Trichuris suis is a whipworm; the variations in thickness of the anterior and posterior segments give the parasite the characteristic "whip-like" appearance.

Infective J1 stage larvae develop within the shell in 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on environmental temperature.

The infective J1 stage within the egg is highly resistant and can remain in this form for several years in favorable conditions.

Once the infective J1 egg is ingested, the bipolar plugs are digested and the J1 larvae hatch in the small intestine and cecum.

In severe infections, the walls of the intestine may be thickened and a necrotic membrane may be located on the surface of the mucosa.

[1] The pathogenicity and symptoms are generally mild in human and it can be treated with medicines such as doramectin, ivermectin, and febantel.

[3] T. suis ova therapy may produce significant and long-lasting improvements in active Crohn's disease.

In a 2010 randomized double-blind placebo clinical trial, T. suis induced immune response, but did nothing for the allergic symptoms.