Monday, February 2, 2009

Case of the Week 56

The following microscopic organisms were identified in water from a large African lake. They measure between 100-150 microns in length. Many of the residents who use this lake for bathing and drinking have enlarged abdomens. Identification?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think these itchy creatures are Schistosome cercaria - probably S. mansoni based on the [presumably] hepatomegalic abdomens of local bathers . . . perhaps there's a morphological clue to species as well?

former path res

Anonymous said...

I agree - they are the cercariae of S. mansoni (transmitted by the Biomphlaria Spp snail. Chris H

Anonymous said...

I think this is Schistosoma spp.
Shafi Hamid.