Parasitology Lab Practical #1

Trichuris vulpis

Roundworm (Whipworm) eggs

Humans and primates

Trichuris Trichuria adult

Adult Whipworm

Humans and primates

Acanthocephala ova

Thorny headed worm eggs

Fish, aquatic birds, certain mammals

Adult Acanthocephala

Adult thorny headed worm

Fish, aquatic birds, certain mammals

Toxascaris Leonina ova

A type of roundworm egg that can be found in dogs and cats NOT ZOONOTIC

Toxocara ova

Type of roundworm parasite egg most commonly found in dogs and cats can be zoonotic

Toxocara adult

Round worm adult

Dogs, cats, humans

Strongyloides Larva (wet mount)

A type of roundworm larva that can infect cats, horses, rats, etc.

Ascaris ova

A type of roundworm egg that can be spread through feces, contaminated food, soil, water, etc.

Trichinella (muscle tissue)

A type of roundworm that can be zoonotic through the consumption of raw meat.

Pigs, horses, etc.

Baylisascaris Procyonis ova

Type of raccoon roundworm eggs

Haemonchus contortus ova/barber’s pole

Blood-feeding parasite eggs

Primary hosts are sheep and goats

Haemonchus contortus worm/barber’s pole

Blood-feeding parasite adult

Primary hosts are sheep and goats

Ancylostoma ova

A type of hookworm egg that is zoonotic

Anclyostoma caninum Adult

An adult hookworm that mainly effects dogs can be zoonotic

Ocular lenses

Allows focus to your eyes allowing you to see (10x) for parasites

Arm and base

The arm is what connects the head to the base, providing structural support and a handle for carrying the instrument. The bass supports the entire microscope

Turrent/nosepiece

Allows you to adjust the lenses

Scanning, low power, high power, oil immersion

Lenses that allow you to see the specimen. Usually low power for parasites (10x; 100x magnification)

Mechanical stage

What the specimen lies on while on the microscope

Stage clips

Used to securely hold the specimen in place on the stage

Condenser/Condenser adjustment knob

Condenses light from the power source of the microscope; the knob helps you change the contrast of the light

Aperture diaphragm ( iris diaphragm )

Used for controlling the amount of light and angle of light passing through the specimen

Aperture diaphragm lever

Used for adjusting the aperture size to control things such as the amount of light and depth of field

Coarse/Fine focus knobs

Controls the height of stage; fine helps with focus

Centrifuge fecal rpm

5 minutes (1300-1500 rpm)

Centrifuge blood rpm

10 minutes (2,500-3,000 rpm)

Specific gravity definition

Measures the density of a substance compared to the density of water

Sodium nitrate measurement

1.2ml

Zinc nitrate measurement

1.18ml

Sheather’s/Sugar measurement

1.27ml

Steps to simple flotation

• Gram of feces + ¼ of solution into a cup

• Stir and strain into second cup

• Pour solution into labeled conical tube with meniscus

• Put cover slip on and wait 20mins

• Put on slide; ready to view

Centrifuge flotation steps

• Fill labeled conical tube with stained feces solution to the 14ml line

• Spin in centrifuge fecal setting

• Create a meniscus and put a cover slip on for 10mins

• Slide is now ready for viewing

Direct Heartworm steps

• Clean slide, invert tube

• Collect blood sample and put drop on slide

• Put cover slip on slide and scan at 10x

Modified Knotts steps

Label conical tube put 1ml of blood and 9ml of formalin in it

Gently invert the tube and put it into the centrifuge at blood setting 10mins

Pour out excess fluid and and a drop of methylene

Tap and get sediment at the bottom to put on cover slip

Scan 10x

Plasma

• A serum that contains platelets and blood clotting factors

• With EDTA lavender top

Serum

• The fluid portion of blood

• Red/Tiger tops are serum separator tubes

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)

• Pathogenic 

• Many in the blood 

• Stationary

• Straight body tail, tapered 

• 307-322 um 

Ancanthocheilonema reconditum

• Non-pathogenic 

• Few in blood

• Progressive 

• Curved body, blunt head, button hook tail 

• 250-288 um