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Home
> Aussie
Health > Worms
and Parasites > Whipworms
Whipworms
Depending on the number of whipworms present symptoms can be
mild to very severe
Whipworms
(Trichuris vulpis) are one of the main types of worms
to infect dogs. Unlike many other worms whipworms are not trasmissible
to humans or cats. They are relatively small, only about a half
inch (30 - 50 mm) in length.
Their heads are at the narrow end while their tails, containing
the reproductive system, are enlarged and thicker giving them
a 'whip' like shape.
While many other worms prefer the small intestine the whip worm
makes its home in the large intestine, or more specifically, the
cecum. The cecum is the part of the large intestine where it meets
the small intestine.
When a whipworm produces eggs they are passed in the stool but
they need 2 - 4 weeks to develop embryos that are infectious.
When these eggs are ingested from contaminated soil they make
their first stop in the small intestine.
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Dr. Mae Melvin - Centers for Disease Control |
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Adult
female whipworm
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Once there the egg hatches and a larvae is released. This larvae
embeds itself into the tissue of the small intestine. After about
a week it emerges into the small intestine where it is swept down
to the cecum of the large intestine.
Now it embeds itself in the tissue of the cecum and grows. In
60 - 70 days from the time of initial infection the young whipworm
is sexually mature and the next cycle begins.
Depending on the number of whipworms present symptoms can be
mild to severe. Agitation and inflammation because of too many
worms will result in bloody diahrrea. Anemia and dehydration can
also occur.
Since female whipworms lay eggs only intermittently, unlike many
other worms that lay them continuously, it can be difficult to
diagnose because you will not always be able to find eggs in tested
fecal samples. Even if whipworms are present in the intestine
results can come back negative. So you may have to check a few
times before you find them.
Treatments for whipworm are available but they have to be repeated
after about 75 days in order to be effective. This allows time
for maturation of larvae that may have been present at the time
of the first treatment. Your vet can advise you about the best
course of action and schedule to follow.
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