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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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