This specimen was recently recovered from the faeces of a four year old male child with a six month history history of abdominal discomfort and sleep disturbances.

1) Identify the parasite (genus and species)

Enterobius vermicularis
(2 marks)
2) What is the infective stage for this parasite ?

Egg
(1 mark)
3) What animal reservoirs have been confirmed to harbour this parasite ?

None
(1 mark)
4) Where would one normally expect to find this stage of the parasite in an infected individual ?

On the perianal skin
(1 mark)

This tissue section is of a nodule removed from the lung of a 65 year old woman who died as a result of complications arising from lung cancer. The subject led an active life and travelled extensively throughout Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

1) Identify the parasite (genus and species)

Paragonimus westermani
(2 marks)
2) What stage of the parasite is presented here ?

Adult
(1 mark)
3) Suggest how she may have contracted the infection

Eating metacercaria in undercooked crustacea
(1 mark)
4) What is the infective stage for this parasite ?

Metacercaria
(1 mark)

This specimen was surgically removed from a 45 year old man after he complained of an inflamed and painful lump on the surface of his ribs. The subject hails from far north Queensland and has the reputation around his town of being a "a bit of a bushie", meaning he lives off the land in the forests. He also hunts wild pigs for food and sport.

1) What is the name given to the infection from which he suffers ?

Spargana, Sparganosis
(1 mark)
2) Name two parasites which may cause this affliction (genus only)

Spirometra sp., Diphyllobothrium sp. (2 marks)
3) Give two means by which he may have contracted the infection

Drinking water containing Cyclops sp. infected by procercoid stage, eating undercooked flesh (eg. pigs) containing plerocercoid stage (spargana)
(2 marks)

This specimen was removed from the scalp of a 5 year old girl, who complained of persistent itching in that area. Her mother reported using a commercial head louse cure once (pyrethrin based) which temporarily eased the symptoms, but has not used the treatment since then as it stung her daughter's scalp.

1) Identify the specimen provided (genus and species)

Pediculis humanus var. capitis (2 marks)
2) Is this a human parasite ?

Yes
(1 mark)
3) Is this specimen likely to have come from an animal source?

No (1 mark)
4) Suggest why the treatment the mother used failed to permanently clear up the infection

Reinfection, treatment may not have killed eggs and new infection is from hatched lice - no secondary treatment
(1 mark)