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Correct Answer

This correct answer is C, Cyclospora cayetanensis.  The images provided for this case show the usefulness of alternative methods for identifying this coccidian parasite.  The diagnostic features included are:

  • Oocyst walls of C. cayetanensis autofluoresce under ultraviolet light if a microscope is equipped with the necessary equipment to allow such viewing.
  • Oocysts of C. cayetanensis appear as nonrefractile spheres that contain undifferentiated cytoplasm that can appear as refractile globules when viewed using differentiated interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.
  • Oocysts are within the size range consistent with C. cayetanensis, 8 to 10 µm.

The modified Kinyoun’s acid-fast stain is the most common method used for the detection of C. cayetanensis; it also provides a permanent record.  However, because C. cayetanensis stains variably, some oocysts may stain dark red or pink, while others may not stain at all.

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