Microbiology, parasitology & COVID-19
Parasites-gastrointestinal (not liver)
Hymenolepis diminuta
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 20 September 2019
Last staff update: 5 October 2020
Copyright: 2019-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Hymenolepis diminuta[TI] pathology
Cite this page: Pernick N. Hymenolepis diminuta. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/parasitologyhdiminuta.html. Accessed June 1st, 2023.
Case reports
- 3 year old child with diarrhea (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Case of the Week 559 [Accessed 20 September 2019])
Cytology description
- Characteristic features of H. diminuta eggs (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Answer to Case 559 [Accessed 20 September 2019]):
- Large size (80 microns)
- Lack of polar filaments between the striated outer membrane and the smooth inner membrane
- Internal 6 hooked oncosphere
Cytology images
Contributed by Bobbi Pritt, M.D. and Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
H. diminuta egg
H. nana and H. diminuta eggs
Differential diagnosis
- Hymenolepis nana: eggs are very similar to H. diminuta but H. nana eggs are smaller and have polar filaments that originate from the inner membrane and extend out into the space between membranes (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Answer to Case 559 [Accessed 20 September 2019])
