Plant root hair in tap water: a potential cause for diagnostic confusion.

Sadia Shakoor, Aga Khan University
Mohammad Wasay, Aga Khan University
Afia Zafar, Aga Khan University
Mohammad Asim Beg, Aga Khan University

Abstract

Plant root hairs are commonly found artifacts in parasitology specimens and may be confused with helminthes by an untrained eye. We report a case of brain tuberculoma where the tissue sample was contaminated with root hair derived from tap water, the presence of this root hair, which mimicked a larva, led to diagnostic confusion. Therefore, tap water should be considered a source of root hair and vegetable matter.