The object is a pollen grain that may be mistaken for a Taenia egg; this case would be reported as no parasites found, artifact.

Diagnostic features are:

• The object is too small to be a Taenia spp. egg; Taenia ranges from 31 to 43 micrometers.

• The shape of the object is not as round as Taenia spp. eggs typically appear. Taenia eggs are not always spherical; however the size would still rule it out.

• The "shell" of the granule appears thick and striated, similar to a Taenia spp. egg, however there are no hooks visible inside the object. Taenia spp. eggs have an embryonated oncosphere with six hooks inside each shell.