Species determination of eggs of opisthorchiid and heterophyid flukes using scanning electron microscopy.

Abstract

Eggs of opisthorchiid flukes have very characteristic muskmelon-like surface structure of their shells and can be differentiated using this mark from eggs of heterophyid flukes. Surface structure and morphological details in operculum and abopercular end can be observed using scanning electron microscopy. Eggs recorded very often in stool of Laotians belong mostly to Opisthorchis viverrini and sporadically to Metagonimus yokogawai.