Case #346 – April, 2013
A 21-year-old exchange student from Nepal sought medical attention for intermittent diarrhea associated with mild abdominal cramps. A stool specimen was collected for laboratory testing in low viscosity polyvinyl alcohol (LV-PVA). A smear was made from the preserved stool and stained with trichrome. Figures A–D show what was observed in moderate numbers at 1000x magnification with oil; Figures A and B show the same object in different focal planes. The size of the objects ranged from 15-20 micrometers in diameter. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?
Figure A
Figure B
Figure C
Figure D
Images presented in the DPDx case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving. On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.