Answer to Case 378

Answer: Dipylidium caninum

As mentioned by Florida Fan, the key to identifying this case is to recognize the thin outer cuticle (consistent with a worm) and the clusters of eggs within thin-shelled packets.

 On higher magnification, the negative outline of hooklets can be seen within some of the eggs (if you use your imagination a bit).

And now - a poem from Blaine:

‘Waiter!’ the man shouted, ‘there’s a fly in my soup’

For which he was corrected, ‘No that’s a flea in the Siphonaptera group!’

‘What does it matter, it’s still a darn bug!!!’

To which replied our waiter who is entomologically smug:

‘But if you eat that lil’ critter there, you’ll have D. caninum in your poop!'