Summary
Whipworm infection is a common infection that involves a worm that attaches to the small intestine and laying eggs. This is most prevalently seen in children, as the most common way of contracting this disease is by eating dirt that is contaminated with it. Whipworm infection causes issues with the rectum and intestines that can lead to diarrhea, among other things. There is currently a medicine that can be prescribed to treat the infection. The easiest way to avoid getting this infection is to use proper hygiene practices and making sure to dispose of feces properly (Whipworm).
Fact Table
| Formal binomial name of microbe: | Trichuris trichiura |
| Gram stain (gram positive, gram negative or neither): | Neither |
| Is the microbe mobile or immobile? | immobile |
| Primary habitat? (Where is the organism normally found or prefer to live?) | In the human intestines |
| Can the organism infect humans? | Yes |
| Can the organism infect other species? If so, which ones. | It also affects monkeys, cats, and dogs |
| Documented cases of antimicrobial resistance? | There have not been any |
| Number of infections per year in the US | less than 0.1% of the population |
| Number of infections per year in the world | 604-795 million |
Description
Whipworm infection is caused by a parasitic worm that lives within the gut. It is most often spread through the feces of an infected person. They can be spread through using a fertilizer that is infected with the worm and then used to grow food. Without proper treatment of food, they can enter the body through eating the fruits and vegetables grown in the fertilizer. It can also enter the body through eating dirt, which makes it very prevalent in young kids, who tend to put their hands in their mouth often (Whipworm FAQs).
There are many symptoms that relate to whipworm infection. Some can be mild, while others are more severe, depending on the degree of worm infection. The symptoms include bloody diarrhea, painful or frequent defecation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, sudden or unexpected weight loss, and fecal incontinence. While all of these do not seem enjoyable, there is a cure for the infection and a positive prognosis (Healthline).
The current cure is a medication that will get rid of the parasitic worm. They are usually treated for three days and will likely receive repeated stool exams to make sure that the worms are gone. However, this infection is not deadly when treated and can be quickly cured. There may be a suggested dosage of iron supplements to be taken as well if the patient suffers from anemia. Overall, whipworm infection is a terrible time when someone is infected with it, however it will not last forever.
News
8,000-year-old intestinal parasite reveals toilet habits of early human settlers
Researchers are using the whipworm infection to find out information about the ancestors who transitioned from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies. They believe this will tell them information because as their lifestyles changed, the type of diseases they were susceptible to changed as well.
EU-funded project works to better understand human and parasite interactions
The European Union has decided to fund new research to allow for a more clear understanding of how whipworm interactions with host epithelial cells are causing issues in the gut. To do so, they are using a mouse model to replicate the interactions.
Inhabitants of Neolithic Çatalhöyük Suffered from Intestinal Parasites
“Whipworm FAQs”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/gen_info/faqs.html
“Whipworm Infection”; Healthline; https://www.healthline.com/health/whipworm-infection#symptoms
“Whipworm Infection”; Medline Plus; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001364.htm