Lab: Faecal Analysis & Microscopy

Question 1

Suggest some reasons as to why an RVN may need to carry out a faecal examination.

Answer 1

• endoparasites
• bacterial infection
• viral diseases
• gastrointestinal disease

Question 2

What equipment would be needed for a faecal examination?

Answer 2

sterile faecal pot, gloves, sterile lubricant, spatula, empty litter tray
preservative if needed (10% formal saline), permanent marker, assistant.

Question 3

What are the storage requirements for a faecal sample?

Answer 3

sterile, airtight container.
labelled clearly with patient identification, date and initials.
store at max 4’C (dont freeze).

Question 4

What should be checked as part of a microscopic examination?

Answer 4

colour, consistency, odour, mucous, blood, parasites.

Question 5

What is a microscope?

Answer 5

an instrument to see objects too small for the naked eye.

Question 6

Define: infectious disease

Answer 6

disease caused by pathogenic microorganism

Question 7

Define: contagious disease

Answer 7

a disease that can be transmitted by direct contact between an infected host to another animals. They are always infectious diseases.

Question 8

Define: zoonoses

Answer 8

an infectious disease that can be transmitted between human and non-human species.

Question 9

Define: ecoparasite

Answer 9

parasite that continues its lifecycle on the exterior of a host (fleas, ticks, lice and mites).

Question 10

Define: endoparasite

Answer 10

a parasite that completes its lifecycle within the host. (tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm and bots).

Question 11

Define: anthelmintic resistance

Answer 11

process whereby parasitic worms are becoming less sensitive to worming treatments.