Trichuris trichiura is a soil-transmitted helminth which is prevalent in warm, moist, tropical and subtropical\udregions of the world with poor sanitation. Heavy whipworm can result either in Trichuris dysenteric syndrome - especially\udin children - or in a chronic colitis. In heavy infections, worms can spread proximally and may cause ileitis.\udHere we provide first microscopic evidence for a T. trichiura adult worm embedded in the rectum of a post-Colonial\udBrazilian adult mummy. During Colonial and post-Colonial times, many European chroniclers described a parasitic\uddisease named Maculo whose symptomatology coincides with heavy helminthiasis. Based on our findings and on\udcomparison of ancient textual evidence with modern description of heavy whipworm, we feel confident in considering\udthat the two syndromes are expressions of the same pathological condition.
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