Trichuris trichiura in a post-Colonial Brazilian mummy.

Trichuris trichiura in a post-Colonial Brazilian mummy. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2015 Jan 23;:0 Authors: Bianucci R, Torres EJ, Santiago JM, Ferreira LF, Nerlich AG, Souza SM, Giuffra V, Chieffi PP, Bastos OM, Travassos R, Souza W, Araújo A 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. PMID: 25626459 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz Source Type: research