PARA LAB - FECAL ARTIFACTS Flashcards
Fecal artifacts is also known as
Pseudoparasite
Are responsible for incorrect identification “confusers”
fecal artifacts
Components of Feces
- undigested food
- digestive by-products
- human cells
- secretions from digestive tract
- microorganisms (because human intestine contains microbiota)
T/F: Artifacts in human samples are responsible for incorrect identification “Confusers”
True - waste component of our body can be mistakened as parasite
T/F Fecal artifacts are pseudoparasites often mistaken as real parasites.
True
T/F Artifacts in human samples are responsible for incorrect identification “Confusers”
True
What can be mistaken as an ascaris egg or taenia egg or other helminth eggs
Pollen
How to distinguish pollen from a parasite
- check size and shape
- has no internal structures
- lack 6-hooked oncosphere found in Taenia
- taenia has striations
T/F Pollen has no internal structures
True
T/F Presence of oncosphere is an indication of Taenia parasite
True
Fecal artifact that may be confused with helminth eggs
Vegetable cell
How to identify a vegetable cell
- Vegetable cells appear larger in size
- Vegetable Cell appear polygonal and flattened
- Vegetable Cell’s interior portion is unorganized and contain large vacuoles
Fecal artifact that may be confused with helminth larva and tapeworm eggs
vegetable spirals
How to identify a vegetable spirals
- Vegatable has ladder-like appearance
- vegetable cell lacks head or tail region
- tapeworm egg have internal organs
Fecal artifact that may be confused with helminth larva such as hookworms & strongyloides because of shape and size
PLANT HAIR/FIBER
How to know if it is not a parasite but instead a plant hair/fiber
- It Lacks head or tail region and It has no internal organs
- They are often broken at one end
- It must have a refractile center
- Lack internal structures seen in true parasites
T/F Budding is an indication of candida albicans
True
Fecal artifact that May be confused with Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora spp., microsporidia, helminth eggs, or
protozoan cysts (depending on size and color)
Yest cell
Agent of diarrhea
Coccidian parasites: Cryptosporidium spp.,
Cyclospora spp.
T/F Fresh or freshly preserved stools with significant numbers of budding yeast may indicate systemic infection especially in immunosuppressed patients
True
T/F The presence of branching pseudohyphae may be an indication of pathogenicity of the yeast present (Candida spp.) and should be reported
True
Fecal artifact that resemble protozoan cyst (E. hartmanni & E. nana)
Starch cells/Granules
Common Fecal Artifact when using powderized gloves also when slides are reused and cover slip is dirty
Starch Cells/ Granules
if <10 um
starch cells/granules
Staining used in Starch Cells
Iodine Staining
T/F Undigested starch stains = Blue-black
True
T/F Partially digested = Red/Pink
True
WHAT FECAL ARTIFACT IS BEING DESCRIBED
● Round to irregular round-shaped
● “Starch granules” if <10 um
● Very refractile
● Has no internal structure of nucleus
● It may resemble protozoan cysts (E. hartmanni & E.
nana)
Starch cells
Fecal artifact that may be confused with helminth ova
Beaver bodies
A parasite that cant infect humans and has no clinical significance
beaver bodies
also known as corpora parasitica
beaver bodies
Fecal artifact found when crayfish is consumed
Beaver bodies
Protistan parasites of crayfish
Beaver bodies
Usually Spherical in shape:
○ There are different sizes
○ Highly refractile
○ No internal organs
Fat globules
This is usually present in the stool due to malabsorption or pancreatic deficiency
Fat Globules
Fecal artifact that may be confused as protozoan cyst
Fat globules
excess fecal
fat is called?
steatorrhea
T/F Excess fecal fat may cause Giardia Duodenalis
True
What fecal artifact is being described
● Rectangular in shape
● With or without striations
● Normally present especially in high red-meat diet
Muscle fiber
Presence of too much muscle fiber
creatorrhea
Fecal artifact that may be confused as tapeworm proglottid
Muscle fiber
Seen in improperly prepared wet mounts/smear
Air bubbles
found in the stool usually indicates an infection
White blood cells
Fecal artifact that can be mistaken as Entamoeba Histolytica/E. Dispar (cysts)
White blood cells
These are formed from the break-down products of eosinophils
Charcot Leydan Crystals
● Slender crystals with pointed ends “diamond-shaped”
● Stain red-purple with trichrome stain
Charcot Leydan Crystals
May indicate hypersensitivity/allergic reaction and parasitic helminth infections
Charcot Leydan Crystals
Fecal artifact that may be confused with amebic trophozoites
Epithelial Cells
From anal mucosa
Squamous epithelial cells
H
How to distinguis epithlieal cell from amecbic trophozoites
it lacks interior structures of amebic trophozoites and it is with a large, refractile nucleus, with distinct cell border
From intestinal mucosa
Columnar epithelial cells
