Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites

The following was submitted for identification to the parasitology laboratory. It was found on a patient's leg and the clinician queried...

Answer: You should tell the clinician that this is likely a free living insect larvae and that there is no need for further concern. In th...

The following worms were removed from the small bowel during colonoscopy. At the time of the procedure, the endoscopist noted several punct...

Answer: Hookworm. Necator americanus. You can distinguish N. americanus from the other hookworm Ancylostoma duodenale but the presence o...

The following is a routine hematoxylin and eosin stained histologic section of small bowel. The patient presented with watery diarrhea. Id...

Answer: Giardiasis Note that the organisms are cut in various planes so that you only rarely see a perfect pear shaped organism with 2 nucl...

This weeks case may look familiar (hint: we've seen a similar case on Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites before) but I thought that th...

Answer: Pthirus pubis, the crab louse. Little known facts about the crab louse: 1. It's an obligate parasite, living and feeding only ...

Cross-sections through an appendix removed for acute appendicitis revealed the following: (H&E stained histologic images, Click to enlar...

Answer: Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) Shown are cross-sections of the adult worms within the lumen of the appendix. In some cross-sect...