Enterobiasis historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Furqan M M. M.B.B.S[2]

Enterobius vermicularis eggs found in western Utah are carbon dated to 7837 BC. In 1983, Jean-Pierre Hugot isolated a new species Enterobius gregorii, which is identical to Enterobius vermicularis.

• The earliest known instance of Enterobius vermicularis is evidenced by pinworm eggs found in coprolite, carbon dated to 7837 BC at western Utah. In 1758, Enterobius vermicularis was first visualized by Linnaeus.^[1]

• In 1983 Jean-Pierre Hugot declared his isolation of a new human parasite.
• While examining oxyuridae of Malagasy Lemurs and in Old World monkeys, he concluded that what had been previously assumed to be a single species of parasite was in fact couples of sister-species.
• Two types of spicules were described, Enterobius vermicularis having the larger spicule (100 to 122 micrometers) and Enterobius gregorii had the shorter spicule (70 to 80 micrometers).^[2]
• For all practical purposes, the morphology, life cycle, clinical presentation, and treatment of Enterobius gregorii is identical to Enterobius vermicularis.