Harriet the Hitch-hiker

So the laboratory proficiency mycology specimens arrive in the lab and I eagerly have a first look at the direct, teased out, samples.  One specimen is labeled as having been taken from the scalp so I suspect the sample may possibly contain a dermatophyte.  Carefully scanning at low power, I search for any tell-tale clues which may provide a ‘head-start’ (no pun intended). Then, I see something unexpected.  Hey! What’s this?  What are you doing here?  Where did you come from?  That specimen from the scalp has brought along a hitch-hiker.  So who are you anyways?  Follicle Fred? Afro Al? Blow-Dried Billy-Bob?  Hmmm, Hairy Harrison? (Hairy Harry to be less formal).....but wait….what do we have here?  Eggs!  That’s not Harry the hitch-hiker….it’s Harrietthe hitch-hiker!           

I suppose it was an unintended addition, but our mould sample from the scalp, also contained a tick(?) of some sort.  The specimen donor has more problems than just a possible dermatophyte!             

‘Googling’ ticks brought up the ‘mug shots’ of a number of possible suspects, however, I’ll leave it up to some entomologist out there to positively identify my freeloader and replace the alias with a proper name.

Below are Hitch-hiking Harriet’s mug shots to add to the unsavory lot of ticks, lice and louses imprisoned in cyberspace.  Sorry, she wouldn’t turn for me to get a profile photo.  No smile either!  One tough character!

Lactophenol Cotton Blue is the background stain as I was looking for moulds in this preparation.

Harriet, my unknown scalp tick which hitch-hiked along on a scalp mycology specimen.

(Didn't keep detailed notes on this one.  X100, I believe -Nikon)

Harriet again.  Female for sure -check out the 5 oval eggs in her abdomen

(?250X, Nikon)

Same 'Harriet' but image reversed due to the difference in the optics between the Nikon and the DMD-108 Digital Micro-imaging Device.

(100X, DMD-108)

And the last mug-shot at a higher magnification.

(?100+10X, DMD-108)

 Links below redirect to the identical post within this blog.

While I like using both photographic devices (Nikon Coolpix microscope mounted camera) and the Leica DMD-108 Digital Micro-imaging Device, I feel that each platform has an advantage in different situations.  I like to try both methods and then chose which gave the best representation of the subject I was attempting to document.  Often it is in the eye of the viewer.