VTNE Parasitology Exam Study Guide

Protozoa - one-celled organisms that are more complex than bacteria, ameba, flagellates, cilates, sporozoa Helminths - multicelled, usually visible to naked eye, ex: flatworms, trematodes, cestodes, thorny-head, roundworms Diptera - mosquitos, blackflies, horseflies, deerflies SG of ovas - usually between 1.100 and 1.200, so floatation solution must have higher SG than ova, oocysts Sodium Nitrate Solution - SG of 1.200 to 1.250 when mixed manually and 1.200 with commercial preparations Sugar solution - inexpensive, does not crystallize or distort eggs, SG 1.330 Zinc Sulfate Solution - best for giardia cysts, SG of 1.180 Saturated sodium chloride solution - up to 1.200, not the best Direct Smear - detect protozoa in feces, quickly estimate number of parasites Centrifugal Floatation technique - concentrate ova, detect giardia oocysts, trichuris ova more efficiently than regular floatation technique Baermann technique - Used for removing lungworm larvae from small amounts of feces Modified Knott's Test - Method that is used to concentrate microfilaria and to help with the differentiation of Dirofilaria from Acanthocheilonema Buffy coat method - Microfilaria found on the top of the buffy coat enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - do not detect microfilariae, only hosts response to parasites/antigens, occult HW, dirofilaria immitis Sarcoptes - burrowing mite, mange mite, Demodex - hair follicle mite, common in dogs Skin Digestion Technique - used for scraping samples where there is a large amount of scurf and skin debris Cellophane tape method - used for mites and pinworms that are primarily on skin surface and the hair Toxocara canis - roundworm, small intestine, nematode, transmitted via ingestion, transplacentally/mammary causes poor growth, emaciation, blockage, vomiting, diarrhea, death Ancylostoma caninum - hookworm, small intestine, transmitted via skin penetration, transmammary/placentally, ingestion, causes anemia, weakness, melena Uncinaria stenocephala - hookworm, small intestine, ingestion, in heavy infections in dogs hypoproteinemia, dehydration, weakness Trichuris Vulpis - whipworms, nematode, large intestines, transmitted via ingestions, can cause severe watery diarrhea, heamtochezia, leading to rapid dehydration and death Filaroides spp - canine lungworm, transmitted via ingestion, upper respiratory signs, sneezing, and nasal discharge Spirocerca lupi - esophageal worm, causes vomiting, dysphagia, weight loss, sudden death Dirofilaria immitis - Heartworm, nematodes, transmitted via infective mosquito, causes lethargy, exercise intolerance, right sides cardiac enlargement toxocara cati - Feline roundworm, small intestine, transmitted via ingestion, cat may vomit worms but otherwise no CS Ancylostoma tubaeforme - feline hookworm, transmitted via ingestion or transmammary, causes anemia, emaciation, weakness, melena, death Toxoplasma gondii - Toxoplasmosis, small intestine, transmitted via ingestion of cysts in meat, can cayse fever, anorexia, cough, dyspnea, diarrhea, jaundice, CNS depression in young animals, zoonotic Toxocaris leonina - roundworm of cat and dog, heavy worm burdens can cause weakeness, dehydration, poor condition Ancylostoma braziliense - canine and feline hookworm, transmitted via ingestion, causes anemia, diarrhea, melena, emaciation and weakness Eucoleus aerophilus - canine and feline lungworm capillaria plica/feliscati - bladder worm of cats and dogs, tranmitted by ingestion of earth worm Strongyloides stercoralis - Threadworm, can cause mucoid diarrhea, emaciation and reduced growth rate