Trichuris minuta Rudolphi

Site of infection: Caecum.

Host species: Didelphis virginiana .

Localities: Mérida (Yucatán), Campeche and Chencoh (Campeche).

Prevalence: 83.3% (5/6).

Mean intensity: 23.3 (range 1‒83).

Specimens deposited: CNHE 12888‒12890.

GenBank accession numbers: PP662466, PP662467.

Comments: The specimens examined have characteristics of T. minuta described by Babero (1960) from D. virginiana in the USA. Anterior part of body long, narrow, tapered, and whip-like; posterior part of body broad, and handle-like. Male 14,150 – 22,740 in body length. Males with spicular tube. Proximal cloacal tube (800‒1,310 long) united laterally to a distal cloacal tube (412– 855 long). Spicule (920‒1,080 long) covered in its distal portion with a cylindrical and spiny sheath (Figure 6A). Female body length 15,810 –18,300. Female with non-protrusive vulva. Eggs oval, with bipolar plugs, 62–80 long by 32–35 wide.

Trichuris minuta has only been reported from D. virginiana in Morelos (Eslava-Araujo 2005). This is the second record of T. minuta in Mexico and the first record in the Yucatán Peninsula.