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October, 2008
Case 237
A 28-year-old man had loss of appetite, weight loss, and intermittent
diarrhea approximately one week after attending a family reunion located
on a farm in the mid-western U.S. He sought medical attention with
his primary care provider who collected a stool specimen for ova and
parasite (O&P) examination using a single-vial fixative system. A
stool smear was prepared, stained with trichrome, and examined
at 1000x magnification.
The objects shown in Figures A-D were observed in moderate
numbers. Objects in Figures C and D were 12 and 15
micrometers in diameter respectively. The object in Figure E
was 4 micrometers in diameter. What is your diagnosis? Based
on what criteria?
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A |
B |
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C |
D |
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E |
Click
here for the answer to Case 237.
Case 238
A 45-year-old man from Kenya who was visiting relatives in the New
England area had complaints of fever and headache. He was taken to
a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. A Giemsa-stained thin
blood smear was prepared and examined at 1000x magnification. Figures A and B
show what was observed in low numbers on the smear. What is your
diagnosis? Based on what criteria? What, if any, other tests
should be performed?
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| A |
B |
Click
here for the answer to Case 238.
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.
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