Lungworms not detected by the Baermann test
The Baermann test is often thought of—correctly—as a primary test for lungworms, but it is also important to remember that
in both dogs and cats there are helminths of the respiratory system for which the Baermann test is not the test of choice.
The capillarid lungworm species, Eucoleus boehmi and Eucoleus aerophilus, produce bipolar plugged eggs that are best diagnosed with a fecal flotation test.
Finally, two other nematode parasites of the respiratory system rarely seen in the United States—Oslerus osleri and Filaroides species—are best diagnosed with a 33% zinc sulfate flotation test. Even though O. osleri and Filaroides species pass larvae and not eggs into the environment, these first-stage larvae do not move vigorously and so are not easily
recovered with a Baermann test.
Anne M. Zajac, DVM, PhD, DACVM (parasitology)
Meriam Saleh, BS
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0442
Suggested Reading
1. Bowman, DD. Georgis' parasitology for veterinarians. 9th ed. St. Louis MO; Saunders, 2009.
2. Bowman DD, Hendrix CM, Lindsay DS, et al. Feline clinical parasitology. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell, 2002.
3. Conboy G. Helminth parasites of the canine and feline respiratory tract. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2009;39 (6):1109-1126.
4. Zajac AM, Conboy GA. Veterinary clinical parasitology. 8th ed. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
|
Featuring Information from:
