L7: Fecal lab

Question 1

what are the disadvantageous of using fecal flotation methods

Answer 1

• eggs and cysts may collapse in flotation solution
• some parasite eggs are too dense to float
• this method is more prone to technical errors than to other methods of fecal examination

Question 2

what is the purpose of counting techniques (determining the number of helminth eggs per gram or protozoan cysts per gram)

Answer 2

estimates the parasite burden of an animal which can be used as an indicator of disease

Question 3

fecal test that is more effective for detecting fecal larvae better than a fecal smear can

Answer 3

Baermann test

Question 4

how does the Baermann test work

Answer 4

• takes advantage of larval nematodes that migrate out of the fecal sample into a collecting device
• the larvae sink to the bottom of the collecting device

Question 5

why does the Baermann technique require fresh fecal samples

Answer 5

so free living soil neamtodes don’t enter and contaminate the soil