Veterinary parasitologists examining the SAF-fixed human faecal
samples from an ethnic minority in Yunnan using the FLOTAC
technique were the first to note the presence of large Trichuris spp.
eggs. The tentative identification of these eggs as T. vulpis was then
– again tentatively – put forth by medical parasitologists using an
ether-concentration method. Due to the retrospective nature of
the study and the conservation of the samples in SAF solution, no
molecular data could be obtained. No large Trichuris spp. eggs were
observed during subsequent studies in the same population and
including deworming with albendazole. In general, T. trichiura eggs
are readily identified based on their characteristic shape. However,
the correct identification of eggs sharing some key characteristics
of T. trichiura eggs is controversial (Brustoloni et al., 2009; Fugassa,
2010; Núnez, 2010 ˜ ).