It's the first Monday of the month, and time for another great case by Idzi Potters and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium!
The following object was found in a soil sample from a child's playground. It is approximately 80 micrometers in largest dimension.
What is your identification? What is the potential significance of this finding?
Thinking Ascaris, since shell appears thicker and "mammillated?". Potential for ingestion so wash hands and no pooping in the playground, kids.
ReplyDeleteAscaris like. If from sand, it is likely be Tixoxcara canis or Toxocara catis, which can cause viscera larva migrans
ReplyDeleteIt's look like Toxocara
ReplyDeleteIntercontinental business definitely contributes to invasive species. The fur demand has led to the introduction of Procyon species into Europe. The egg of Baylisascaris Procyonis closely resembles that of Toxocara canis though slightly larger (85 vs. 80 microns). Another aspect is that the shell of both are rough. Judging from the size and pitted appearance, I am in favor of Toxocara canis. From the literature, the thick shell helps the egg remains viable for years in the soil. Unfortunate humans though paratenic hosts still suffer from visceral larva migrants, ocular larva migrans as well as other sites in the body.
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On a side note, I don’t know if the coon hat was popular in Europe as depicted by Hollywood.
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