parasitology

Question 1

standard diagnostic method for most parasites. inexpensive, requires trained technicians

Answer 1

morphologic tests– look and diagnose

Question 2

what are the sample requirements for a fecal exam

Answer 2

fresh (less than 3 hours old) or refridgerated sample, 3g,

Question 3

direct saline smear is for what parasites

Answer 3

trophozoites because they move

Question 4

oocyst vs cyst

Answer 4

oocyst- coccidia
cyst- giardia

Question 5

what is the sensitivity of a direct smear

Answer 5

low sensitivity because there is a high chance of not trusting the negatives. some don’t float, etc

combine with other tests to improve

Question 6

what fecal solution should you use on a routine exam that isnt have GI signs

Answer 6

sugar solution because it does not get giardia, but they should be clinically ill to diagnose giardia– zinc sulfate 1.18

Question 7

how can sensitivity of a fecal exam be improved

Answer 7

larger sample, repeat the test, combine with other tests

Question 8

how do you read combo tests based on sensitivity. what if only one test is positive

Answer 8

a positive is a positive in either test method. we only need one to believe its true.

Question 9

how do you read combo tests based on specificity. what if only one test is negative

Answer 9

you need two negative tests to trust the results since there is low specificity and there could be false negatives.

Question 10

how should we report fecal samples where we didnt find any eggs

Answer 10

no parasites seen.

Question 11

what do we do a sediment test for

Answer 11

fluke eggs that are high density and wont float

Question 12

what is a baermann test

Answer 12

rest feces at room temp water over night and the larvae will migrate out into the water, looking for larvae

Question 13

you perform a baermann test and see larvae with a kink tail in dogs. what are you thinking

Answer 13

rule out coprophagy first as most kinked tailed nematodes are not in dogs.

Question 14

blood smear identification are most effective when

Answer 14

acute infections

Question 15

we have a worm we want to submit for ID. how do we transport it to the lab

Answer 15

in alcohol. never formalin

Question 16

commonly used antibody test in small animal

Answer 16

heartworm in cats
toxoplasma in cats

Question 17

what do we need to remember about toxo antibodies in cats

Answer 17

igM does not mean acute infection. can be in circulation for 12-18 months.

perform serial titers

Question 18

when do we use the giardia antigen test

Answer 18

when there is diarrhea only. do not test asymptomatic dogs

Question 19

when to perform a antigen IDEXX test

Answer 19

dog with clinical signs
suspect coprophagy in a dog
small fecal volume

Question 20

what do we use PCR for

Answer 20

hemoparasites, protozoa

Question 21

what is FEC for large animals for

Answer 21

treatment efficacy

Question 22

FEC for sru

Answer 22

breeding

Question 23

FEC for equine

Answer 23

we treat with the epg is >500

Question 24

why cant we use egg count to make clinical diagnoses

Answer 24

there is no relationship between e/g and # of parasites in the animal

Question 25

what do we think about FEC for coccidia

Answer 25

most coccidia are not pathogenic and we cant ID the pathogenic species in a FEC

Question 26

what things influence fec

Answer 26

immunity
season
fecal consistency
luck-distribution of eggs

Question 27

what is a limit of detection

Answer 27

the lowest egg count that can be detected
if a low egg count is suspected we need a lower LOD

Question 28

when do we want to use tests with a LOD of 1 e/g

Answer 28

reportable diseases
when were looking for small differences
treatment evaluations
dogs

Question 29

accuracy vs precision

Answer 29

accuracy reflects reality
precision is repeatibility of the test

Question 30

most common quantitative tech

Answer 30

mc masters and miniflotac

Question 31

which quant test has a lower LOD

Answer 31

miniflotac at 5 epg

Question 32

which quantitative test should be used when you suspect low epg

Answer 32

flotec

Question 33

what quant test should be used when you are running fecrt

Answer 33

depends on the initial test. if initial sample was in 25-50 epg then you need to run a flotec

Question 34

what general reasons do we run quant tests

Answer 34

lookf or resistance, and FECRT

Question 35

what morphologic tests do we do for large animals

Answer 35

none really. they all have parasites so we it isnt really helpful to ID them

baermann for lungworm larvae

sedimentation for liver flukes

Question 36

most common PCR test in LA

Answer 36

tritrich foetus

Question 37

steps to look at a fecal in unfamiliar species

Answer 37

use sugar solution in all feces.
figure out what broad groups the eggs belong to
look up general pathology associated with that group

+- baermann, sediment

Question 38

for hook worms, when should you recheck the fecal

Answer 38

after 9 days but before 2 weeks. larval leak starts in 14d

Question 39

what reduction percentage of hookworm is indicative of resistance

Answer 39

<75% reduction