PARASITES

Parasites live in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract

1. cyst eggs

2. larvae

Parasites live in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms

1. diarrhea

2. vomiting

produce eggs or larvae that are coughed up and swallowed and passed in the feces

Parasites live in the respiratory system:

Test is used to identify motile protozoal organisms such as Giardia sp. and Trichomonads.

direct smear

Most commonly used technique in veterinary practice for the examination of feces identification of parasite ova

fecal floatation

types of fecal floatation

1. passive fecal floatation

2. centrifuge fecal floatation

Counts parasite eggs in a measured fecal sample using a flotation solution and a specialized counting chamber.

McMaster’s quantitative test

Uses centrifugation and flotation to concentrate eggs, allowing detection of even low egg counts

wisconsin quantitaive test

Uses water and gravity to separate and collect live larvae that move out of fecal material

BAERMANN’S TECHNIQUE

Uses centrifugation or gravity to separate heavier parasite eggs (like fluke eggs) that do not float in standard flotation solutions

FECAL SEDIMENTATION

transmitted by mosquito bite. Adult worms in the dog produce microfilaria. The microfilaria circulates in the blood.

Dirofilaria immitisis

Concentrates microfilariae from a blood sample by lysis of red blood cells and centrifugation, allowing easier detection and identification under the microscope

MODIFIED KNOTT’S TEST

sticky adhesive allows for better sampling and capturing of the parasites and eggs from the patient.

CLEAR ACETATE TAPE

This technique is best used for capturing large superficial ectoparasites.

CLEAR ACETATE TAPE

Pressed directly on the lesion; not very effective for collecting fast-moving skin parasites but useful for cytology

Pressed directly on the lesion; not very effective for collecting fast-moving skin parasites but useful for cytology

can be useful when identifying mites located superficially on the surface of the skin

cytology

Identification of lice and burrowing mites.

skin scraping

can be performed in a superficial or deep manner depending on the parasite of interest

skin scraping

examine for evidence of parasites or eggs attached to hair shafts or for the presence of adult parasites deep in the hair follicle epithelium

trichogram

flea comb or fine-toothed comb to collect skin, scale, parasites, eggs, and excrement can be useful to identify large ectoparasites.

COMBING AND WET PAPER TOWEL TEST

rarely needed for ectoparasite identification but may be used for severe inflammatory lesions

biopsy

A punch or excisional biopsy is placed in 10% formalin

histopathology