Diagnostics Flashcards
While eggs and larvae can be associated with the identification of both nematodes and trematodes, which of the following would be associated with cestodes?
A) Proglottids and oncosphere
B) Trophozoites and oocysts
C) Both larvae and eggs can be associated with cestodes as well
D) Larvae, adults, and nymphs
A) Proglottids and oncosphere
Prior to performing any diagnostic tests, what should be done?
Examination of the feces, vomit, sputum, etc.
True or False: Ascarids, pinworms, and cestodes can be observed macroscopically in a fresh sample of feces, if present.
True
While more common, will fecal flotation have an increased or decreased sensitivity?
Increased
Sedimentation is often encouraged when the suspected parasitic eggs are ____.
Heavy
Which of the following does not belong, in regards to fecal flotation complications?
A) Misidentification due to a patient’s coprophagia or debris noted in the feces
B) The variance of different eggs, leading to difficulty in selecting the ideal fecal flotation solution for analysis
C) The detection of parasites during their prepatent period, or those that are intermittently shedding
D) None of the above
D) None of the above
While lighter eggs and oocysts are capable of being seen with fecal flotations, what can be altered in fecal flotations to ensure improved analysis?
- Flotation solutions
- Centrifugation
- Staining
True or False: A qualitative test, like the McMaster fecal egg count test, can be utilized to measure the eggs per gram of feces for selective treatment therapies and efficacies of antihelminthics.
False, quantitative tests are used for measurement and qualitative tests are used for simple identification
Smears can be utilized for the analysis of what samples?
Blood
What can be observed in a blood smear?
Intracellular parasites, as well as protozoa and some microfilaria
What is the gold standard for parasitic identification?
Necropsy
When a parasite is difficult to identify or find, or diagnosis is critical to the patient’s life, what methods can be used for identification?
Immuno- (detect antigens or antibodies) and molecular (e.g. PCR) methods
Detecting antigens, in regards to immunological methods of parasite identification, involves -?
- Specific parasite-associated compounds
- The parasite, and also in high enough numbers
- The parasite’s sex
Detecting antibodies, in regards to immunological methods of parasite identification, involves -?
- Functioning immune system
- Sufficient exposure time and a Titer
- Understanding of the suspected parasite’s life cycle
Will antigen or antibody dependent immunological tests for identification of parasites be affected by past exposures?
Antibody, as there will be circulating remnants of antibodies that were generated from the first exposure still present to give a false positive (if not a possible cause for the pathology present)
