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Worms · Signs & symptoms · Diagnosis · Treatment · Related articles
Fecal exams are done routinely at veterinary clinics. The latest research shows that if the fecal samples diagnosed as negative are sent on to a commercial pathology lab, 75% are found to contain worm eggs. Because of this new research, many veterinary clinics have begun recommending that pets receive deworming medication even when they have negative fecal samples.
Fecal tests for worms
To accurately diagnose worms the following tests are done on fresh feces: direct smear, fecal float, Baermann and, fecal culture. With a direct smear test, feces is combined with saline to identify giardia in the trophozoite stage. A fecal float is prepared to look for cryptosporidium, giardia cysts, trematodes, and thorny-headed worms (acanthocephalans). To prepare a fecal float, feces is mixed with a special solution, such as zinc sulfate, and put into a centrifuge. Even with this painstaking technique, not all parasite eggs are found, because not all eggs float to the top of the solution. Centrifuged material is examined immediately because fragile parasites are rapidly destroyed. With the Baermann technique, feces is suspended in a funnel and solution is added so that the parasites swim out of the stool. A fecal culture is used to identify pathogenic bacteria, such as salmonella, rather than to identify worms.
Here are examples of what your veterinarian can find using these techniques:
- direct smear for giardia trophozites
- centrifuged sediment for fluke eggs (Paragonimus) because fluke eggs are too heavy to float
- the top of the centrifuged material for nematode ova, Capillaria eggs, Giardia cysts, coccidia (Cryptosporidia, Isospora or Eimeria) oocysts because they float well
- Baermann technique for Aelurostrongylus
- Fecal culture for salmonella and clostridia
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These factors interfere with obtaining an accurate diagnosis from a fecal sample:
- Using old feces rather than fresh feces that is still at body temperature and less than 1 hour old
- Using feces that remained on the ground more than a few minutes
- Not looking at the centrifuged solution within 10 minutes
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The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians
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Weight lossDull coatSwollen bellywormsAnemia |
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Over ¾ of fecal exams do not find parasites present in feces
Because puppies & kittens are born with worms, they should be dewormed regularly
Some worms that infect pets also infect people
To prevent human infections, pets in homes with children, immune-compromised individuals, or elderly persons should be deworm at least every 3 months
Dogs commonly get hooks, whips, rounds, tapes and heartworms
Cats commonly get rounds, hooks, tapes and heartworms, but not whipworms
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PuppiesKittensCats that catch preyPets raised on farmsPets raised in yards that have had pets for many years |
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