CDC - DPDx - Trichuriasis - index

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http://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/trichuriasis/index.html

DPDx - Laboratory Identification of Parasitic Diseases of

Public Health Concern

Parasites A-Z
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About DPDx
DPDx is an education resource designed for health professionals and laboratory scientists. For an
overview including prevention and control visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/.

Trichuriasis
[Trichuris trichiura]
Parasite Biology
Image Gallery
Laboratory Diagnosis
Treatment Information

Egg of T. trichiura in an unstained wet mount.

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CDC - DPDx - Trichuriasis - index

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http://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/trichuriasis/index.html

Adult male T. trichiura removed during a colonoscopy.

Causal Agent
The nematode (roundworm) Trichuris trichiura, also called the human whipworm.

Life Cycle

The unembryonated eggs are passed with the stool . In the soil, the eggs develop into a 2-cell stage
, an advanced cleavage stage , and then they embryonate ; eggs become infective in 15 to 30
days. After ingestion (soil-contaminated hands or food), the eggs hatch in the small intestine, and

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http://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/trichuriasis/index.html

release larvae that mature and establish themselves as adults in the colon . The adult worms
(approximately 4 cm in length) live in the cecum and ascending colon. The adult worms are fixed in
that location, with the anterior portions threaded into the mucosa. The females begin to oviposit 60
to 70 days after infection. Female worms in the cecum shed between 3,000 and 20,000 eggs per day.
The life span of the adults is about 1 year.

Geographic Distribution
The third most common round worm of humans. Worldwide, with infections more frequent in areas
with tropical weather and poor sanitation practices, and among children. It is estimated that 800
million people are infected worldwide. Trichuriasis occurs in the southern United States.

Clinical Presentation
Most frequently asymptomatic. Heavy infections, especially in small children, can cause
gastrointestinal problems (abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal prolapse) and possibly growth
retardation.
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Content source: Global Health - Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
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