A parasitological examination is performed to detect and identify ectoparasites and endoparasites. The basic method is microscopy of a sample. Ectoparasites are detected by a direct observation and microscopy of skin scrapings and fur samples. The flotation of stool, microscopy of native preparations (gastrointestinal content, gastric and intestinal mucosa scraping), smear of intestinal content, filtration and flotation of gastrointestinal content, urine sediment analysis and bladder mucosa scraping (rat only) are used for detection of endoparasites. Some parasites are identified by molecular biology methods (PCR, real-time PCR, sequencing), serological methods or special histological staining of target tissues.
Agents | Method | Host |
Myocoptes musculinus | microscopy, PCR | M |
Myobia musculi | microscopy, PCR | M |
Radfordia affinis | microscopy, PCR | M, R |
Notoedres spp. | microscopy | R, H, Rb |
Polyplax spp. | microscopy | M, R |
Chirodiscoides caviae | microscopy | Gp |
Trixacarus caviae | microscopy | Gp |
Gyropus ovalis | microscopy | Gp |
Gliricola porcelli | microscopy | Gp |
Psoroptes cuniculi | microscopy | Rb |
Cheyletiella parasitovorax | microscopy | Rb |
Listrophorus gibbus | microscopy | Rb |
Haemodipsus spp. | microscopy | Rb |
Ornithonyssus bacoti | microscopy | M, R, H |
Agens | Method | Host |
Giardia spp. | microscopy, ELISA, PCR | M, R, Gp, H, Rb |
Spironucleus muris | microscopy, PCR | M, R, H |
Tritrichomonas spp. | microscopy | M, R, H, Gp |
Entamoeba spp. | microscopy | M, R, H, Gp, Rb |
Endolimax cavie | microscopy | Gp |
Eimeria spp. | microscopy, flotation | M, R, Gp, Rb |
Cryptosporidium spp. | microscopy, flotation, histology | M, H, Gp, Rb |
Klossiella spp. | histology of kidney | M, Gp |
Toxoplasma gondii | IFA | M, R, Gp, H, Rb |
Encephalitozoon cuniculi | ELISA, IFA, histology | M, R, Gp, H, Rb |
Syphacia spp. | microscopy, flotation, PCR | M, R, H |
Aspiculuris spp. | microscopy, flotation, PCR | M, R |
Passalurus ambiguus | microscopy, flotation, PCR | Rb |
Paraspidodera unicata | microscopy, flotation | Gp |
Trichuris muris | microscopy, flotation | M, R |
Trichosomoides crassicauda | microscopy, histology | R |
Rodentolepis spp. | microscopy, flotation | M, R, H |
Hymenolepis spp. | microscopy, flotation | H |
Abbreviations: M - Mouse, R - Rat, Gp - Guinea pig, H - Hamster, Rb – Rabbit