• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.69-71
• /
• 2012

We present a human infection with the canine whipworm, $Trichuris$ $vulpis$, in a child suffering from rhinitis with a diagnosis of rhinitis. $T.$ $vulpis$ eggs resemble those of $T.$ $trichiura$ but they can be differentiated based on their morphological features and egg size, using micrometry with an ocular micrometer. $T.$ $vulpis$ eggs measured an average of 90 ${\mu}m$ by 44 ${\mu}m$ (range 86-99 ${\mu}m$ by 38-47 ${\mu}m$). Prevalence of hookworms (28.1%), $Toxocara$ $canis$ (11.8%), and $Trichuris$ $vulpis$ (3.5%) was found in 292 fecal samples of dogs collected at the peri-domicile, which showed that the risk of infection was not only fortuitous. The treatment of canine whipworm infections is similar to that of $T.$ $trichiura$ infection. We recommend differentiation of the 2 species for their epidemiological and prevention implications.