Exam 1 Flashcards
Container for Stool specimens must be free of:
urine, water, other potential contaminants
Preservation Protocol for Stool Specimens
no preservation if processed within two hours PVA fixative or formalin if over 2 hours
Temperature for Stool Specimens
ALWAYS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
Number of specimens for Stool sample
one initially, 2 if symptoms persist & more than three after a ‘purge’
Times of collection for Stool specimens
collected within 10 days; one sample every other day
Stages of protozoan found in Formed stool
most likely cysts, larvae, and eggs NO TROPHOZOITES
Formalin Advantages
good for preservation of CYSTS
preserves organisms w/o compromising organism morphology
Formalin Disadvantages
DESTROYS TROPHOZOITES
PVA Advantages
can be used for transporting specimens!
excellent at preserving CYSTS, TROHPOZOITES, FLAGELLATES etc
PVA Disadvantages
Giardia and Trichomonas don’t concentrate well in PVA Isopora, if present, not usually seen
Sedimentation
uses gravity or centrifugation contains more fecal debris contain a ^^ # of diagnostic forms of parasite Giardia lamblia may be missed
Flotation
yields much cleaner prep than Sedimentation
must be examined immediately
not an acceptable method for recovery of operculated eggs
cysts may become distorted if in prep for prolonged period
Saline Procedure
O.85% NaCl
protozoan cysts are more refractile & can see troph motility!
Iodine Prep
D’Antoni’s Iodine or Lugol’s iodine 1:5 dilution
acts as a stain to improve detection & ID of protozoan **cysts; Trophs will be destroyed **& immobilized
best for ID of cysts
Purpose of the trichrome stain
definitive diagnosis of protozoan; easiest staining procedureto detect & ID protozoan
What observations should be noted in a stool when examining for the presence of parasites?
Blood, Mucous, & Consistency!
Entamoeba histolyica cyst
Pathogen!!
12-15um; never more than >4 nuclei!!!!
small central karyosome; even bead-like distribution of chromatin along inner nuclear membrane
chromatidal bars are rounded!!!!
Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite
15-20 um
unidirectional motility!
INGESTION OF RBCs!!
single pseudopod; fine granular cytoplasm
What is the most important differentiating characteristic for intestinal protozoan
structure of the nucleus!
Entamoeba coli cyst
non pathogen
spherical, UP TO 8 NUCLEI!! - each large w/ central karyosome
chromatoidal bars are splintered w/ pointed ends
Entamoeba coli trophozoite
non pathogen
relatively large; cytoplasm is usually junky - filled w/ food vacuoles
pseudopods are exteded in many directions- slow, non-directional motility
Endolimax nana
non pathogen
very small- both cyst & troph