Nematoda

The egg on the left was found in the feces of an individual that
The worm was found attached to the wall of the small intestine of
recently arrived from Puerto Rico. The egg measured about 52
a patient undergoing intestinal surgery for another matter. You are
micrometers long x 22 micrometers
viewing the buccal cavity of the parasite. What species does it
wide. What species does it
represent?
represent?
Ancylostoma duodenale.. Note the large, ventral cutting teeth (top)
The eggs of Trichuris (Trichocephalus)
trichiura are very distinctive with the
smooth wall and bipolar plugs
The eggs on the left were found using the scotch tape test on a
The microfilaria on the left was seen
6 year old Florida boy visiting relatives in Kansas. The eggs
in a blood smear of a graduate
measured about 55
student native to Africa. You note that
micrometers long x 25
it is sheathed, fails to possess tail
micrometers wide. What
nuclei, and measures about 290
species does it represent?
micrometers in length by 8.5
Enterobius vermicularis. The
micrometers in width in the fixed
eggs of Enterobius vermicularis
smear. What species does it represent?
(and Enterobius gregori) are
Wuchereria bancrofti. Mosquitos are the
smooth and slightly flattened along one side.
vector.
The egg on the left was found
The egg on the left was found in the
in the feces of a Manhattan,
feces of a 19 year old Kansas State
Kansas resident. A friend of
University student who hails from
yours sent you the fecal sample
Alabama. The egg measured about 70
gratis (yes, this happens often
micrometers long x 38 micrometers
when you are a parasitologist).
wide. What species does it represent?
The egg measured about 45
Necator americanus. Eggs of
micrometers long x 40
Ancylostoma duodenale tend to be
micrometers wide. What species
slightly shorter and less elongate, but in
is represented?
reality the eggs of the two are very difficult to tell apart. Necator
Ascaris lumbricoides. This is a corticated,viable egg that simply
americanus is far more common in North America than
has odd, lumpy projections of the outer protein coat.
The worm on the left was
The worm on the left was passed in the
passed in the stool of a 6
stool of a small child in Manhattan, Kansas
year old child. It measured
in 1966. The entire worm measured about
10 mm in length. What
23 cm (9 inches) in length. What species is
species does it represent?
represented?
Enterobius vermicularis. Female Enterobius vermicularis and
Ascaris lumbricoides. This female roundworm
Enterobius gregori are impossible to distinguish.Note the distinct
was indeed passed by a child in Manhattan,
posterior esophageal bulb and attenuated tail of this female worm.
KS and is typical of the truly large size of the
adult female ascarid.
The egg on the left was found in the
The egg on the left was found in
feces of an individual returning from
the feces of a college professor in
Bolivia after a 2 month research field
Manhattan, Kansas. The egg
trip. The egg measured about 90
measured about 60 micrometers
micrometers in length x 45
in length x 45 micrometers in
micrometers in width. What species
width. What species does it
does it represent?
represent?
Ascaris lumbricoides. This is an
Ascaris lumbricoides. This is a
unfertilized egg; the outer surface is oddly mammillated to a degree so that the
fertilized egg; the outer surface is
surface is lumpier than the fertilized egg. The inner embryonic layers are
mammillated and the cytoplasm
lacking so that the cytoplasm inside is highly disorganized.
within enclosed by distinct membranes.
The egg on the left was found in the feces
This woman is suffering from what
of a young girl in Manhattan, Kansas.
parasitic condition resulting in the
Other eggs with thicker, more mammilated
swelling of the lower extremities as
walls and of similar size were noted. The
noted?
egg measured about 60 micrometers in
Elephantiasis. Wuchereria bancrofti, a
length x 45 micrometers in width. What
lymphatic filarid, is the principle agent that
species does it represent?
initiates chronic elephantiasis below the
Ascaris lumbricoides. This is a fertilized egg;
waist. The swelling is due (primarily) to
the outer mammillated surface has been
chronic fibrosis over many years.
stripped away which occasionally occurs.

The worm on
the left was
one of several
passed in the
stool of a Manhattan resident following antiparasitic therapy.
The worm measured nearly 18 cm (7 inches) in length. What
species is represented?
Ascaris lumbricoides. This worm was passed in 1944 by a
Manhattan resident and is a male, as noted by the hooked tail.

The photograph on the left is a squash

preparation from skeletal muscle tissue. What
species does it represent?
Trichinella spiralis. The first stage larvae born to
females in the intestine make their way to skeletal
muscle tissue. Here, they become encapsulated in
muscle fibers as shown. Gene expression in the
host cell becomes modified so that the muscle cell
becomes what is termed a nurse cell, which
supports the dormant larva.
The egg on the left
The larvae on the left was passed in the
was found in a fecal
stool of a 48 year old Vietnam veteran.
flotation from a 9
It measured about 300 micrometers in
year old boy. It
length. Many other identical larvae
measured about 60
were also present, and even a few
micrometers in
elongate, slender female worms
length by 30
measuring about 2.5 mm in length were
micrometers in width. What species does it
noted. What species does it represent?
represent?
Strongyloides stercoralis. although other less commonly seen members of the genus
Enterobius vermicularis. Note that the egg is partially
also infect humans. The rhabditiform larvae in the feces are diagnostic, and adults are
embryonated and is slightly flattened along one side.
occasionally seen. Because infections can be autoinfective, larvae may occasionally
be seen in the sputum and urine.
The worm on the left was one of many found
The worm on the left was found
embedded in the prolapsed rectum of a 9 year old
attached to the wall of the small
Puerto Rican child visiting relatives in Kansas. It
intestine of an individual during
measured 45 mm long. What species does it
autopsy. The worm is an
represent? Trichuris trichiura.. Whipworms are quite
incidental finding only. You are
common in warm, moist climates. Heavyinfections may
viewing the buccal cavity of the
result in prolapsed rectum, finger clubbing, and growth
parasite. What species does it
retardation in children. The more slender end is the
represent?
anterior end which threads itself into the intestinal wall;
Necator americanus.. Necator
the larger end contains the reproductive organs. This is a female worm.
americanus has ventral cutting
plates.
The two eggs on the left are from a human stool specimen. The larger of the two eggs measures 75 micrometers
long by 45 micrometers wide. Are they both from the same species of worm?
Yes.. They are eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides. The egg on the far left lacks mammilations whereas the other egg is
heavily mammilated. Both may embryonate and become infective.

Cestodes & Trematodes

The adult
The adult trematode on the left was
trematode on
removed from the small intestine of a
the left was
recent Asian immigrant at autopsy. It
removed
measured approximately 65 mm long x
from the bile
15 mm wide. What species does it
duct of a recent immigrant from Hong Kong. It measured
represent?
approximately 8 mm long x 3 mm wide. What species
Fasciolopsis buski.Note that there are no
does it represent?
dendritic branches arising from the intestinal cecae (best noted anteriorly),
Clonorchis sinensis.
unlike Fasciola hepatica
The proglottid on the left was
The adult trematode on the
purged from the intestinal tract of
left was removed from the gall
a hispanic male who lived in El
bladder of a Kansas man
Paso, Texas prior to joining the
during gall bladder surgery. It
wildcat football team. It measured
measured approximately 30
8 mm in length. What species does
mm long x 12 mm wide. What
it represent?
species does it represent?
Taenia solium.You should be able to
Fasciola hepatica.Fasciola hepatica possesses a cephalic cone, lives in the gall
count 7-13 uterine branches in a typical, gravid Taenia
bladder and bile ducts, and has numerous dendritic branches arising from the
solium proglottid
intestinal cecae.
The proglottid on the left was purged
The adult trematode on the left was
from the intestinal tract of an individual
recovered from a human, but you are
who recently immigrated to Kansas from
provided no other information. It
Mexico city. It measured 10 mm in
measures 1.5 cm in length. What
length. What species does it represent?
species is represented?
Taenia (Taeniarhynchus) saginata.The
Fasciolopsis buski.This is a relatively
number of lateral uterine branches should
small and odd specimen. Note that the
number 14-23 per side.
intestine does not possess diverticula

The eggs on the left were

found in the feces of a 23
year graduate student who
came here from Thailand.
The eggs measured about
35 micrometers in length.
What species does it
represent?
Taenia sp.Eggs of Taenia saginatus tend to be slightly more
ellipsoidal than those of Taenia solium, but in most cases one
cannot really distinguish between the two
The egg on the left was found
during a routine screen of the
feces of a Chinese Microbiology
student. The egg measured about
80 micrometers long x 60
micrometers wide. What species
does it represent?
Schistosoma japonicum.The egg of
Schistosoma japonicum is embryonated when passed in the feces
and possesses a tiny sublateral spine that can be easily seen only
when the egg is in the correct orientation.
The worms at the left
are those of
Schistosoma
mansoni. The male is
holding the female in
a longitudinal groove
down his body. What
is this groove called?
Gynecophoral canal

The eggs on the left were

found in the urine of a peace
corp worker with hematuria
and who had just returned
after spending 2 years in
Egypt. The eggs measured
about 160 micrometers long x
60 micrometers wide. What species do they represent?
Schistosoma haematobium.The adult worms reside mainly in the veins of
the urinary bladder plexus. Embryonated eggs, with a terminal spine, are
passed with the urine.
The egg on the left was found in the
feces of a Puerto Rican coed who
was taking a human parasitology
course. The egg measured about 165
micrometers long x 70 micrometers
wide. What species does it
represent?
Schistosoma mansoni.The eggs of
Schistosoma mansoni are passed in the feces and have a large sublateral
spine

The egg on the left was found in the

sputum of an elderly Korean
gentleman. The egg measured about
85 micrometers long x 48
micrometers wide. What species does
it represent?
Paragonimus westermani.You are
correct. The 2nd intermediate host is
usually a FW crab. Note the rim around the
edge of the operculum (the shoulders)
The egg on the left was found in
The proglottid on the left is one of a string
the feces of a graduate student
passed by a student who returned from
from Thailand. The egg
Madison, Wisconsin several months
measured about 28 micrometers
earlier. Each proglottid measured slightly
long x 16 micrometers wide.
under 1 cm in width. What species is
What species does it represent?
represented?
Clonorchis sinensis.The eggs of
Diphyllobothrium latum.Strings of
Clonorchis (and some of the other bile duct flukes, as well as some
proglottids are frequently passed in the feces
heterophyids) are small, passed embryonated, and have a tiny
of infected
posterior knob that is sometimes present
individuals. The dark structure in the middle of each proglottid is the
rosette-shaped uterus filled with eggs.
The parasite on the left was
The tapeworm larval stage on the
purged from the intestinal tract
left is pinhead size, and was
of a dog in Manhattan, Kansas.
removed from a grasshopper in
It measured 7 mm in total
Manhattan, Kansas. What type of
length. Although this adult
larval stage does it represent?
stage is not found in humans,
Cysticercoid.The cysticercoid is a
the larval stages can be pathogenic. What species does it represent?
solid-bodied larval stage that contains
Echinococcus granulosus. Humans may serve as intermediate hosts for the
an invaginated scolex.
unilocular hydatid cyst.
The photograph of the tapeworm scolex on the left represents which of the following species?
Taenia solium.The scolex is from a newly excysted cysticercus. Although not easily seen in this photograph, the
scolex possesses 2 rows of large hooks.
Protozoa
The flagellates on the left were
found in a vaginal smear of a
female student (obviously) who
complained of vaginitis. The
trophozoites measured about 25
micrometers long x 17
micrometers wide. What species do they represent?
Trichomonas vaginalis . This species inhabits the urogenital tract, often
asymptomatic in males, and has 4 anterior flagella and a 5th that forms the
undulating membrane. The end of the undulating membrane generally
ends either at the trophozoite, or slightly anterior to the midline.

The fully sporulated oocyst on the left

was from a population of oocysts found
following a flotation of a stool from an
AIDS patient. Oocysts averaged about
8.4 micrometers long x 6.2 micrometers
wide. What species is represented?
Cryptosporidium muris. Cryptosporidium muris is a gastric form,
somewhat larger than C. parvum, and usually found in non-human
hosts. To date, there are only a handful papers ever describing
this parasite from humans, usually from HIV positive patients.

Cryptosporidium
The photograph on the left is from a stained,
parvum. Oocysts of
histological section of the brain of a Texas man. He
Cryptosporidium
died following a rapidly progressing neurological
spp. stain reddish
disease that included smell and taste disturbances,
with the acid fast
coma, and finally death. What species may be
stain. Living oocysts
represented?
measure about 5.2
Naegleria fowleri. This species, like Balamuthia mandrillaris and some Acanthamoeba spp.,
micrometers in
are capable of entering the brain through the nasal passages and olfactory nerves. The
length x 4.6 micrometers in width. The bluish
progress of the disease is extremely rapid and usually fatal. Balamuthia mandrillaris and
structures are bacteria (rods) or yeast (spheres). Acanthamoeba spp. form cysts in the brain whereas Naegleria fowleri does not.
The photograph is a
The black and white
stained blood smear
photographmicrograph on the left
from a Brazilian student
was presented to you by a
who has never left the
physician here in town and is of a
Western hemisphere.
sporulated oocyst derived from the
Always keep in mind
feces of an AIDS patient. The
that a fixed red blood cell oocyst measures about 30 micrometers in length, was passed in the
measures about 7
feces unsporulated and required about three days to fully sporulate,
micrometers in diameter. What species is represented?
and represents what species?
Trypanosoma cruzi. Note that the trypomastigote has died in the
Isospora belli. Isospora belli measures 25-32 micrometers in length, is
characteristic C- or ?-shape, and that the kinetoplast is relatively
passed unsporulated, and once fully infective contains two sporocysts each
large in proportion to the body.
with four sporozoites.
The photograph on the left is of a blood smear from an
The
individual periodically undergoing spikes in fever at
photograph on
approximately 48 hour intervals. The stained (bluish)
the left is of a
structures were found in slightly less than 2% of the
blood smear
red blood cells. Most infected cells had parasites that
from an
were at a similar stage of development. What species is
individual
most likely represented?
infected with
Plasmodium vivax. Plasmodium vivax has 48 hour
Plasmodium vivax. What type of stage does the
paroxysms, has segmenters with about 16 (12-24) merozoites, and tends to only affect
structure represent?
reticulocytes (about 2% of the blood cells; Duffy antigen positive).
Gametocyte. The parasite is a female gametocyte
of Plasmodium vivax.
The photograph on the left is of a
The photograph on the
blood smear from an individual
left is of a human blood
periodically undergoing fever spikes at
smear. You have no
approximately 72 hour intervals.
other information
Parasite numbers were extremely low,
available. You note that
with very few cells on the slide
the slide contains very
appearing infected. Multiple smears
few parasite stages, but
over several days revealed the ring
some stages reveal the
forms to be present for up to 48 hours
"band-like" pattern as shown. What species is most likely
before developing into more advanced stages. What species does this
represented?
represent?
Plasmodium malariae. The band stages are common in
Plasmodium malariae. Plasmodium malariae has a 72 hour cycle of
Plasmodium malariae infections, and immediately succeed the
paroxysms, the ring stage is often very prolonged, and very low numbers of
ring stage.
red blood cells become infected.
The photograph on the left is of a blood
The photograph on the left is from
smear from an individual undergoing
a fecal smear of an individual with
approximately 48 hour fever spikes. You
diarrhea and abdominal
note that about 2% of the red blood cells
cramping. The parasite measured
are infected. What species is most likely
140 micrometers in length x 110
represented?
micrometers in width. What
Plasmodium ovale. Mature segmenters of
species is represented?
Plasmodium ovale should have about 8 (6-14) merozoites, however, and the
Balantidium coli. Balantidium coli is the only parasite of
segmenters shown on the left have more nuclei than 8.
the human intestine with the large macronucleus as shown.
An individual complains of fatigue, irritability,
The photograph on the left was taken
and muscle pain and weakness. You perform a
from a fecal smear of a child at a day
biopsy, and inject a small amount of the tissue
care center in Manhattan, Kansas.
into a laboratory mouse (xenodiagnosis).
The ellipsoidal cyst measures about
Several months later you necropsy the mouse,
10 micrometers in length by 7-8
grind a portion of the brain in a tissue grinder,
micrometers in width. Can you figure
and observe the cyst on the left under the microscope. It
out why this child may have periodic
measures approximately 60 micrometers in diameter. What
bouts of diarrhea?
species is represented?
Giardia lamblia. The stage shown here is a mature cyst. Although all
Toxoplasma gondii. The living cyst on the left contains thousands of are not in the plane of focus, the cyst should contain 4 nuclei and 2
bradyzoites.
Siamese twin trophozoites.
The photograph on the left is from
The photograph on the left is an acid fast stain
a histological section of brain
from a fecal smear of an AIDS patient with
tissue. The structure measures
periodic bouts of diarrhea and abdominal

about 60 micrometers in diameter. What species is

cramping. The cyst-like stage shown measures about 30 micrometers in
represented?
length. What species is represented? Isospora belli. The elongate oocysts are
Toxoplasma gondii. The dark dots are the nuclei of the
passed unsporulated, and complete development exogenously
bradyzoites.
The photograph on the left is from a fecal smear.
The photograph on the left is of a
The patient had periodic bouts of diarrhea. The
human blood smear. Based solely on
parasite measures about 12 micrometers in
the structure of the gametocytes, what
length. What species is represented?
species of malaria is represented?
Giardia lamblia. Giardia lamblia (Giardia
Plasmodium falciparum. This species of
intestinalis) is the only diplomonadid to occur in
malaria has characteristic banana-shaped
humans.
gametocytes.
The photograph on the left is an iron
The photograph on the left is from a
haematoxylin stained amoeba trophozoite
human fecal smear. The cyst
from a fecal smear. The patient had periodic
measured about 55 micrometers in
bouts of diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and
diameter. The patient had moderate
some blood in the stool. The parasite
diarrhea. What species is
measures about 25 micrometers in length.
represented?
What species is represented?
Balantidium coli. This ciliate has large cysts and trophozoites, and
Entamoeba histolytica. Note that the endosome
possesses the large dumb-bell like macronucleus as shown.
is relatively small and near centrally located.
The photograph on the left is from the heart muscle of a middle-aged Brazilian man who died
suddenly of heart failure. What species is represented?
Trypanosoma cruzi. The structure is a pseudocyst with amastigotes. The parasite is transmitted by
reduviids.
Arthropoda
The insects on the left represent a
The insect to the left has found attached
nymph and adult of what type of
to pubic hair by a student in class. He
arthropod?
brought it to class to show everyone.
Reduviid. Reduviids (Assassin
What species, or type of arthropod, does
bugs, kissing bugs, cone-nosed
it represent?
bugs, etc.) take blood meals and are Pthirus pubis. The crab louse is stockier
the vectors of Chaga's disease. This than Pediculus humanus, and note that the
particular species is a member of the genus Triatoma. If you wish to
tarsi on the first set of legs are not
see additional images of reduviids, tag the tiny icon in the bottom right modified into the robust claws seen on the
corner of the page.
other legs.
The insect to the left was found attached to
The arthropod on the left was
hair on the head of a child here in
found in skin scrapings of an
Manhattan. A mother brought the specimen
individual with dermatitis. It
into the parasitology laboratory for
is microscopic; not seen with
examination. What species, or type of
the naked eye. What species
arthropod, does it represent?
does it represent?
Pediculus humanus. The insect on the left is
Sarcoptes scabei. Females
more elongate than the pubic louse. Pediculus
tunnel throughout the dermis
humanus is currently divided into 2 subspecies: Pediculus humanus capitus is the
laying eggs. This is a member
head louse and Pediculus humanus humanus the body louse.
of the Acari.
The insect on the left is Numerous structures, as in the
You have a friend who sends
a primary carrier of
photograph on the left, were found
you the arthropod in the
bubonic plague
attached to hairs on the head of a
photograph on the left. What
worldwide. What
young child. What are these
type of dipteran does it
species does it
ellipsoidal structures?
represent?
represent?
Nits.
Sandfly. Sandflies do not
Xenopsylla cheopis. The Nits
possess the elongate proboscis
oriental rat flea is the causative agent of most are
of the mosquitos. This is a
outbreaks of bubonic plague. It has no genal
louse
member of the genus Lutzomyia.
or pronotal combs. The insect on the left is a eggs.
Sandflies transmit leishmaniasis.
male.