ABSTRACT
The genus Enterobius consists of two small nematode (roundworm) species (Enterobius vermicularis and Enterobius anthropopitheci) that are parasitic to humans and/or chimpanzees. Commonly known as human pinworm (in the United States), threadworm (in the United Kingdom, where pinworm refers to Strongyloides), or seatworm, E. vermicularis is one of the oldest parasites known to infect humans, especially children, institutional populations, and homosexuals. The clinical manifestations of the resulting disease (enterobiasis or oxyuriasis) range from itching of the anus (pruritus ani), disturbed sleep, chronic or acute appendicitis, genitourinary infections, abdominal pain, and abscesses in the rectum (due to ectopic pinworm migrations). Affecting about 1000 million people worldwide, E. vermicularis (human pinworm/threadworm) represents a common, yet probably underestimated and highly neglected human intestinal nematode, due to the relative insensitivity of current parasitological diagnostic methods and the mildness of its symptoms that cause medical resources to be directed to other relevant human parasites instead.
