Parasitology Guide Questions 2

1. Describe the two types of Capillaria female adults. Typical and Atypical

Answer. Types of Female worms

a.Typical female which has 8-10 eggs in utero arranged in a single row
b.Atypical female which has 40-45 eggs in utero arranged in 2 to 3 row

2. An 18 year old immigrant from the Philippines presented to the local clinic shortly after
relocating to the United States complaining of fever and chills.
Examination of the young adult revealed enlarged lymph nodes.
Blood was drawn and submitted for culture and parasitic
examination. The culture was negative. This suspicious form was
seen on the Giemsa-stained blood smear. It measures 225 µm in
length. This patient is most likely infected with: Answer. Brugia
malayi
a. Describe the appearance of this parasite.
Answer. B. malayi microfilariae are 200-275 um in length and have a round anterior
end and a pointed posterior end. The microfilariae are sheathed, which stains heavily
with Giemsa. The sheath is actually the egg shell, a thin layer that surrounds the egg
shell as the microfilariae circulates in the bloodstream. B. malayi microfilariae can be
distinguished by the noncontinuous row of nuclei found in the tip of the tail. There are
two terminal nuclei that are distinctly separated from the other nuclei in the tail.
b. What are the methods for diagnosis for this parasite?
Answer. Blood smear, ICT antigen card test , Haematology, PCR,
c. What is the best time to collect blood specimens for this parasite?
The best time to collect blood specimen is from 8 pm to 4 am.
d. What are the endemic provinces in the Philippines for this parasite?
Answer. Davao Oriental, Palawan, Eastern and Northern Samar and Surigao del Sur.

3. This suspicious form was recovered from a nodule biopsy. It measures 225 µm in length and
lacks a sheath. Please select the single best answer

Trypanosoma trypomastigote

Pseudoparasite

Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria

Onchocerca volvulus microfilaria

4. What is the main diagnostic feature of adult Enterobius?

Answer. The diagnostic feature of Enterobius is Smooth, tick-shelled, football-shaped eggs
 a. If you find one member of a household infected with enterobiasis, how would you
completely eradicate the infection?
Answer. If a single individual in a family household is not immediately treated, the
remainder of the family is likely to become infected and curing all individuals
completely in a family can be very difficult because of the "ping pong" effect. To
prevent this ping pong effect you should always keep fingers out of your mouth and
nose. Keep fingernails short and do not bite your nails. Wash your hands after using
the toilet and before eating or preparing food. Change clothing, towels, and sheets
frequently and wash them in hot water, especially during and after pinworm
treatment.

5. In a tabular form, describe the appearance of microfilaria of Brugia malayi, Wuchereria

bancrofti, Loa loa and Onchocerca volvulus.

Appearance Brugia malayi Wuchereria bancrofti Loa loa Onchocerca volvulus

measurement 175-230 µm. In 2% 240-300 µm in 250-300μm measure 300-315 µm in

formalin they are stained blood smears long, 6-8μm length
longer, measuring and 275-320 µm in wide,
240-300 µm. 2% formalin.

Presence of sheaths sheathed sheathed sheathed unsheathed

nucleus with a significant gap The nuclear column contain body The nuclei do not
between the terminal (the cells that nuclei that extend to the tip of the
and subterminal constitute the body extend to the tail
nuclei of the microfilaria) is tip of the tail
loosely packed; the
cells can be visualized
individually and do
not extend to the tip
of the tail.

Body appearance The tail is tapered. They have a gently have a simple The tail tapers to a point
Longitudinal muscles curved body, and a body including and is often sharply bent
and move in an S- tail that is tapered to a head, body,
shape motion. a point and tail