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[Trichuris trichiura]

Trichuris trichiura eggs are 50-55 micrometers by 20-25 micrometers. They are barrel-shaped, thick-shelled and possess a pair of polar “plugs” at each end.  The eggs are unembryonated when passed in stool.

A	B

A: Egg of T. trichiura in an iodine-stained wet mount.
B: Egg of T. trichiura in an unstained wet mount.

C	D

C: Egg of T. trichiura in an unstained wet mount.
D: Eggs of T. trichiura in a wet mount, showing variability in size in the species.

E	F

E: Egg of T. trichiura viewed with UV microscopy.
F: Egg of T. trichiura in an unstained wet mount of stool.  Notice also the presence of a cyst of Entamoeba coli (arrow).