How many eggs does enterobius vermicularis produce?
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Egg Production in Enterobius vermicularis
Overview of Enterobius vermicularis Egg Production
Enterobius vermicularis, commonly known as the human pinworm, is a parasitic worm that primarily infects the intestines of humans. One of the key aspects of its life cycle is the production of eggs, which are crucial for the transmission and propagation of the species.
Egg Production Based on Female Worm Length
Research has shown that the number of eggs produced by female Enterobius vermicularis is closely correlated with their body length. A study examining 203 female worms found that egg production begins when the worms reach a body length of 5.50 mm or longer. The number of eggs increases significantly with the length of the worm. For instance, females measuring between 5.50 and 5.99 mm produced an average of 19 eggs, while those between 9.50 and 9.90 mm produced an average of 13,323 eggs.
Variability in Egg Production
The study also highlighted that there is considerable individual variation in egg production among worms of different lengths. Worms in the 5.50 to 8.00 mm range showed greater variability in the number of eggs produced. However, once the worms exceeded 9.00 mm in length, the number of eggs produced was more consistent, typically ranging from 10,000 to 16,000 eggs.
Comparison with Other Pinworms
For context, the fecundity of Enterobius vermicularis is significantly higher than that of other pinworms, such as Syphacia obvelata, which infects mice. Female S. obvelata produce an average of 317 eggs, which is only about 2-3% of the fecundity of E. vermicularis. This stark difference underscores the prolific nature of E. vermicularis in terms of egg production.
Conclusion
In summary, Enterobius vermicularis females produce a substantial number of eggs, with production starting at a body length of 5.50 mm and increasing with the worm's length. The number of eggs can reach up to 16,000 in larger females, making E. vermicularis a highly fecund parasite. This high reproductive capacity is a key factor in its widespread prevalence and difficulty in controlling its transmission.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
[Number of intrauterine eggs in female Enterobius vermicularis by body length]
In vitro embryonation of Syphacia obvelata eggs.
Transmission of Enterobius vermicularis eggs through hands of school children in rural South Africa.
Enterobius vermicularis Eggs Discovered in Coprolites from a Medieval Korean Mummy
Egg positive rate of Enterobius vermicularis among preschool children in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Enterobius vermicularis ova in routine cervicovaginal smears. Light and scanning electron microscopic observations.
Egg positive rate of Enterobius vermicularis and Taenia spp. by cellophane tape method in primary school children in Sivas, Turkey.
Genetic variation of Enterobius vermicularis among schoolchildren in Thailand.
Enterobius vermicularis: 10,000-Year-Old Human Infection
Detection of Enterobius vermicularis eggs in the submucosa of the transverse colon of a man presenting with colon carcinoma.
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