridae
includes as type genus
Trichuris, often referred to as whipworm
s (which typically refers to T. trichiura only in human medicine
, and to any other species
in veterinary medicine
). The name whipworm refers to the shape of the worm; they look like whip
s with wider "handles" at the posterior end.
The genus Trichuris includes several species which infect the large intestine of their host, including:
Dog and cat whipworms
Egg of Trichuris vulpis
Egg of Trichuris vulpis
Whipworms develop when a dog swallows whipworm eggs, passed from an infected dog. Symptoms may include diarrhea, anemia, and dehydration. The dog whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) is commonly found in the U.S. It is hard to detect at times, because the numbers of eggs shed are low, and they are shed in waves. Centrifugation is the preferred method. There are several preventives available by prescription from a veterinarian to prevent dogs from getting whipworm.
The cat whipworm is a rare parasite. In Europe it is mostly represented by Trichuris campanula, and in North America it is Trichuris serrata more often.[4][5] Whipworm eggs found in cats in North America must be differentiated from lungworms, and from mouse whipworm eggs just passing through.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Trichuridae
Trichuridae
The roundworm family Trichuridae includes the type genus Trichuris and some less widely known members. They are placed in subclass Dorylaimia of the class Enoplea; however, the former might be better treated as a class in its own right...
includes as type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
Trichuris, often referred to as whipworm
Whipworm
The human tapworm is a roundworm, which causes trichuriasis when it infects a human large intestine. The name whipworm refers to the shape of the worm; they look like whips with wider "handles" at the posterior end.-Life cycle:The female T. trichiura produces 2,000–10,000 single celled eggs per day...
s (which typically refers to T. trichiura only in human medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, and to any other species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
). The name whipworm refers to the shape of the worm; they look like whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
s with wider "handles" at the posterior end.
The genus Trichuris includes several species which infect the large intestine of their host, including:
- Trichuris campanula (cat whipworm)
- Trichuris suisTrichuris suisTrichuris suis is a whipworm; the variations in thickness of the anterior and posterior segments give the parasite the characteristic “whip-like” appearance. Adult females measure 6 to 8 cm and adult males 3 to 4 cm. T. suis eggs are oval and yellow-brown with bipolar plugs.T...
(pig whipworm) - Trichuris murisTrichuris murisTrichuris muris is a nematode parasite of mice. It is very similar to the human roundworm parasite Trichuris trichiura due to its immunological reactivity when crossed , and so is often used in related studies.. Ingesting material that contains embryonated eggs allows for transmission and infection...
(mouse whipworm) - Trichuris trichiura (sometimes Trichocephalus trichiuris) - causes trichuriasisTrichuriasisTrichuriasis is a parasitic infection primarily in the tissue of the cecum, appendix, colon and rectum that is caused by Trichuris trichiura , an intestinal parasitic nematode .-Agent :...
- Trichuris vulpisTrichuris vulpisTrichuris vulpis is whipworm that lives in the large intestine of canines in its adult stages. Out of different types of worms, Trichuris vulpis is one of the smaller worms with a size ranging from 30–50 mm in length...
(dog whipworm)
Dog and cat whipworms
Egg of Trichuris vulpis
Egg of Trichuris vulpis
Whipworms develop when a dog swallows whipworm eggs, passed from an infected dog. Symptoms may include diarrhea, anemia, and dehydration. The dog whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) is commonly found in the U.S. It is hard to detect at times, because the numbers of eggs shed are low, and they are shed in waves. Centrifugation is the preferred method. There are several preventives available by prescription from a veterinarian to prevent dogs from getting whipworm.
The cat whipworm is a rare parasite. In Europe it is mostly represented by Trichuris campanula, and in North America it is Trichuris serrata more often.[4][5] Whipworm eggs found in cats in North America must be differentiated from lungworms, and from mouse whipworm eggs just passing through.