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Fecal analysis: parasites
Synonym(s): Fecal flotation; Baermann technique
Overview
- In patent intestinal parasitic infections eggs will be laid and can be identified in fecal samples.
Uses
Alone
- Detection of the presence of intestinal parasites.
- Detection of the presence of respiratory parasites.
Sampling
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Tests
Methodologies
- Eggs which may be seen:
- Capillaria felis cati.
- Toxascaris leonina
. - Dipylidium caninum
. - Tapeworm.
- Ancylostoma spp Ancylostoma tubaeforme .
- Toxocara cati Toxocara cati.
- Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae Aelurostrongylus abstrusus.
Availability
- Can be performed in practice with an adequate microscope.
Technique intrinsic limitations
- Simple technique.
- The number of parasitic life stages passed varies according to type of parasites.
- Shedding of parasitic life stages can be intermittent.
- Egg laying decreases as the worms age and often the host develops immunity which also reduces egg laying capacity of parasites.
- Consistency of feces may affect egg count as in loose feces the eggs will be diluted.
- Alternatives:
- ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Giardia, Cryptosporidium.
- Fecal flotation is thought to be more accurate but ELISA snap test for Giardia carries 90% sensitivity, is highly specific and avoids issues of intermittent cyst shedding.
Result Data
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