A comparative study between enterobius vermicularis and two uncommon forms of pinworms : first record of acanthoxyurus as a human parasite

Abstract EN

Members of the order oxyurida are called pinworms .Pinworm infection has been known to be the most common intestinal parasitosis .In the present work pinworm Infection has been observed in 29 out of 100 examined children complaining of anal itch, abdominal pain or sleeping disorders.

The worms were removed, transferred to the laboratory of Parasitology.

They were identified as female pinworms based on their general morphology.

The light and scanning electron microscopic examination illustrated with photographic documentation revealed the presence of three different types of oxyurid females that were differentiated from each other by specific characteristics of the worms as the shape of cephalic and caudal portions, mouth opening, and cuticular surface of the body.

Two genera were studied, the genus Enterobius (E.vermicularis and E.gregorii) and genus Acanthoxyurus.

It could be concluded that the (1) The use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed to report additional morphological features of the worms, including the cuticular surface, cervical alae, cephalic end and caudal extremity.

(2) In the present work uncommon forms of pinworms (Enterobius gregorii and Acanthoxyurus) were observed in three examined cases.

A new species of Acanthoxyurus was recovered from one patient and its occurrence in human beings is reported for the first time.

(3) It is the first locality record of Acanthoxyurus and Enterobius gregorii pinworms (4) The present work presents the first comparative study between the classic pinworm (E.vermicularis) and the other two species of family Oxyuridae obtained from children with pinworm infection.