February, 2007

Case 197:
The Division of Parasitic Diseases’ reference diagnostic laboratory received a specimen from a state health department for confirmatory review.  The only patient information given was that the patient had traveled to Nigeria.  Figures A-C show what was seen on a stained thin blood smear.  What is your diagnosis?  Based on what criteria?

A	B

C

Click here for the answer to Case 197.

Case 198:
A 28-year-old male immigrant who had resided in Spain for the last five years, went to a physician complaining of general malaise and itching.  The patient had slight eosinophilia but 15 days later was asymptomatic with no alteration in the differential blood count.  Ova and parasite examinations of three stool specimens were negative, and the patient had an ultrasound of the biliary tract and abdomen showed no abnormalities.  The patient admitted to regularly eating liver of locally raised sheep and cattle.  Figures A-C show what was seen in a concentrated stool sample; the objects measured 37 to 45 micrometers by 25 micrometers.  What is your diagnosis?  Based on what criteria?

A	B

C

Acknowledgement: This case and images were kindly contributed by Dr. Juan Cuadros González.

Click here for the answer to Case 198.

Images presented in the monthly case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving.  On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.