Diagnostic parasitology

Question 1

What are the defining features of T. cruzi?

Answer 1

Large kinetoplast,
Monomorphic
C-shaped trypomastigotes

Question 2

In which plasmodium species are you likely to see accole forms?

Answer 2

P. falciparum

Question 3

On a thin blood slide you see numerous small, delicate ring forms and crescent shaped gametocytes. What plasmodium species is it?

Answer 3

P. falciparum

Question 4

What colours are the nucleus and cytoplasm in plasmodium species?

Answer 4

Nucleus stained red

Cytoplasm stained blue

Question 5

What are the defining features of T. Brucei?

Answer 5

Small kinetoplast
Pleomorphic
Dividing forms seen in blood

Question 6

In what plasmodium species do you find double chromatin dots and multiple invasions of RBC?

Answer 6

P. falciparum

Question 7

In a thin blood slide you see amoeboid trophozoites and schizont so with 16-24 merozoites. What plasmodium species is it likely to be?

Answer 7

P. vivax

Question 8

What species of plasmodium do you see schuffners dots and enlarged RBCs?

Answer 8

P. vivax and P. ovale

Question 9

In a thin blood film you see enlarged, fimbriated RBCs and schizonts with 8-12 merozoites. What plasmodium species is it likely to be?

Answer 9

P. ovale

Question 10

In a thin blood film you see infected microcytic RBCs and band form trophozoites. What plasmodium species is it likely to be?

Answer 10

P. malariae

Question 11

What are the defining features of Wucheria bancrofti?

Answer 11

Sheath
Nuclei throughout body
Gently curved body
Tail tapered, no nuclei at end

Question 12

What are the defining features no features of Brugia malayi?

Answer 12

Sheath
Nuclei through body
2 sub-terminal nuclei
Usually kinked

Question 13

What are the defining features of loa loa?

Answer 13

Curled round tail
Sheath
Nuclei extend to tip of tail

Question 14

In a faecal sample you see a round cyst with 1-4 nuclei and 10-15 micrometers long. What is it likely to be?

Answer 14

Entamoeba histolytica/ dispar

Question 15

In a faecal sample, you see a flask-shaped yellowish egg measuring 25-30 micrometers with an operculum. What is it?

Answer 15

Opisthorchis spp.

Question 16

In a faecal sample you see a round, brown egg with thick, striated membrane and 3 pairs of hooklets. What egg is it and what’s its size range?

Answer 16

Taenia spp.

35-45 micrometers

Question 17

In a faecal sample you see a round, translucent egg with 3 pairs of hooklets. What is it and what’s its size range?

Answer 17

Hymenolepis nana.

35-40 micrometers

Question 18

In a faecal sample you see a barrel shaped egg with translucent bipolar plugs. What is it and what is its size range?

Answer 18

Trichuris trichiura

50-55 micrometers

Question 19

In a faecal sample you see an oval, translucent egg with a thin wall and dividing cells within the egg. What is it and what size range is it?

Answer 19

Hookworm

60-70 micrometers.

Question 20

In a faecal sample you see an oval egg with a brown, bumpy outer coat. What is it and what is its size range?

Answer 20

Fertile Ascaris lumbricoides

55-65 micrometers

Question 21

In a faecal sample you see a brown, triangular shaped egg. What is it and what size range is it?

Answer 21

Infertile Ascaris lumbricoides

85-90 micrometers

Question 22

In a faecal sample you see an oval, pale yellow egg with an operculum measuring 65-70 micrometers. What is it?

Answer 22

Diphyllobothrium latum

Question 23

In a faecal sample you see an oval, brownish egg with an operculum measuring 70-110 micrometers. What is it?

Answer 23

Paragonimus spp.

Question 24

In a faecal sample you see an oval, yellow/brown egg with an operculum measuring 120-140 micrometers. What is it?

Answer 24

Fasciola/fasciolopsis

Question 25

In a faecal sample you see a round translucent egg with very small apical spin. What is it and what is its size range?

Answer 25

Schistosoma japonicum

80-90 micrometers

Question 26

In a faecal sample you see a large, translucent oval egg with terminal spine. What is this it and what is its size range?

Answer 26

Schistosoma haematobium

110-170 micrometers

Question 27

In a faecal sample you see a large, translucent, oval egg with a lateral spine. What is it and what is its size range?

Answer 27

Schistosoma mansoni

110-170 micrometers