Trichuris ovis

  

Contents

  

Rev: 10/14/2025

Sheep and Goat Whipworm Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Trichuris Menu Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Trichuridae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Enoplea
Dorylaimia
       Trichinellida
Trichinellina
Trichinelloidea
Trichuridae
Trichuris ovis (Abildgaard, 1795) Smith, 1908
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Morphology and Anatomy:

Stichosomes occur in two orders of the Nematoda: Trichinellida, with at least six families, and Mermithida, with two families. Recent phylogenetic analysis based on a synthesis of molecular and morphological data suggest that the stichosome may be an example of parallel evolution in the Trichinellida and Mermithida (De Ley and Blaxter, 2002; Ferris, 2007).

The pharynx is narrow and thin-walled anteriorly and which, posteriorly, is surrounded by unicellular, glandular stichocytes, each with a duct into the pharyngeal lumen.

The pharynx extends one-fourth to nine-tenths of the body length in various taxa and is almost devoid of musculature. The region of the pharynx surrounded by stichocytes is known as the stichosome.

Females:

  • Length 4-6 cm
  • body  shaped like a buggy whip with a stout body and heavy lash that is the anterior end, not the tail
 A portion of the stichosome of the whipworm, Trichuris trichiura
Photomicrograph by Sung-Jong Hong (The Korean Society for Parasitology).

Males:

Ref: Marchiondo et al., 2020

Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:


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Distribution:

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Economic Importance:

Contact with soil contaminated with eggs or larvae of nematode parasites is a common form of transmission that results in infection. The nematodes can live for years as adults in the human intestinal tract. Soil becomes contaminated by fecal material of infected animal hosts.

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Hosts:

Sheep and goats.

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Feeding:

The anterior filamentous end of the female whipworm is characteristically embedded in the mucosa, and the stout posterior end is free in the lumen of the large intestine.

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Life Cycle:

The life cycle is direct with eggs being passed in the feces and developing to the infective stage.

Eggs are highly resistant to environmental conditions and can remain infective for 10 months.

Eggs are ingested by suitable hosts and development occurs in the epithelium of the large intestine. The prepatent period is about 3 months. (Marchiondo et al., 2020

 

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters
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Damage:

 

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Management:

 


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References:

Bethony, J., Brooker, S., Albonico, M., Geiger, S.M., Loukas, A., Diemert, D., Hotez, P.J.  2006. Soil-transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm. The Lancet 9521:1521-1532.

Chitwood, B.G. 1930. The structure of the esophagus in the Trichuroidea. Journal of Parasitology 17:35-42.

Marchiondo, A.A., Cruthers, L.R., Zarlenga, D.S., Yazwinski, T,A,  2020. Nematoda, Trichinelloidea. Chapter 2 in Marchiondo, Cruthers and Fourie (eds) Parasiticide Screening Vol 2. Academic Press.
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