Saturday, July 12, 2008

Answer to Case 30

These are eggs of Enterobius vermicularis (a.k.a. Pinworm). Although they may be seen occasionally in stool samples, the best way to identify them is by applying the sticky side of clear (non-frosted) cellophane tape to the anal region and then examining the tape under a microscope. That's what is shown here. The eggs are quite distinctive: clear, oval shaped, 50-60 microns in length, and flattened on one site.

My thanks to anonymous who gave me a new word for 'anus'.

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