Parasitology

Question 1

Why are microfilaria a very rare finding in cat cases of heartworm?

Answer 1

(Because of the chance of cat cases only involving one sex so no reproduction is occurring, also the cats immune system takes care of most MF quickly (at least this means cats do not potentiate heartworm infections, silver linings and all that))

Question 2

How can you definitively diagnose feline heartworm?

Answer 2

(Necropsy and seeing the worm)

Question 3

(T/F) The heartworm antigen test has high specificity and low sensitivity, especially when used in a cat case.

Answer 3

(T, lots of false negatives, not a lot of false positives so if its positive, great the cat has heartworm, if its negative, great you have a lower index of suspicion but no confirmation of ‘no this cat doesn’t not have heartworm’)

Question 4

What is recommended for trying to diagnose a cat with heartworm disease?

Answer 4

(Run both an antigen test and an antibody test, false negatives can still occur so repeated testing is recommended)

Question 5

What are the two life stages of giardia?

Answer 5

(Cysts and trophozoites)

Question 6

What sample do you test for Giardia trophozoites and what test do you run?

Answer 6

(You specifically want to perform a direct smear on diarrhea to look for Giardia trophozoites)

Question 7

What is the CAPC recommendation for testing symptomatic dogs for Giardia?

Answer 7

(Run a direct smear, fecal float, and fecal ELISA test)

Question 8

(T/F) There is no reason to perform a Giardia antigen test on a dog with no symptoms of Giardia.

Answer 8

(T, antigen may be detected in clinically normal animals and then the owner will be upset and confused when you say you’re not treating their dog)

Question 9

(T/F) There are no FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of Giardia in dogs.

Answer 9

(F, there is now! Ayradia by Virbac is an FDA approved metronidazole oral suspension used for treatment of Giardia in dogs)