Monday, July 1, 2019

Case of the Week 550

Happy July everyone! Here is our first case of the month by Idzi Potters and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. The following objects were seen in a concentrated wet prep of a stool specimen from an international adoptee from Ethiopia. They measure approximately 60 micrometers in greatest dimension. Identification?



16 comments:

BISHAL said...

Decorticated ascaris?

Hisar fan said...

Yes
The 4th picture pretty much confirms it

Anonymous said...

The size and morphology agrees with decorticated A. lumbricoides eggs.
Florida Fan

Bernardino Rocha said...

Agree with decorticate fertilized A. lumbricoides eggs

Anonymous said...

Agree decorticated egg of Ascaris lumbricoides

Juan Rojas said...

Egg fertile of Ascaris lumbricoides.

Unknown said...

Agree with decorticaded egg of A. Lombricoides

Sir Galahad said...

Ascaris lumbricoides, egg fertile .

Old One said...

I happily agree with my comrades. I’m also delighted that this old dog learned a new trick today taking the form of a new word.

Decorticated (meaning to remove the bark, rind, or husk from).

This is in reference to one of the three layers of a nematode egg. The outer protein coat, an exogenous product of the nematode uterus. Unique to each species Often stained by the bile salts of its host (yellow, orange, to brown). Often uniquely textured during its creation. Some species have a friable protein coat, hence the decortication seen in this weeks specimen. Some have no protein coat.

Once the protein coat is removed, one can see the two remaining layers. The next layer is the chitinous true shell or chorion which varies little between nematode species.

The innermost layer or Vitalline membrane is the yolk, which often appears like crinkled cellophane, due to contained colloidal fats. Size and visibility can be species specific.

Within the vitelline one has a central mass of protoplasm (destined to be a new baby worm), which is separated from the fat layer by a space called the “Saftraum”.

These are all wonderful characteristics to help with egg identification

Anonymous said...

Old One,
It's a pleasure reading your comments. You never stop to add a few more details, you Wonder you! I will bring it to my group's attention and am sure they will cringe.
No parasitologists don't grow old, they only flourish the world with their gray matter.
Florida Fan

Idzi P. said...

Indeed, Old One! Always interesting to see what additional info you provide us with! I never cease to learn!

Old One said...

Thank you. But to keep it real I'll share this with you. A quote from a friend who said this of me.


A parasitologist is a quaint person who sits on a stool looking at a stool.

Anonymous said...

Agree with fertilized decorticated Ascaris lumbricoides eggs.

Wan Hafiz

Idzi P. said...

And I agree with Old One (and his friend)
;-)

Blaine A. Mathison said...

Actually, the Ascaris egg has four layers. From outer to innermost: 1) mucopolysaccharide/protein uterine layer (the 'mammilated' albuminous layer), 2) lipoprotein vitelline layer, 3) chitin/protein layer, and 4) lipoprotein layer (ascaroside layer).

Decorticated eggs typically lack the outer layer but may lack any of the outer three layer.

Maha Yones said...

Ascari egg