Swiss Tropical Institute discovers new parasitic worm species

A research team from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has discovered a new parasitic worm species in Côte d’Ivoire. The Natural History Museum Basel accepted the first two preserved specimens on Thursday. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox As the species known as Trichuris incognita responds much less well to medical treatment, new drugs now need to be developed. An infection with the parasite can lead to health problems such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea and anaemia, as was reported at a media conference. With the transfer to the museum’s collection, the discovery is now officially recognised in accordance with international rules on scientific naming. The species cannot be visually distinguished from the familiar whipworms. The worm has been under the radar of research for many years, said Jennifer Kaiser, Professor at Swiss TPH. TPH is working on a new drug Researchers initially assumed that the worms in Côte d’Ivoire were resistant.