A child in Uttar Pradesh presents with iron deficiency anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and chronic diarrhoea. Stool examination reveals eggs with a clear space between the embryo and the shell measuring about 60 × 40 µm with a thin transparent shell. Which organism is responsible?
- A Ascaris lumbricoides
- B Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) ✓
- C Trichuris trichiura
- D Strongyloides stercoralis
Explanation
Hookworm eggs are oval, 60–70 × 35–40 µm with a thin, transparent shell and a clear space (cleavage space) between the embryo and shell wall, typically showing 4–8 blastomeres when fresh. The clinical picture of iron deficiency anaemia from chronic blood loss (each A. duodenale worm ingests ~0.2 mL blood/day), hypoalbuminaemia and diarrhoea is classic for hookworm disease. Ascaris eggs are larger (unfertilised/fertilised variants) with a mammillated albuminous coat. Trichuris eggs have bipolar plugs. Strongyloides stercoralis eggs are rarely found in stool (rhabditiform larvae are shed instead).
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.