Coprology

Question 1

Define coprology

Answer 1

study of faeces

Question 2

Define diarrhoea

Answer 2

excessive and frequent evacuation of watery faeces

Question 3

Define constipation

Answer 3

difficult, incomplete or infrequent bowel movements

Question 4

Define steatorrhoea

Answer 4

excessive fat in faeces

Question 5

Define melena

Answer 5

dark stool containing blood from upper GI tract

Question 6

Define colitis

Answer 6

inflammation of the colon

Question 7

Define haemtochezia

Answer 7

stool containing red blood (from lower GI tract)

Question 8

Define faecal occult blood

Answer 8

hidden blood in the stool sample

Question 9

Define meconium

Answer 9

first faeces from a neonate;

dark, tar-like and can be green in appearance

Question 10

Name reasons for a faecal exam

Answer 10

diarrhoea

suspected endo-parasite infestation

suspected digestion impairment or metabolic disorder

melena (black faeces) / haematochezia (red blood in faeces)

suspected bacterial infection

abdominal pain

constipation

Question 11

Describe patient preparation for faecal sampling

Answer 11

Dogs should be walked on a lead or in confined area

Cats should be kept indoors until sample achieved

Question 12

Describe patient preparation for a faecal endoparasite exam

Answer 12

Obtain sample prior to administration of endo-parasiticides

Question 13

Name faecal sample collection methods (directly from ground/cat litter)

Answer 13

Directly from the ground / cat litter

collect immediately

disinfected area in advance to prevent contamination

if not disinfected collect top portion of sample only

any delay in sample collection may result in parasite eggs hatching and crawl away

cat litter, grass, soil or bacteria may contaminate the sample

use of sterile katkor is advised for cat sampling

Question 14

Name faecal sample collection methods (directly from the rectum)

Answer 14

fresh, uncontaminated sample obtained

can be carried out on a conscious patient

use appropriate restraint to protect personnel from injury

faeces may be collected using a gloved finger inserted through the anal sphincter into the rectum and scooped back out

only a portion of faeces sampled

take care not to damage rectal mucosa

transfer sample into appropriate receptacle

Question 15

Describe storage and preservation of faecal samples

Answer 15

containers should be sterile and airtight

sufficient faeces (2-5g) to fill the container

too much air space encourages parasite eggs to hatch prior to examination

Exam within 2 hrs of collection

OR

Store at a maximum of 4 ºC to prevent further development of parasitic stages

store in the fridge for a max of 7 days

bacteria examination should be carried out immediately to prevent overgrowth of non-fastidious bacteria

if exam delayed, dilution with equal parts of 10% formalin, stops endoparasite development. (Bacteria exam impossible as destroyed)

Question 16

Name causes of sample deterioration or inaccurate results

Answer 16

Operator error

Incorrect sample collection technique

Delay between evacuation and examination

Incorrect test methods or materials used

Contamination of sampling (on collection, in storage or in the lab)

Inappropriate patient preparation

Incorrect handling, storage or sample preservation

Inappropriate package/storage for transport to external lab

Question 17

What might faecal colour indicate?

Answer 17

May be affected by diet, malabsorption or parasitic infestation

Question 18

What might faecal consistency indicate?

Answer 18

Diarrhoea, constipation

Question 19

What might faecal odour indicate?

Answer 19

May be affected by diet, malabsorption or parasitic infestation

Question 20

What might the presence of mucus in faeces indicate?

Answer 20

may indicate a digestive tract disorder, parasitic infestation

Question 21

What might the presence of parasites in faeces indicate?

Answer 21

Intact segmented worms, ascarids (spaghetti strands), tapeworm segments ( grains of rice)

Question 22

What might the presence of foreign objects in faeces indicate?

Answer 22

Grass, string, bone fragments, undigested food stuffs, hair

Question 23

What might dark brown/black blood in faeces indicate?

Answer 23

Large quantity of red meat in diet

Upper GI haemorrhage e.g. stomach or small intestine

Question 24

What might pink faeces indicate?

Answer 24

Hepatic dysfunction i.e. biliary obstruction

Question 25

What might red faeces indicate?

Answer 25

Lower GI haemorrhage

Enteritis or parasitosis

Question 26

What might white faeces indicate?

Answer 26

High fat diet

Bones fed within diet

Metabolic deficiency e.g. EPI

Question 27

What might blue/green faeces indicate?

Answer 27

Suspect metaldehyde poisoning

Question 28

What might yellow faeces indicate?

Answer 28

Increased bile pigment may indicate liver disorder

Question 29

What might mucous in the faeces indicate?

Answer 29

? lower GI tract disorder e.g. IBD, digestive disorder or parasitosis

Question 30

Describe a direct smear

Answer 30

This is a ‘crude’ analysis technique that may give an indication of segmented worms, however, the sample size is generally too small to provide validity to findings

Question 31

What does iodine stain detect?

Answer 31

Detects presence of starch and muscle fibres in faeces

Question 32

What does a trypsin digest test detect?

Answer 32

Detects presence of faecal trypsin

Question 33

What does a sudan III stain detect?

Answer 33

Detects presence of fat in faeces

Question 34

Describe the Trysin-like immunoreactivity test (TLI)

Answer 34

Trypsinogen - secreted by pancreas

= Trypsin, an enzyme that is involved in the digestion of proteins

Healthy animals have a small amount of trypsinogen in the blood circulation.

Blood sample can detect - trypsin-like immunoreactivity.

Used for the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)

Question 35

What is the use of a faecal egg count (FEC)?

Answer 35

Using modified McMasters method (gridded slide), allows visualisation and identification of worm eggs

Question 36

What is the use of a faecal flotation?

Answer 36

For identification of worm eggs

Question 37

What is the use of the baermann technique?

Answer 37

For detection of faecal larvae

Question 38

Describe Faecal occult blood testing (FOBT)

Answer 38

This test detects bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract.

a test kit is used to identify the presence of haemoglobin in the sample

often use ELISA technology

false positives can be common due to haemoglobin in meat based diets

kits are often not sensitive to a low level intestinal haemorrhage

Question 39

Describe a faecal flotation

Answer 39

commonly used in large and small animal faecal analysis

allows assessment of parasitic ova using faecal floatation

modified McMasters slide commonly used to aid counting of ova

floatation of the ova relies on the specific gravity of the ova being less than that of the flotation solution

Question 40

Describe a faecalyser test

Answer 40

this is an ‘in house’ commercial product for faecal floatation

the faecal sample collected directly into the pot – as seen in the image above

the faecal pot contains a filter (green) to separate the liquid and solid portions of the sample

a saturated salt or sugar solution is added to the sample within the pot

the sample is then collected from the top of the liquid portions with a cover slip and examined

Question 41

What are the two types of McMaster slides?

Answer 41

single chamber with one chamber and grided cover slip

two chambers with a grid etched on the upper surface

Question 42

How do you calculate the results from mcmaster slides?

Answer 42

Single counting chamber

Number of eggs counted x 50

Double counting chamber

(Number of eggs counted in first chamber + second) x 50

This calculation gives the number of eggs per gram of faeces providing a quantitative method of evaluating the severity of worm burden therefore indicating the severity of the worm infestation

Question 43

What are potential issues with faecal egg count?

Answer 43

Relies on user accuracy, human counting of eggs

Identifying faeces from an individual in a heard situation?

Only provides a snapshot of egg burden

Immature parasites do not lay eggs but individual could still have a high burden of worms

Contamination of sample (on collection, in storage or in the lab)

Small proportion of total faeces is tested

Incorrect handling, storage or sample preservation might mean that eggs have hatched

Does not accurately establish tapeworm burden or encysted stages of worms

Question 44

Describe the baermann technique

Answer 44

this technique is used to separate parasite larvae from a faecal sample via sedimentation, using Baermann apparatus.

it is commonly use for detection of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (in cats) and Strongyloides stercoralis (in dogs) - lungworm

snap test also now available for detection of lung worm in dogs

Question 45

Describe the snap test

Answer 45

Canine Parvo virus Antigen Test –detects parvo antigens

Canine giardia profile – Detects faecal ova and parasites hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and giardia antigens

These tests detect surface protein antigen shed in faeces of infected dogs.

Question 46

Describe the standard operating procedures for a snap test

Answer 46

Results must be read within 8 minutes of the snap being activated to avoid inaccurate results – Use a timer the reduce the risk of error

Samples and test kits must be warmed to room temp prior to testing (approx 30mins)

Test performed on canine faecal matter only

Test kits must be stored between 2-25̊C

Kits are one use, therefore, Use separate swab and SNAP device for each patient sample

Do not use kits past expiration date

Do not mix components/conjugates from different kits (with different lot numbers)

Ensure the kit is placed on a horizontal / flat and secure surface when in use

Do not use a SNAP device that has already been activated.

Question 47

When can faeces be disposed of in non-hazardous offensive waste?

Answer 47

The sample has come from an animal that does not have a disease caused by a micro-organism

There is no risk of potential cross infection