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[Paragonimus westermani] [Paragonimus spp.]

Paragonimus kellicotti eggs range from 80-100 µm long by 55-65 µm wide.  They are yellow-brown, ovoid or elongate, with a thick shell, and often asymmetrical with one end slightly flattened.  At the large end, the operculum is clearly visible.  The opposite (abopercular) end is thickened.  The eggs are unembryonated when passed in sputum or feces.

A	B

A: Cross-section of an egg of P. kellicotti in a lung biopsy specimen, stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain.  Image courtesy of Dr. Gary Procop.
B: Longitudinal section of an egg of P. kellicotti in a lung biopsy specimen, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).  Image courtesy of Dr. Gary Procop.

C	D

C, D: Eggs of P. kellicotti in a Pap-stained bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) specimen.  Image C was taken at 100x magnification; Image D at 400x magnification.  Images courtesy of Dr. Gary Procop.

E

E: Higher magnification (1000x, oil) of the specimen in Figures C and D.