Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites

A Sudanese refugee was seen for progressive confusion, daytime somnolence and personality disturbances. Despite treatment, he died and an au...

Answer:  African trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma brucei .  It is not possible to tell the 2 subspecies of Trypanosoms brucei apart micr...

This week's case is just a fun identification.  (Hint, these objects were obtained at the local hospital pharmacy...)   ...

Answer:  Hirudo medicinalis , the European medicinal leech.  Today, leeches are not used for 'balancing humors' but instead to to ...

The following images are taken from slides submitted to our surgical pathology consult service for identification.  The site was listed as ...

Answer:  Arthropod, most likely a hard tick given the presentation and gross description This case is somewhat reminiscent of Case 251 in...

Here is a bit of an unusual case:  this was noted in a tube of "sterile saline" in another area of the lab and sent to parasitolo...

Answer:  Mosquito, not further identified I apologize for not providing a genus and species level identification - the mosquito started fa...

This case was generously donated by MicrobeMan and Dr. Euna Choi: A 56-year old male who had just returned hom from a safari in Uganda pre...

Answer: fly larva; clinical presentation is consistent with myiasis Many commented that identification becomes more challenging when arthr...