The larvae of Trichuris suis – whipworm of pigs – can be used to stimulate the immune system of humans and thus block for up to 3 months of autoimmune reactions which lead to symptoms such as Morbus Crohn or ulcerative colitis. In cases of treatment, about 2,000 larvae-containing eggs have to be swallowed within some milliliter of water. In order to control, whether a sufficient number of larvae hatched and remained motile inside the intestine, a so-called hatch test must be done from time to time with stored eggs. By the way the larvae of T. suis do not reach maturity in humans, but die within 3 months after hatch. The process needs the following steps:
- 1.
Incubation of the eggs in a 13 % hypochlorite solution at 40 °C and 5 % CO2 for 2–5 h
- 2.
Washing and centrifugation (1,000 rpm) within a Trichuris-hatching medium (see below)
- 3.
Treatment with ultrasonic waves for 1 min
- 4.
Transfer of treated eggs into plastic wells with hatching medium at 37–40 °C
- 5.
Microscopical inspection of...
Further Reading
Bager P et al (2011) Symptoms after ingestion of pig whipworm Trichuris suis eggs in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. PLoS ONE 6(8):e22346
Garud S, Peppercorn MA (2009) Ulcerative colitis: current treatment strategies and future prospects. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2:99–108
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Mehlhorn, H. (2015). Trichuris suis Artificial Larval Hatching. In: Mehlhorn, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Parasitology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27769-6_4469-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27769-6_4469-1
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