Trichuris trichiura in a post-Colonial Brazilian mummy

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Rafaella BianucciAdauto Araújo

Abstract

Trichuris trichiura is a soil-transmitted helminth which is prevalent in warm, moist, tropical and subtropical regions of the world with poor sanitation. Heavy whipworm can result either in Trichuris dysenteric syndrome - especially in children - or in a chronic colitis. In heavy infections, worms can spread proximally and may cause ileitis. Here we provide first microscopic evidence for a T. trichiura adult worm embedded in the rectum of a post-Colonial Brazilian adult mummy. During Colonial and post-Colonial times, many European chroniclers described a parasitic disease named Maculo whose symptomatology coincides with heavy helminthiasis. Based on our findings and on comparison of ancient textual evidence with modern description of heavy whipworm, we feel confident in considering that the two syndromes are expressions of the same pathological condition.

References

Jan 1, 1976·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·R H GilmanF Fitzgerald
Jun 2, 2001·Parasitology·L S StephensonE S Cooper
Apr 12, 2003·Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz·Marcelo Luiz Carvalho GonçalvesLuiz Fernando Ferreira
Oct 22, 2011·The Journal of Parasitology·F Agustín JiménezKarl J Reinhard
Dec 1, 2014·International Journal of Paleopathology·Johnica J MorrowKarl J Reinhard

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Citations

Mar 17, 2020·Microbial Pathogenesis·Pamela AfoudaDidier Raoult

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
biopsy
light microscopy
scanning electron microscopy

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