Monthy Case Studies - 2012
Case #336 - November, 2012
The DPDx Team received a worm-like object collected from a child's diaper for diagnostic assistance. Grossly, the object was white, semi-flattened, and measured approximately 4.0 mm long by 2.0 mm wide. With no discernible external features, the object was teased open and its internal contents examined microscopically. Figures A and B show what was observed from the tease preparation of the object. Individual round objects measured on average 37.0 µm in diameter. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?
Answer to Case #336
This was a case of dipylidiasis caused by the dog tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum. Diagnostic morphologic features included:
- eggs within the size range for D. caninum (35.0-40.0 µm in diameter).
- eggs containing refractile hooklets.
- eggs arranged in packets (best seen in Figure B).
More on: Dipylidium caninum
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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.