Diphyllobothrium latum (broad fish tapeworm) - Egg (60-70 µm x 40 µm)

France, Gari-Toussaint Martine

Genus Diphyllobothrium comprises several species that may infect Man. Egg of D. latum (broad fish tapeworm) is brownish, elliptic, operculate and not embryonated. It looks like that of F. hepatica, but is more bulbous, and 2-fold smaller in size. Operculum, otherwise hard to see, is very apparent on this pic. A fish tapeworm lays about 1,000 eggs a day.