Trichuris trichiura in a post-Colonial Brazilian mummy

摘要

Trichuris trichiura is a soil-transmitted helminth which is prevalent in warm, moist, tropical and subtropicalregions of the world with poor sanitation. Heavy whipworm can result either in Trichuris dysenteric syndrome - especiallyin 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-ColonialBrazilian adult mummy. During Colonial and post-Colonial times, many European chroniclers described a parasiticdisease named Maculo whose symptomatology coincides with heavy helminthiasis. Based on our findings and oncomparison of ancient textual evidence with modern description of heavy whipworm, we feel confident in consideringthat the two syndromes are expressions of the same pathological condition.