Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Endoparasite Detection
October 7, 2013
CASE STUDY
(Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Endoparasite Detection)
Introduction Parasitic infections are considered to be a public health problem of global importance by the World Health Organization. The Philippine government has been creating projects to help eradicate this public health problem in the country and although the percentage of infected people has decreased, this has not been fully successful just yet. Successful eradication of parasites would involve educating the people, proper sanitation, and the compliance of the public to the guidelines provided by the government and health organizations. This is not an easy matter for these require much time and money and people from rural areas have been used to their way of life and some do not see how the parasites may cause harm and affect one’s performance.
With this, Parasitology (ZOO 173) students of first semester A.Y. 2013-2014 gathered samples from dogs and children ages 3 to 13 to survey the parasitic infections and to apply what they have learned from the course. The samples were acquired from children as they were more susceptible to parasitic infections, especially soil-transmitted helminthes (STH). The children lived in a rural residential area in Los Baños, Laguna—one was three years of age and the other was nine years old.
Methodology
Prior to the examination of parasites, samples were acquired from children (with the consent of their parents or guardian)—two fecal samples and two slides with scotch tape that was dabbed in the perianal region of the subjects thrice first thing in the morning—and fecal sample from a dog. The slides with the scotch tape would determine the presence of Enterobius vermicularis in the subjects. The fecal samples were soaked in 10% formalin so as to kill the parasites and to preserve them. Each of the fecal samples was mixed thoroughly in the formalin, making sure that only small bits of the feces are left in the
CASE STUDY
(Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Endoparasite Detection)
Introduction Parasitic infections are considered to be a public health problem of global importance by the World Health Organization. The Philippine government has been creating projects to help eradicate this public health problem in the country and although the percentage of infected people has decreased, this has not been fully successful just yet. Successful eradication of parasites would involve educating the people, proper sanitation, and the compliance of the public to the guidelines provided by the government and health organizations. This is not an easy matter for these require much time and money and people from rural areas have been used to their way of life and some do not see how the parasites may cause harm and affect one’s performance.
With this, Parasitology (ZOO 173) students of first semester A.Y. 2013-2014 gathered samples from dogs and children ages 3 to 13 to survey the parasitic infections and to apply what they have learned from the course. The samples were acquired from children as they were more susceptible to parasitic infections, especially soil-transmitted helminthes (STH). The children lived in a rural residential area in Los Baños, Laguna—one was three years of age and the other was nine years old.
Methodology
Prior to the examination of parasites, samples were acquired from children (with the consent of their parents or guardian)—two fecal samples and two slides with scotch tape that was dabbed in the perianal region of the subjects thrice first thing in the morning—and fecal sample from a dog. The slides with the scotch tape would determine the presence of Enterobius vermicularis in the subjects. The fecal samples were soaked in 10% formalin so as to kill the parasites and to preserve them. Each of the fecal samples was mixed thoroughly in the formalin, making sure that only small bits of the feces are left in the