Pinworm
The pinworm (Genus Enterobius), also known as threadworm or seat worm, is a common human intestinal parasite, especially in children.[5] The medical condition associated with pinworm infestation is known as enterobiasis,[6] or sometimes oxyuriasis.[7]
Unless othervise noted, throughout this article the word pinworm refers to the species Enterobius vermicularis, which affects humans.
Classification
The pinworm is a a type of roundworm, and two species of pinworm have been identified with certainty.[8] Humans are host only to Enterobius vermicularis (formerly Oxyuris vermicularis).[9] Chimpanzees are host to Enterobius anthropopitheci, which is morphologically distinguishable from the human pinworm.[3]. Hugot 1983 claims there is another species affecting humans, Enterobius gregorii, which is supposedly a sister species of E. vermicularis, and has a slightly smaller spicule.[10] Its existence is controversial however; Totkova et al. consider there to be insufficient evidence[4], and Hasagawa et al. contend that E. gregorii is a younger stage of E. vermicularis.[2] [3] Regardless of its status as a distinct species, E. gregorii is considered clinically identical to E. vermicularis.[9]