Answer to Case 740

Answer to the Parasite Case of the Week 741: Brugia malayi 

Thanks to everyone who wrote in. This is one of my favorite microfilariae! 

This case had 2 classic features that facilitated the identification: the pink sheath and separation of the 2 terminal nuclei in the tail (see arrows below). 

As I noted in the case last week, the sheath isn't always seen. Therefore, the larger length and tail nuclei configuration can allow for the identification, even when the sheath is absent. 

Case of the Week 740

Welcome to our next filarial case by Idzi Potters and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. This week features the following lovely microfilariae seen in a Giemsa-stained thick blood film. They measure approximately 220 micrometers in length. Identification?