Parasitological examination of biological specimen
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW
1.0 Ginger
Ginger is a knotted, thick, beige underground stem (rhizome). The stem extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers. The important active components of the ginger root are thought to be volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds (such as gingerols and shogaols).
1.1 Parasitological examination of stool specimen
This is the examination of intestinal parasites. This aspect of the training was designed to introduce students to the area of Helminthology. Helminths refer to worms and can be divided to 3 groups:
a. Nematodes-Round & segmented
b. Cestodes-Flat & segmented
c. Trematodes-Flat & nonsegmented.
During the collection of stool sample, samples to be examined must be freshly passed. The first test carried out on samples is the macroscopic test which involves the use of the unaided eye to see basic morphological features including the presence of blood or mucus. The next step is the microscopic test which involves two steps:
1.) Direct wet preparation
2.) Concentration techniques. The procedure of the direct wet preparation is as follows: A drop of normal saline is added to a clean, grease free slide using a Pasteur pipette. With a swab stick, a tiny quantity of the stool specimen is collected and placed on the slide containing the normal saline, and is emulsified with it. After emulsification, the slide is covered with a cover slip and allowed to stand for 30 seconds to a minute and examined under a microscope using both low and high magnifications(x10 and x40). It was noticed that the number of parasite eggs determine the degree of infectious parasitemia that could result.
Concentration of the stool specimen allows for easy viewing of hidden micro organisms. Its advantage over the direct wet preparation is that in cases of light infections, the causative
INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW
1.0 Ginger
Ginger is a knotted, thick, beige underground stem (rhizome). The stem extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers. The important active components of the ginger root are thought to be volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds (such as gingerols and shogaols).
1.1 Parasitological examination of stool specimen
This is the examination of intestinal parasites. This aspect of the training was designed to introduce students to the area of Helminthology. Helminths refer to worms and can be divided to 3 groups:
a. Nematodes-Round & segmented
b. Cestodes-Flat & segmented
c. Trematodes-Flat & nonsegmented.
During the collection of stool sample, samples to be examined must be freshly passed. The first test carried out on samples is the macroscopic test which involves the use of the unaided eye to see basic morphological features including the presence of blood or mucus. The next step is the microscopic test which involves two steps:
1.) Direct wet preparation
2.) Concentration techniques. The procedure of the direct wet preparation is as follows: A drop of normal saline is added to a clean, grease free slide using a Pasteur pipette. With a swab stick, a tiny quantity of the stool specimen is collected and placed on the slide containing the normal saline, and is emulsified with it. After emulsification, the slide is covered with a cover slip and allowed to stand for 30 seconds to a minute and examined under a microscope using both low and high magnifications(x10 and x40). It was noticed that the number of parasite eggs determine the degree of infectious parasitemia that could result.
Concentration of the stool specimen allows for easy viewing of hidden micro organisms. Its advantage over the direct wet preparation is that in cases of light infections, the causative