Question

Which of the following is commonly known as whipworm?
a. Oxyuris
b. Trichuris
c. Wuchereria
d. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Whipworm is a parasitic roundworm, when it infects a large intestine of humans it causes disease. People after consuming water contaminated with feces containing whipworm eggs or parasites get whipworm infection or disease. People living in the area with poor sanitation, hot and humid climate have more chances of infection.

Complete answer:
- Trichuris is commonly known as whipworm.
- It is a parasitic worm that belongs to the Trichiuridae family of phylum Nemathelminthes.
- Named whipworm as the shape of the worm appears like whips with wider handles at the posterior end.
- An infection caused in humans is known as trichuriasis.
- It causes the infection of the large intestine.
- People with minor infections usually show no symptoms but the people with major infections show symptoms such as the frequent and painful passage of stool that contains a mixture of water, blood, and mucus.
- Oxyuris is commonly known as pinworm.
- Wuchereria is commonly known as Filariworm.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
- Symptoms of whipworm are abdominal pain, nausea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, painful or frequent defecation, headaches, fecal incontinence, or the inability to control defecation, sudden and unexpected weight loss.
- Whipworms can live in the body for one to four years without treatment.
- Whipworms are distributed worldwide especially in warm and humid climate countries.

Note: Whipworm is a parasitic roundworm that causes the infection of the intestine in humans. Whipworm infection is diagnosed by a stool test, presence of ova, and parasite of whipworm reveals that whipworm infection. It is concluded that whipworm is more resistant to the treatment than other helminths. Even after the treatment whipworm can be still present in the body. The lifespan of an adult worm is 1-3 years and is 3-5 cm in length.