ABSTRACT
Helminths are cosmopolitan and play a significant role in the morbidity and mortality of people in many parts of the world, especially among the poorer classes in third world countries. Most prevalent are the intestinal helminths and infection with these helminths is most often diagnosed by finding and identifying eggs and/or juvenile nematodes when examining fecal specimens. When there are many eggs in the specimen, an identification usually can be made; however, in patients infected with several species of trematodes producing small eggs, which is not uncommon, identification of the eggs becomes more complicated. Because of the difficulty in differentiating between the small trematode eggs, more attention is given to them in the drawings and photomicrographs. The eggs of nematodes vary greatly in size and shape and, with the exception of hookworms, most have characteristics that make the different species readily recognizable. Juvenile worms of other species of nematodes may be present in fecal specimens.
