Case of the Week 717

 This week's classic case was generously provided by Florida Fan. The following was seen in a Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smear. No additional history is available. Diagnosis?

Each division on the ruler is 2.5 micrometers; the object is slightly less than 250 micrometers long. 

Answer to Case 717

 Answer to the Parasite Case of the Week 717: Brugia malayi

This case was a little bit tricky in that the tail didn't show a clear terminal and subterminal nucleus as expected for B. malayi. However, the tail nuclei were separated, there is a long head space, and the sheath stained deep pink with Giemsa (the latter being a 'soft' feature). 

To confirm the findings, many of you rightly noted that you would try to get the patient's travel history and also look for other microfilariae in this specimen. B. malayi is restricted to Asia and SE Asia and is a cause of lymphatic filariasis. 

Thanks again to Florida Fan for donating this case!

Case of the Week 716

 Happy May, everyone! As the first Monday of the month, it's time for our post from Idzi Potters and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. Idzi was recently featured in a great article by the Institute - you should check it out! 

This month's case are the following objects seen in 3 different stains from a patient with sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhea and abdominal cramping:

Concentrated wet preparation with Lugol's iodine

Heine stain

Modified acid fast stain

What is your diagnosis?