Case #430 - October, 2016
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A 25-year-old refugee from Myanmar had a stool specimen collected for routine ova-and-parasite examination as part of a post-arrival screening. Figures A-D show what was found in moderate numbers on a fecal smear stained with Kinyoun’s modified acid-fast stain. The objects measured 20 micrometers on average. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?
Figure A
Figure B
Figure C
Figure D
Case Answer
The objects of interest were artifacts that resembled oocyts of Cystoisospora belli; however, the objects were not within the size range for C. belli (25-30 micrometers). In addition, the objects did not contain a sporoblast (some appeared empty) and the walls appeared thick.
More on: artifacts
More on: cystoisosporiasis
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.
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: December 9, 2016
- Page last updated: December 9, 2016
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- Global Health – Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
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