Identify the egg from the image below.& x20; - INI-CET EXAM -2025

INI-CET EXAM -2025

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Medium

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2025

Explanation

The image shows a fertilized egg of Ascaris lumbricoides, the giant human roundworm.
The key identifying feature is the thick, golden-brown shell with a bumpy, mamillated (corticated) outer surface, which is clearly visible.
Inside the shell, a single, unsegmented ovum is present.
These features are classic for a fertilized Ascaris egg and distinguish it from other common intestinal parasites.

Option A: The egg of Taenia solium is smaller, spherical, and has a thick, brown, radially striated embryophore. It does not have the bumpy, mamillated outer coat seen in the image.
Option C: The egg of Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm) is oval but is characterized by a thin shell and the presence of polar filaments originating from the inner membrane, which are absent in the image.
Option D: The egg of Necator americanus (hookworm) has a very thin, smooth, transparent shell. It is typically seen in the cleavage stage, containing 2 to 8 distinct cells (blastomeres), not a single ovum like the one pictured.

Visual 1: Comparison Chart - An infographic showing the eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides, T. solium, H. nana, and N. americanus side-by-side, with key morphological features labeled for easy comparison.
Visual 2: Diagram - A labeled diagram of a fertilized Ascaris lumbricoides egg, pointing out the outer mamillated layer, the thick shell, and the inner ovum.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of parasite eggs based on microscopic morphology as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Ascariasis, the infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, is one of the most common human helminthic infections worldwide, particularly in areas with poor sanitation.
Diagnosis is confirmed by identifying the characteristic fertilized or unfertilized eggs in a stool sample (Ova and Parasite exam).
Nursing care involves administering prescribed antihelminthic medications (like albendazole or mebendazole) and educating the patient and community on proper hygiene, sanitation, and food safety to prevent reinfection and transmission.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the image provided to identify the key morphological features of the parasite egg.
Observe the egg's shape (round, oval), size (relative), and shell characteristics (thick/thin, smooth/bumpy/striated).
Note the contents of the egg (single cell, multiple cells, larva).
Compare these observed features to the known characteristics of the eggs of the parasites listed in the options.
The egg in the image is oval with a distinctively bumpy (mamillated) outer coat. This feature is unique to Ascaris lumbricoides among the choices.
Eliminate the other options based on their differing egg morphologies: T. solium (radially striated), H. nana (polar filaments), and N. americanus (thin-shelled, segmented).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of parasite eggs based on microscopic morphology.
Stem keywords: egg, image, identify
Lead-in keywords: Identify

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