Parasitology Case: Duodenal Helminth Identification

A clinical parasitology case: identification of a helminth and its eggs found during duodenal endoscopy and copro-ovoscopy.

Editorial team 1 min May 25, 2024

Microphotography of the cephalic end of a helminth found during endoscopy

Microscopy of the anterior part of the body of the detected parasite specimen

Microphotography of the posterior end of the body of the detected helminth

Macrophotography of adult helminth specimens obtained during endoscopy

Microscopy of a concentrated stool sample with a helminth egg

Patient's stool smear, parasite egg in the microscope field of view

Microscopy of a concentrated stool preparation with several parasite eggs

🐍Parasitology exercise. ✅During duodenal endoscopy for abdominal pain, two helminth specimens were found in a man who arrived from Ethiopia. The length of the larger parasite is 1.3 cm (photos 1-4). ✅Upon microscopy of a concentrated stool sample from this patient, eggs were found (photos 5-7). Their length is about 65 µm. ❓Identify? 💡Hint. The parasite can affect complete blood count (CBC) parameters. An increase in the absolute number of eosinophils. And with prolonged invasion by this helminth, patients show all signs of chronic iron deficiency anemia in their CBC: a decrease in red blood cell indices MCV, MCH, MCHC.