{"id":278,"date":"2015-09-03T17:31:51","date_gmt":"2015-09-03T17:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetmed.iastate.edu\/vpath\/diagnostic-services\/parasitology-services\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T21:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:18:08","slug":"parasitology-services","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vetmed.iastate.edu\/vpath\/services\/diagnostic-services\/parasitology-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Parasitology Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\t
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The Department of Veterinary Pathology provides diagnostic parasitology service to veterinary practitioners. Our diagnostic staff includes a DVM, PhD Veterinary Parasitologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Parasitology Submission Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

Test<\/strong><\/td>\nPurpose<\/strong><\/td>\nSpecimen requirements<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Fecal Flotation (Sheather’s solution and centrifugation)<\/td>\nGeneral exam\/routine fecal. Detection of: ova, cysts and oocysts<\/td>\nFresh feces, 3-5 grams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fecal Sedimentation<\/td>\nDetect heavy ova (Fluke eggs)<\/td>\nFresh feces, 10 grams<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Giardia Antigen<\/td>\nGiardia detection (increased test sensitivity as cysts are shed intermittently)<\/td>\nFresh feces, 1-3 grams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baermann<\/td>\nDetect larvae (lungworms)<\/td>\nFresh feces, 10-15 grams. Samples accepted Monday-Thursday only. Do not refrigerate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Direct Examination (smear)<\/td>\nDetect motile organisms<\/td>\nFresh feces, 1-3 grams. Do not refrigerate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Organism Identification (Examples: nematodes, tapeworms, fleas, ticks)<\/td>\nProvide identification of intact internal and\/or external parasites<\/td>\nSubmit specimen (nematodes, tapeworms, fleas, ticks) in 70% ethanol; leak proof container<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
McMaster’s<\/td>\nQuantitative egg count for horses, camelids and small ruminants. Results are in eggs per gram.<\/td>\nFresh feces, 5-10 grams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Modified Wisconsin<\/td>\nQuantitative egg count recommended for bovine. Results are in eggs per gram (provides increased sensitivity for less than 25 epg)<\/td>\nFresh feces, 10 grams<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Please indicate on submission form if you are looking for a specific parasite*<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How do you submit a specimen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n