Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Is fecal smear testing reliable for diagnosing dog lung worm infection
By Humm, K & Adamantos, S·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2010·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Is evaluation of a faecal smear a useful technique in the diagnosis of canine pulmonary angiostrongylosis?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that checking a dog's stool (faecal smear) can help diagnose a lung infection caused by a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum. In this research, experienced assessors were able to detect the parasite in about 61% of cases, while inexperienced assessors had a slightly lower detection rate of 54%. The faecal smear test is quick and inexpensive, making it a useful tool for vets to identify this infection faster than some other methods. However, it's still recommended to confirm results with a more thorough test like Baermann sedimentation.
People also search for: dog coughing treatment · dog lung infection diagnosis · Angiostrongylus vasorum symptoms in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe a method of faecal smear production and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of faecal smear for detection of parasitic larvae using Baermann sedimentation as a gold standard. METHODS: Faecal smears were produced from samples submitted to the Royal Veterinary College Diagnostic Laboratory Service for Baermann sedimentation. An inexperienced and an experienced assessor each examined the smear for larvae for a maximum of five minutes. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty six samples were analysed of which 28 were positive for Angiostrongylus vasorum on Baermann sedimentation. The experienced assessor had a faecal smear sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 100%. The inexperienced assessor had a faecal smear sensitivity of 54% and a specificity of 95%. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Faecal smear is an effective and cheap aid to diagnosis of canine angiostrongylosis which can be readily performed in general practice. Its use leads to a rapid detection of infection compared to other available methods. This could lead to swifter treatment of the disease and a decrease in inappropriate diagnostics. A further diagnostic method, such as Baermann sedimentation, is recommended whether the faecal smear result is positive or negative.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20214727/