Trichuris suis (1)

Question 1

What is the common name?

Answer 1

Whipworm

Question 2

What are the hosts?

Answer 2

Swine

Question 3

Describe an adult

Answer 3

Resembles a whip - thick posterior end tapering rapidly to long
filamentous anterior end

Characteristically embedded in mucosa

Question 4

Explain the life cycle

Answer 4

Eggs excreted in feces

Larva embryonates and develops within the thick shelled egg to the L1

L1 infective

Eggs survive for several years

Plugs digested and release L1

L1 penetrates glands of cecal mucosa or small intestine

Migrates to cecum

Question 5

What is the site of infection?

Answer 5

Cecum/colon

Question 6

Describe the Pathogenesis

Answer 6

Most infections light/asymptomatic

Heavy infections
- Diphtheritic (“leather-like” character) inflammation of the cecal
mucosa
- Sporadic diseases - watery, bloody diarrhea

Severe infections

 - Weight loss
 - Dehydration 
 - Death

Strong immune reaction results in expelling the worms

Question 7

What is important about Trichuris suis?

Answer 7

It is ZOONOTIC