The helminths of the intestinal canal of man in Mauritius; and a first record of Trichostrongylus axei locally

Abstract

1. Systematic measurements of all hookworm-like eggs from time faeces of 336 patients in Mauritius led to the finding of 8 per cent Trichostrongyle, 0·9 per cent Ternidens deminutus, and 0·9 per cent Ancylostoma braziliense-like eggs.2. This percentage of Trichostrongyle eggs includes one case from an inhabitant of the French colony, Réunion.3. Hookworm eggs of a very small size, possibly Ancylostoma braziliense were found unassociated with the typical Necator americanus eggs, in the faeces of an inhabitant of Rodriguez; the adult worms appeared drug-resistant.4. A partial eradication of the Trichostrongyles was obtained in one case, and an apparently complete eradication in another, of 6 patients treated with carbon tetrachloride.5. The Trichostrongyles expelled by one of the patients were identified as Trichostrongylus axei (Cobbold, 1879) Railliet & Henry (1909).6. No particular symptoms which could be ascribed to the action of the Trichostrongyles were observed in any of the affected patients.7. Drugs administered orally to a patient passing Ternidens deminutus-like eggs failed to dislodge any of his worms.