I was being somewhat sarcastic when I said E. v. was a soil transmitted
helminth. The writer is correct that the eggs are infective almost
imediately. What I said is that E.v. can be considered a socially
transmitted infection as it goes through entire households once it is
introduced. And one becomes infected by oral ingestion of infective eggs
which is the same manner that one obtains all soil transmitted
helminths. After all, E. v. eggs are passed into the environment, settle
on what ever, and then are ingested. But thanks for keeping me honest.
Steve Kayes
On Tue, 1 Aug 1995, Bal Singh wrote:
> Stephen Kayes wrote that Enterobius vermicularis is considered as a soil
> tansmitted parasite - how can that be when it does not require a period
> of development in the soil as the eggs become infective a few hours after
> being laid on the perianal skin??
>> Could someone please clarify?
>> Balbir Singh
> Department of Microbiology & Parasitology
> Universiti Sains Malaysia
> Kubang Kerian, 16160,
> Malaysia
>
