Sunday, May 7, 2023

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!

3 comments:

Idzi P. said...

So is WAS Brugia… 😅
I expected the tail nuclei to be somewhat different, but I admit never having seen a case in real life.
Never too old to learn…😄

Thanks for sharing this one Dr. Pritt and Florida Fan!

ParasiteGal said...

I'll admit Idzi, that this one wasn't 'textbook' perfect! (here's one that is: https://parasitewonders.blogspot.com/2014/12/answer-to-case-328.html) But it does fit with the ones I've seen clinically. :D

UF_JG said...

Would this be distinguishable from B. pahangi as well?