[Last Modified: 02/10/2011 20:00:46]

[Hymenolepis diminuta] [Hymenolepis nana]

Eggs of Hymenolepis nana. These eggs are oval and smaller than those of H. diminuta, with a size range of 30 to 50 m. On the inner membrane are two poles, from which 4-8 polar filaments spread out between the two membranes. The oncosphere has six hooks.

A, B: Eggs of H. nana in an unstained wet mount. Note the presence of hooks in the oncosphere and polar filaments within the space between the oncosphere and outer shell.

C: Egg of H. nana in an unstained wet mount. D: Egg of H. nana in an unstained formalin ethyl acetate (FEA) wet mount. In this image, four of the hooks in the oncosphere are clearly visible. Image courtesy of the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory.

E, F: Eggs of H. nana in an unstained wet mount. In these two images, the polar filaments in the space between the oncosphere and outer shell are clearly visible.

Hymenolepis belongs to the cestode class. There are two different types: H. nana & H. diminuta Most cestode infections are caused by H. nana.

hymenolepis nana hymenolepis diminuta

(images courtesy of CDC Division of Parasitic Diseases) http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Hymenolepiasis.htm note: The difference between the eggs is used for diagnostic purposes. The H. nana egg has polar filaments that project from either side of the inner membrane, which encompasses the oncosphere. These polar filaments are not found in the H.diminuta egg. Another key difference is found in the adult morphology. The scolex of H. nana has a rostellum equiped with hooks, while the scolex of H.nana does not have these hooks on its comparatively small rostellum. This difference is representative of the different stages and the different types of development that these worms undergo inside of a human (or other difinitive) host.

H. diminuta scolex

H. nana scolex