Question

Based on symptoms she has been told by phone, the veterinarian suspects a patient has a tapeworm infestation. She requests a fecal sample be brought into the clinic, but all the client submits is what looks like a dried segment. You should:

1) soak the segment in saline to rehydrate it.
2) politely request that the owner bring a fresh, or "wet," fecal sample, since a dried segment is useless for diagnosis.
3) double-bag and throw this away immediately.
4) explain that although the segment can be identified, you will not be able to tell if the parasite has yet produced eggs; thus, additional segments will be needed.

Answer 1

Soak the dried tapeworm segment in saline to rehydrate and examine it, and also request a fresh fecal sample for thorough testing. This helps in determining the parasite's reproductive status for effective treatment with medications like praziquantel or niclosamide.

Step-by-step explanation:

If presented with what appears to be a dried tapeworm segment, the best course of action is to soak the segment in saline to rehydrate it. This is because tapeworms, specifically cestodes, release proglottids which are segments containing eggs that are passed through the feces of the host. Rehydration makes it possible to examine the segment for diagnostic features such as the presence of eggs or distinguishable structures. The veterinary team should also politely request a fresh fecal sample from the client for more thorough testing, since eggs or intact proglottids are more reliably found in fresh samples.

While a dried segment can provide some information, such as confirming the presence of tapeworms, a fresh sample is crucial to determine the current reproductive status of the parasite and the best treatment approach. Serological testing may also be employed for diagnosis. Once diagnosed, medications such as praziquantel or niclosamide are commonly used for treating tapeworm infestations.