Filarial Worms

Microfilaria
Wuchereria
bancrofti
- No terminal nuclei
- Unstained sheath
- Smooth curve
- Regularly spaced body
nuclei
- Nocturnal periodicity

Microfilaria
Brugia malayi
- Two terminal nuclei
- Pink sheath
- Kinky
- Irregular/overlapping
body nuclei
- Nocturnal periodicity

Microfilaria
Loa loa
- Continuous terminal
nuclei
- Diurnal periodicity
(mid-day)
- Subconjunctiva (adults)
- Calabar swellings
 Microfilaria
Onchocerca
volvulus
- No sheath
- Suncutaneous tissue
(not blood)

Dracunculus
medinensis
- No serologic test

Nematodes I
Ova/Egg Adult
Ascaris Unfertilized

lumbricoides
- Corticated
(mammillated,
albuminous coating)
- Unfertilized: Oblong
- Fertilized: Round
- Trilobate lips with Fertilized
sensory papillae
 Embryonated

Egg Adults
Trichuris
trichiura
- Whipworm
- Barrel/football/lemon-
shaped egg
- Rectal mucosa
(proctoscopy)
- Hyaline polar plugs or
mucoid bipolar plugs
- Coiled posterior (male)

Egg Adult
Enterobius
vermicularis
- Pinworm, seatworm
- D-shaped egg
- Esophageal bulb/
“bulbus” (adult)
- Cephalic alae (adult)
 Nematodes II
(Encysted) Larva
Trichinella
spiralis
- Antibody test (EIA),
muscle biopsy,
Bachman Intradermal
Test
- Coiling up in muscle
- Nurse Cells
Eggs Adult
Capillaria
philippinensis
- Stool or intestinal
biopsies
- Peanut-shaped egg
- Flattened bipolar plugs
 Egg/Ova Adult
Hookworms
- Necator americanus
- semilunar cutting
plates
- Ancylostoma
braziliense
- 1 pair
- Ancylostoma
duodenale
- 2 pairs
- Ancylostoma caninum
- 3 pairs
- Germ cell Larva
fragmentation (egg)

Larva Adult
Strongyloides
stercoralis
- Antibody Detection
- Molecular Detection
- Harada-Mori Filter
Paper Strip Culture
- Koga-Agar Plate
Technique
- Baermann Funnel
Gauze Method
 - Row of eggs (adult)
- Genital primordium
(larva)
Larva Adult
Angiostrongylus
cantonensis
- CSF/Brain tissue
- “Barber’s pole”
(female)
- Kidney-shaped bursa
(male)

Larval Worm Adult

Anisakis
species
- Intestinal cecum (red
arrow)
- Lactophenol
- Tissue removed at
biopsy or during
surgery

Toxocara
 Egg Adult/Worm
species
- Antibody Detection
- Three lips

Dirofilaria
immitis
- Heartworm in animals
- Coin lesions on chest
X-rays
- Subcutaneous nodules
- Cuticle, musculature,
lateral chords
Trematodes
Egg Adult Fluke
Fasciola
hepatica
- Sheep Liver Fluke
- Fasciolopsis buski
- ERCP
- Undeveloped
miracidium
- Distinct Operculum
- Prominent Cephalic
Cone (adult)
 - Highly branched testis
and dendritic ovary
(adult)

Fasciola
gigantica
- Giant Liver Fluke
Clonorchis sinensis/ Egg Adult Fluke

Opisthorchis species
- Distinct convex
operculum thickened
rim of the eggshell
- Small protuberance at
the abopercular end
(small knob)
- Pitcher/old-fashioned
light bulb-like
Egg Adult
Fasciola
lanceolate
(Dicrocoelium dendriticum)
- Lancet Fluke
 Egg Adult
Fasciolopsis
buski
- Large Intestinal Fluke
- Hen’s egg shape (ova)
- Resembles F. hepatica
- No shoulder (Adult)
Egg Adult
Echinostoma
ilocanun

Egg Adult
Heterophyes
heterophyes
- eggs are
indistinguishable from
those of Metagonimus
yokogawai and
resemble those of
Clonorchis and
Opisthorchis
Egg Adult
Paragonimus
westermani
 - Coffee bean shaped
(fluke)
- Single-spaced spines
- Flattened operculum
(egg)
- Thick abopercular
portion (egg)

Egg Adult
Schistosoma
species
 Cestodes
Egg Adult
Diphyllobothrium
latum
- Paragonimus
westermani
- Spoon-shaped with
two bothria
- Rosette-shaped ovaries
- Scolex

Egg Adult
Taenia saginata/ T. saginata
Taenia solium
- Saginata: no rostellum;
no hooklets
- Solium: with rostellum;
with hooklets

T. solium
Cysticercosis
 Egg Adult
Dipylidium
caninum
- Egg packets are heavy
and may fail to float
 Hydatid Cyst Adult
Echinococcus
granulosus
- Hydatid cyst
 Egg Adult
Hymenolepis
diminuta/
Hymenolepis
nana

H. diminuta

H. nana
 Egg Adult
Raillientina
species
- Spindle-shaped ova
- “Rice grain
appearance” with 200-
400 egg capsule – each
has 1-4 spindle shaped
eggs