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Widespread Trichuris incognita reveals hidden diversity and reshapes understanding of human whipworm infections

Author

Listed:
  • Nurudeen Rahman

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Max A. Bär

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Julian Dommann

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Eveline Hürlimann

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Jean T. Coulibaly

    (Université Felix Houphouët-Boigny
    Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire)

  • Said Ali

    (Pemba)

  • Somphou Sayasone

    (Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute)

  • Prudence Beinamaryo

    (Ministry of Health)

  • Jennifer Keiser

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Pierre H. H. Schneeberger

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminthiases, particularly trichuriasis, affect over 500 million people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Traditional diagnostics fail to distinguish between Trichuris species, obscuring transmission patterns and treatment outcomes. Using nanopore-based full-length ITS2 rDNA sequencing, we analyzed 687 samples from Côte d’Ivoire, Laos, Tanzania, and Uganda, confirming the phylogenetic placement of two genetically distinct Trichuris species infecting humans, Trichuris trichiura and the recently described Trichuris incognita. The two Trichuris species reveal divergent geographic patterns and also presence in non-human primates, suggesting complex host-parasite dynamics. Within-country genetic variation indicates local adaptation and cryptic population structure. Importantly, we demonstrate that ITS2 fragment length is a robust, cost-effective diagnostic marker for differentiating T. incognita and T. trichiura, offering a practical alternative to sequencing for resource-limited settings. These findings expose the hidden complexity of Trichuris spp. infections and highlight the urgent need to update diagnostic and control strategies to account for overlooked species diversity in endemic regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurudeen Rahman & Max A. Bär & Julian Dommann & Eveline Hürlimann & Jean T. Coulibaly & Said Ali & Somphou Sayasone & Prudence Beinamaryo & Jennifer Keiser & Pierre H. H. Schneeberger, 2025. "Widespread Trichuris incognita reveals hidden diversity and reshapes understanding of human whipworm infections," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64516-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64516-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen R. Doyle & Martin Jensen Søe & Peter Nejsum & Martha Betson & Philip J. Cooper & Lifei Peng & Xing-Quan Zhu & Ana Sanchez & Gabriela Matamoros & Gustavo Adolfo Fontecha Sandoval & Cristina Cut, 2022. "Population genomics of ancient and modern Trichuris trichiura," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
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