Monday, January 5, 2026

Case of the Week 798

It's the first Monday of the month and time for our case from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp! This case is donated by Idzi Potters, as well as Ms. Loranne Lambregts, a new ITM friend and very promising parasitologist! 

The following objects were recovered from a patient's scalp. They measure about 2-4 mm and are very motile. What is your identification?




15 comments:

  1. Tinea saginata. The proglottid has more branches than solium (15-30).

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  2. Reposted:, tinea saginata. The proglottid has more branches than solium (15-30).

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  3. I have seen a case very close to this. Taenia saginata/hominisuis. Forgive the memory of an old man.
    Florida Fan

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  4. Could you please share me (link/videos/documents) for the detail process of making permanent slides of segments or even whole parasitez

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  5. This is the old case of 01.12.25. It is already discussed. T.saginata/T.hominisuis proglottid; Taenia spp. ovum.

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  6. My apologies for accidentally re-posting the case from December! (I thought I'd start out the new year by testing your memory 😂). The new case is now posted.

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  7. I’m confused: the responses do not match the case presented (at least on my device?!😬)

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    Replies
    1. I’m thinking larval flea

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    2. I had mistakenly published a previous case. The new case is now up, which is why the earlier answers won't make sense now :)

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  8. First instar larva of flea - unknown species

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  9. Fly larva (dipteran larva) causing cutaneous myiasis, most consistent with an early-instar maggot,

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  10. Fly larva, not a mosquito larva for lack of breathing tube. Myasis cause debatable.

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  11. After more online research, I think this is a flea larva. Since it’s found on the scalp, my belief is that it’s from Tom, not Jerry nor Snoopy judging from the closeness between the animal host and Homo sapiens.

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  12. I agree with flea larva (legless, segmented body (13), setae, head capsule, size). Not invasive for humans.

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  13. Guessing Anopheles larvae /Patrik

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