Parasitology 1

Question 1

What is the purpose of testing for parasites?

Answer 1

ID clinical signs
OR
Monitor asymptomatic animals (young and annual)

Question 2

What are some of the general parasite detection categories for Small Animals?

Answer 2

Morphologic - Macroscopic and microscopic
Immunologic - antigen or antibody
Molecular - PCR and Sequencing

Question 3

What is the first test dont for parasite identification in small animals?

Answer 3

Morphologic test - examine with eye
-Cheap and can see multiple parasites
-Need a tech, lab space and may need a larger sample

Question 4

What should you tell your owner to do now that they have collected poop for you for a sample?

Answer 4

-Make sure it is fresh - within 24 hours earlier better
-Keep in fridge
-3gram if possible

Question 5

If you have a question about a sample should you ship a fecal floatation slide?

Answer 5

No it will be destroyed in shipping

Question 6

Describe the direct saline smear?

Answer 6

Tiny feces mixed in drop of saline and read
-Only for protozoan trophozoites - see move (giardia and tritrichomas)
-Need fresh feces in 30-60min
-Not very sensitive

Question 7

What should you always do when performing a fecal flotation test?

Answer 7

Centrifuge - concentration based better
Mix thoroughly

Question 8

Is it better to send out fecal or do them in house?

Answer 8

Depends:
In house - may have faster results, know context of case and can track down errors

Send out - cheaper, tech does not need training and more lab space

Question 9

What is the difference between sensitivity and specificty?

Answer 9

Sensitivity - Ability to ID true positives
Specificity - Ability to identify true negative

Question 10

What is the sensitivity and specify of a direct smear?

Answer 10

Sensitivity low (small sample)
Specificity moderate (well trained)

Question 11

What is the sensitivity and specify of a flotation exam?

Answer 11

sensitivity increase than direct smear due to larger sample

Question 12

What fecal flotation solution would you use to identify giardia?

Answer 12

Zinc Sulfate

Question 13

Which solution would make most everything else including whips and tapes float?

Answer 13

Sheathes sugar

Question 14

Which flotation solution does he recommend in your clinic?

Answer 14

Zinc sulfate or sugar

Question 15

What is the SG of each fecal solution?

Answer 15

Zinc sulfate - 1.18-1.2
Sugar - 1.25-1.28
Sodium Nitrate (fecasole) - 1.2

Question 16

Which is better? Direct float of centrifugal?

Answer 16

Centrifugal

Question 17

How can you improve sensitivity of your fecal exam?

Answer 17

Larger sample
Repeat Test
Combine Tests

Question 18

What can decrease sensitivity of fecal test?

Answer 18

Technical experience, pseudoparasites, spurious parasites

Question 19

Combining tests does what to sensitivity? Specificity?

Answer 19

Sensitivity - increase (More chance for +)
Specificity - decrease (More chance false +)

Question 20

What usually results in having spurious parasites?

Answer 20

Coprophagia of dog

Question 21

How do you know if something is a parasite?

Answer 21

-Know whats in your area
-oval or round
-distinct wall
-Size consistent with species (>40 helminths, <60 protozoan

Question 22

What is the best way to rule out a weird parasite?

Answer 22

Know the size

Question 23

When you report results of a fecal exam how do you report a non-positive result?

Answer 23

No parasites seen (not negative cause seen such a small sample)

Question 24

Why is a fecal a standing recommendation for a healthy dog exam?

Answer 24

Address compliance - poor
Remind owner of environmental control importance
detect other parasites not treated for
see emerging drug resistance