Sunday, October 3, 2010

Case of the Week 133

The following was seen in an unstained wet preparation of stool from a patient complaining of abdominal pain (400X original magnification). It measures 30 microns in diameter. (CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)



Identification?
What is a serious complication of infection with this organism?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tenia spp. egg
complication : gut obstruction, perforation

Kathy said...

Taenia spp. can lead to Cystercercosis.

neuro_nurse said...

Taenia spp.

Cysticercosis results from ingesting T. solium eggs. Neurocysticercosis is the most common cause of seizure disorder in South and Central America.

Passing Taenia eggs in stool is indicative of tapeworm infection from eating meat with encysted larvae. Individuals passing T. solium eggs may infect themselves and others, causing outbreaks of cysticercosis.

Eggs of Echinococcus spp are indistinguishable from those ofTaenia spp., but humans are intermediate hosts and do not pass Echinococcus eggs in stool.