PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY 1 – NEMATODES Trichuris trichiura (female)

USTMED ’07 Sec C – AsM; pictures provided by JV.N.

Update 2006 – A. Abad

TRICHURIS TRICHIURA

Note the gross features of the typical, unembryonated, fertile egg, ie, the
bile-stained, thick, smooth shell with polar prominences, often called polar
“plugs.”

ENTEROBIUS VERMICULARIS

Enterobius vermicularis (adult

male)

Adult male worms are much smaller

Trichuris trichiura X-section Appendix than females and are detected less
frequently in feces or on cellulose
tape. The oral end lacks a true
buccal capsule but is provided with
three lips and dorsoventral bladder-
like expansion of the cuticula. Note
the posterior end strongly curved
ventrad. It has a single conspicuous
copulatory spicule.

(below) Higher magnification of the

posterior end of the adult male
showing strongly curved ventral end
and the conspicuous copulatory
spicule.

Trichuris trichiura fertilized ova. Female worms in the human cecum shed
3,000 to 20,000 eggs per day. Embryonation occurs after the egg passes into Enterobius vermicularis
the environment (requires tropical temperature). On average, an infective
egg (embryonated) survives for less than 1 year.

T. trichiura in sect. appendix.

Female and male adult worms. The female worms of E. vermicularis

Trichuris trichiura
This illustration demonstrates the gross
features of male and female adult worms.
Note that both are whip-like, that the
male, in contrast to the female, has a
characteristically coiled tail. These worms,
though small, are readily seen but rarely
found in feces, except following treatment.
(pinworm) is white and measures from 8 to 15 mm in length by
approximately 0.4 mm in width. In contrast, the male adult worm is much
smaller, measuring 2 to 3 mm in length by 0.1 to 0.2 mm in width. The
dilated cephalic region is similar in both sexes, while the tail is pointed in
the females (left) and blunted in the males (right). Females are more
frequently found in cellophane tape preparations than the males. The
cephalic inflation of the cuticle and the muscular and bulbous protions of
the esophagus separated by a narrow region can be observed in the right
figure.

Trichuris trichiura (adult male)

Enterobius vermicularis ova
Enterobius vermicularis female
Enterobius vermicularis male
Materials used for scotch tape method
for diagnosis of Enterobius vermicularis
a. b.
a. Cellulose-tape slide preparation b. Hold slide against tongue
depressor one inch from end and lift long portion of tape from
slide
G. Smooth Tape with cotton or
Clear adhesive tape guaze.
applied to the perianal
area of a child reveals Note: Specimens are best
numerous D-shaped obtained a few hours after the
Enterobius vermicularis person has retired, perhaps at
embryonated ova. 10p.m, or the first thing in the
Scratcing the perianal morning before a bowel
area leads to hand .G. movement or bath.
contamination with
infective ova and
reinforcement of the
houst.
TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS
CLASSIFICATION
– Nematode
DISEASE
- trichinosis
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
- Cosmopolitan, but more prevalent in Europe and North
America than in tropical countries.
LOCATION IN HOST
- Adult worms live in intestinal tract for several weeks to
several months. The larval stage, encapsulated in
muscle tissue, may live for several years
MORPHOLOGY
- Adult worms. The adult male is minute, measuring 1.4-
1.6 mm in length by 40-60 u, and has two large, fleshy
papillas(?) at the posterior end. Adult females are 2.5-
4.0 mm long by 100-150 u wide. The reproductive tract
is filled with developing eggs and larvae. In both sexes,
the esophagus (stichosome) consists of a thin, narrow
tube surrounded by a column of glandular cells called
stichocytes.
LARVAE
- Minute larvae, produced by the adult female, measure
100 u long by 6 u in diameter. Infective larvae in muscle
tissue measure 0.8-1.0 mm long.
LIFE CYCLE
- When infective larvae in muscle tissue are ingested,
they reach maturity in the intestine in approximately
one week. Adult females deposit their minute larvae in
Cellulose Tape Slide Preparation
the mucosal epithelium. These larvae enter the
(End Product) bloodstream and are carried to the muscle tissue
throughout the body. The larvae grow in muscle tissue,
become infective in approximately one month,, and are
encapsulated by host tissue. All mammals may be
infected by this parasite, but pigs and rats are the most
important reservoir hosts in nature.
DIAGNOSIS
- usually based on clinical symptoms and history of
ingestion of poorly cooked meat, especially pork
products. Serologic tests are useful. Although muscle
biopsies usually are not performed to detect larvae, the
procedure may be used. Diagnosis of animal infections is
best established by examination of tissue. Larvae are
most abundant in tongue, masseter muscle, diaphragm,
and other active muscle tissues.
- Diagnostic problems – in light infections, symptoms may
be vague and trichinosis not considered in a differential
diagnosis. In animal infections, a few press preparations
of muscle tissue may not be adequate to demonstrate
larvae. Thus, artificial digestion of large amounts of
muscle tissue may be required.
COMMENTS
- Most infections in the United States now are attributable
to eating of poorly cooked or smoked pork products
derived from hogs raised on private farms, rather than
from processed by commercial meat packing firms. Bear
meat has been shown to be infected, and numerous
cases of human infection have been traced to this
source.

c. d.

c.Loose tape over end of depressor to expose gummed surface

d. Hold tape and slide against tongue depressor
Trichinella spiralis encysted larvae

e. f.

e. Press gummed surfaces against several areas of perianal region

f. Replace tape on slide
The larvae produced by adult females migrate via the blood-stream to the
musculature where they undergo considerable growth and development,
and become encapsulated by host tissue. Larvae may be found in press
preparations of skeletal muscle (left) or in hematoxylin-eosin-stained
histologic sections of the same tissues. In this stained section (right) of
diaphragm, not the presence of four larvae surrounded by the host tissue
reaction.

Capillaria philippinensis unembryonated fertile eggs. These small

eggs have striated shells and inconspicuous polar prominences.

Trichinella spiralis Adult

Capillaria philippinensis adult

CAPILLARIA PHILIPPINENSIS

Capillaria philippinensis
Capillaria philippinensis ova

Stichosome

Egg

Spicule

Spicule sheath

Adult female Adult male

Capillaria Ova

-fin-