Are there any microbiologists in the house?

[cometcatcher]

Can anyone recognise this cell please? It's a sphere with flagella all over it and it swirls. This is 400x magnification with phase contrast through an Omax biological microscope. The sample was taken from nasal mucus put under a slide. Mine unfortunately!

The last few weeks I've been feeling crook, light headed, headache, nausea, dizzy, runny nose. Now I've done nasal mucus slides before but not seen this critter, at least not in mucus although I vaguely remember seeing something like it in pond water.

I've been to the doctor. He just gave me stemetil and it doesn't work. I need something to point him in the right direction, to do the right lab tests at least.

Help! I find it very difficult to do astronomy, or even walk like this!

Youtube video here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-dfUaN3cQ4

[Nikolas]

Ciliated epithelial cells a by product of nasal discharge.

[Nikolas]

Either that or you have amoebic encephalitis

[cometcatcher]

Many thanks Nik. So they are the good guys! I just don't recall seeing them before.

Edit, then I saw your next post... Uh oh.

[Nikolas]

Best to see a doctor though as it sounds like a very heavy sinus infection.

[BPO]

Isn't the Internet grand?

We've reached a point where we can share realtime video of the creepy things in our snot.

:lol:

[cometcatcher]

One day we won't even go to doctors. We'll be diagnosed by doctor internet. It's all part of being assimilated into what will become "The Borg". :scared:

[Astro_Bot]

The guy/gal who first invents the "home medical tri-corder" is going to be feeeeelthy reeeech. :)

[Baddad]

Your symptoms are often a result of viral infection. just try to treat the pain.
Not much more can be done. However antibiotics will help prevent secondary infection from bacteria as the system fights off one intruder it somehow becomes more prone to secondary "parasites"

Cheers:)

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Marty. It does seem viral. I do semi-permanent wet mount slide cultures so will see if any bacterial colonies pop up. A pity viruses are out of range of visible light microscopes.

[blindman]

it looks like parasitic infection, have you been swimming in a river or got in contact with water from swamp? See the specialist immediately to determine what this is and got you treated, do not wait. Good luck!

[cometcatcher]

I think that ciliated epithelial cell is one of the good guys, but on further examination of the slide I found something else in my mucus that's definitely not good!

Your honor may I present exhibit B. It's tiny, just visible to the eye with reading glasses, it has 8 legs and is either pooping or laying eggs. That's right, I have spiders running around in my sinuses! (Dust mites)

This explains a lot because this latest bout of illness all started when doing some pretty heavy dusty spring cleaning. But wait, there's more...

I present exhibit C, fungi. Mould was everywhere when cleaning and I really felt my nose burning.

On the good side I still don't see any bacteria colonies after 24 hour culture.

Stay tuned to see what else is in cometchatcher's snot lol. :screwy:

[cometcatcher]

Here's a video of the dust mite in darkfield, phase contrast and brightfield. I think plain old brightfield shows it best. It's organelles can be seen moving. Best viewed in HD. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee7IzOw_8h8

[Kevnool]

I find it amazing that on this site everyone knows everything.
Throw a question like this and yep it will be answered.

Cheers

[BPO]

Well, I'm guessing he's pregnant.

[Barrykgerdes]

I don't want to worry you but think you should get your house in order and make your will. :shrug::thumbsup::screwy:

Barry

[cometcatcher]

Lol it's probably best for most people to NOT be aware of what's running around inside of them. :eyepop: But I'm curious and the microscope like the telescope opens up a whole new strange world.

The dust mite is continuing to poop out balls of stuff. And at 800x I can just see many little "things" running around on it's body.

[Wavytone]

Great, you've discovered a Kevin's Lurgi !:eyepop:

[Octane]

Stunning images. :O

Hope you get better soon.

H

[nebulosity.]

These are amazing shots Kevin, what scope and camera are you using? :)

Jo

[cometcatcher]

Jo, it's an Omax trinocular biological microscope with phase contrast kit. Camera is one of the ones I use for astro - my Pentax K-x DSLR.

I actually showed the doctor the video, but he said his microbiology was not all that good. He also said it's not unusual to have dust mites in one's nose so all of the above may be within the bounds of "normal". Never the less he suspects a sinus infection so I have some antibiotics for that.

I feel okay one minute and crook the next still but he said give them a week to work so we'll see how it goes. There's a full moon and it's been raining anyway so no deep sky for a while anyhow.