Trichuris vulpis ist ein bei Hunden parasitierender, weltweit vorkommender Peitschenwurm. Der Peitschenwurmbefall führt beim Wirt nur zu leichtem bis mittelgradigen Durchfall.[1]
Wie alle Peitschenwürmer hat T. vulpis ein langes dünnes Vorder- und ein verdicktes Hinterende. Männliche Würmer sind 4,8–5,6 cm lang und haben ein etwa 1 cm langes Spiculum. Weibchen sind 6,5–7 cm lang und die Vulvaregion ist mit Dornen besetzt.[2]
Die Eier sind zitronenförmig, 80×40 µm groß, bräunlich, dickschalig und haben an den Polen Verdickungen („Polpfröpfe“). Sie sind bei der Eiablage ungefurcht.[2] Die Infektion erfolgt durch Aufnahme der in der Außenwelt embryonierenden (die Larve I enthaltenden) Eier. Sie schlüpfen im Duodenum und Jejunum und dringen in deren Schleimhaut ein. Nach etwa 10 Tagen besiedeln sie den Blind- und Grimmdarm. Die Präpatenz ist mit 9–10 Wochen relativ lang.[1]
Trichuris vulpis ist ein bei Hunden parasitierender, weltweit vorkommender Peitschenwurm. Der Peitschenwurmbefall führt beim Wirt nur zu leichtem bis mittelgradigen Durchfall.
Wie alle Peitschenwürmer hat T. vulpis ein langes dünnes Vorder- und ein verdicktes Hinterende. Männliche Würmer sind 4,8–5,6 cm lang und haben ein etwa 1 cm langes Spiculum. Weibchen sind 6,5–7 cm lang und die Vulvaregion ist mit Dornen besetzt.
Die Eier sind zitronenförmig, 80×40 µm groß, bräunlich, dickschalig und haben an den Polen Verdickungen („Polpfröpfe“). Sie sind bei der Eiablage ungefurcht. Die Infektion erfolgt durch Aufnahme der in der Außenwelt embryonierenden (die Larve I enthaltenden) Eier. Sie schlüpfen im Duodenum und Jejunum und dringen in deren Schleimhaut ein. Nach etwa 10 Tagen besiedeln sie den Blind- und Grimmdarm. Die Präpatenz ist mit 9–10 Wochen relativ lang.
Trichuris vulpis is a 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. As the name suggests, the worm has a whip-like shape with distinct features including a small, narrow anterior head, which is the digestive part of the worm, and a larger posterior tail, which is the reproductive part of the worm. Eggs from T. vulpis are oval shaped with bipolar plugs and contain a thick outer shell. Their sizes range from 72–90 μm in length and 32–40 μm in width.[1] Because of their thick outer shell, T. vulpis eggs are very resistant to environmental extremes such as freezing or hot temperatures, thus allowing for their long viability in the outside world.[2]
The life cycle of Trichuris vulpis begins with the adult whipworms living in the large intestines of dogs. T. vulpis lay many eggs in the large intestine and are released in the feces into the outside environment. When eggs are released into the outside environment, these unembryonated eggs are able to form embryos in the soil in about 2–4 weeks, at which point they become infective when ingested by the new host. An infective larva develops within the egg before it is even ingested by the new host.[3]
Another canine becomes a new host by ingesting the egg containing the larva. Once ingested, the egg invade the cells of the Crypts of Leiberkuhn in the colon. The J3 larvae grow and molt while burrowing in the epithelium toward the luminal surface.[4] These worms can invade intestinal cells in many places, but there is no evidence that worms can develop to maturity except in the cells of the colon, or that worms develop in the duodenum and migrate to the colon.[5] Once an adult, their posterior end enlarges (the 'handle of a whip') and bursts into the lumen of the colon. The whip-like anterior end remains in the cells of the large intestinal walls. Adult whipworms live inside the cecum, colon, and rectum for about three months before they lay eggs intermittently to be released in feces where they can become infective to another host.[6]
T. vulpis infects canines worldwide. In the United States, it has been reported that 14.3% of shelter dogs are infected with this parasite.[7] Older dogs normally have a higher infection of these worms than younger dogs.[8] Though rare, there are some cases of human infection. The eggs of T. vulpis are prevalent in shady moist soil areas that have been contaminated by canine feces.
Because the eggs of T. vulpis eggs are very resistant from desiccation, they can live in soil for up to seven years.[9] Once ingested by the canine, the eggs hatch and the resulted larvae live in the small intestine. At this point, though infected, the canine is still asymptomatic. When adult form, T. vulpis live primarily in the cecum with its anterior end attached to the superficial mucosa and its posterior end extended to the cecal lumen where it consumes the canine's blood, tissue fluid, and mucosal epithelium. Results of eosinophilia and hypoproteinemia may be found in clinical hematology.[10] Severe infections include symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, and anemia, and in extreme cases, death.
In the rare cases that T. vulpis infects humans, it can cause visceral larva migrans (VLM) which presents as eosinophilia, hepatomegaly, and pulmonary symptoms.[11] More cases of VLM have been documented in children with the diagnosis based on the larger size of the eggs found in stool samples.[12] However, cases have been documented in adults as well.[13]
Infection of this parasite can be confirmed with detection of eggs in the canine's feces. Adult T. vulpis females can produce more than 2,000 eggs per day. These eggs can be detected in the canine's feces by the fecal flotation method.[14] This method utilizes the differences of specific gravity of eggs, fecal debris, and the flotation solution.[15] Although these eggs are dense, the use of proper fecal flotation technique using a sugar solution and centrifugation can increase the chances of identifying these eggs in a fecal sample.[16] Multiple fecal samples may need to be tested as the eggs may be shed periodically.[17]
Infection of this parasite can be treated with several drugs including febantel, fenbendazole, milbemycin, moxidectin (topical), and oxantel. Dogs require re-treatment monthly for 3 treatments due to the long prepatent period of this parasite. There are also monthly preventive treatments that can be used. These are usually one of the above drugs combined with a heartworm prevention drug. Removing fecal material that contains the Trichuris eggs is very important in preventing recurrence. Merck Veterinary Manual
Keeping canines away from contaminated areas, especially areas where there are feces can prevent them from contracting T. vulpis. There is no effective way to kill the parasite's eggs in the soil, so it is might be necessary to replace the soil and cleaning out litter boxes and kennels frequently. People cleaning these areas should wear gloves and wash their hands after the task.
Dogs should have fecal examinations and deworming as necessary. If a dog is detected to be infected with T. vulpis, it should be treated immediately to prevent infection of other dogs. Their feces should also be cleaned up immediately in order to prevent the eggs from getting into the soil which could lead to the infection of others.
Trichuris vulpis is a 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. As the name suggests, the worm has a whip-like shape with distinct features including a small, narrow anterior head, which is the digestive part of the worm, and a larger posterior tail, which is the reproductive part of the worm. Eggs from T. vulpis are oval shaped with bipolar plugs and contain a thick outer shell. Their sizes range from 72–90 μm in length and 32–40 μm in width. Because of their thick outer shell, T. vulpis eggs are very resistant to environmental extremes such as freezing or hot temperatures, thus allowing for their long viability in the outside world.
Trichuris vulpis es una especie de nematelminto hematófago, que infecta a perros, zorros, lobos y otros cánidos salvajes. Se ubican en el ciego de estos animales.
Cuerpo cilíndrico, de color blanco a veces algo rosácea, sus medidas oscilan entre los 3 y 8 cm,[1] la boca posee un estilete, el macho carece de bolsa copulatriz, pero posee una espícula envainada. La hembra posee un solo ovario, pone por día unos 1000 a 2000 huevos con forma de limón,[1] por su coloración amarillento y poseer dos tapones polares, son de 75 a 80 micrómetros.[2]
Ciclo directo (un solo huésped). Los huevos salen al exterior por medio de las materia fecal del hospedador, con las condiciones ideales de humedad y temperatura (28° y 30°), alrededor de los 10 a 35 días evoluciona el estadio infectante, huevo con L2 en su interior. Los huevos ingresan por vía oral, con alimentos y agua contaminada, los procesos digestivos disuelven la capa que recubre al huevo, dejando libre a la L2, esta muda a L3, la L3 penetra la mucosa y se aloja en el ciego, donde en 30 a 90 días da la forma adulta, que vuelve a desovar y así comienza nuevamente el ciclo
Trichuris vulpis es una especie de nematelminto hematófago, que infecta a perros, zorros, lobos y otros cánidos salvajes. Se ubican en el ciego de estos animales.
Trichuris vulpis est une espèce de nématodes de la famille des Trichuridae. Ce parasite infecte le chien, le renard, l'humain et le porc.
L'espèce Trichuris vulpis a été initialement décrite en 1789 par le botaniste, médecin et entomologiste allemand Joseph Aloys von Froelich (d) (1766-1841) sous le protonyme de Trichocephalus vulpis[1].
Trichuris vulpis est un parasite du chien et du renard[2] — tel que le Renard véloce[3],[4] —, du porc et de l'humain[5]. Sa prévalence est de 15 % chez le chien[5] et de 28 à 57,8 % des chiens parasités par des helminthes[2]. Trichuris vulpis infecte l'humain surtout dans les régions chaudes et humides[5].
Contrairement à de nombreux parasites, l'âge n'est pas un facteur de risque. Les animaux d'élevage sont plus exposés que les individus isolés. C'est un parasite bénin, hormis chez les sujets fragilisés[2].
Le ver de couleur rosée mesure environ 3 à 7,5 cm. La femelle pond en moyenne 2 000 œufs par jour. Les œufs sont résistants, leur durée de vie est longue et ils sont très difficiles à éliminer. Ils éclosent après huit jours à plusieurs mois et deviennent infectants[2].
Son épithète spécifique, vulpis, fait référence au genre Vulpes (les renards).
Trichuris vulpis est une espèce de nématodes de la famille des Trichuridae. Ce parasite infecte le chien, le renard, l'humain et le porc.
