This faecal specimen was brought to your laboratory by a general practitioner after making several "housecalls". The specimen was not chilled or formalinised and the doctor estimated that there was an approximately 10 hour wait between when the specimen was passed and when you received it. The patient is an elderly woman who frequently makes the trip to far north Queensland to visit her family. The doctor reports that she suffers from intermittent diarrhoea.


1) What two parasites might this specimen represent ?

Specimen not well preserved - rhabditiform larva of either Strongyloides stercoralis or some species of hookworm from eggs hatched (faecal specimen not refrigerated)

2) Suggest means by which you might be able to ascertain the true identity of the parasite.

If better preserved specimens are present, look for morphology of buccal capsule (longer in hookworm larvae), possibly serology.