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Case #188 - September, 2006

A hospital submitted blood films to CDC’s reference laboratory for identification of the microfilariae that were seen on the films. The object in Figure A was seen on a Wright-Giemsa stained blood film and measured approximately 180 µm. The object in B was seen on a Giemsa stained blood film and measured approximately 240-250 µm. Both A and B were taken at 500× magnification. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?

Figure A

Figure B

Case Answer

This was a case of loaisis caused by Loa loa. Diagnostic features were:

  • a short cephalic space (red arrow, Figure A).
  • the presence of nuclei to the tip of the tail (green arrow, Figure A).
  • evidence of a sheath (black arrows, Figure A).

Figure A

More on: Loaisis

Images presented in the monthly case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving. On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.

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DPDx is an education resource designed for health professionals and laboratory scientists. For an overview including prevention and control visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/.

  • Page last reviewed: August 24, 2016
  • Page last updated: August 24, 2016
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