Question

Provide two reasons why a microfilaria test cannot be used to definitively diagnose a heartworm infection.

a) Microfilariae are not present in infected animals
b) Microfilariae are only found in the bloodstream
c) Microfilariae can be easily confused with other parasites
d) Microfilariae are too large to be detected in diagnostic tests

Answer 1

A microfilaria test cannot be used to definitively diagnose a heartworm infection because microfilariae are not always present in infected animals, and they can be easily confused with other parasites.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are two reasons why a microfilaria test cannot be used to definitively diagnose a heartworm infection:

1. Microfilariae are not present in infected animals: When the test is conducted, if there are no microfilariae present in the animal's bloodstream, it cannot confirm the presence of a heartworm infection.
2. Microfilariae can be easily confused with other parasites: Microfilariae can resemble other types of parasites found in the blood, making it difficult to specifically identify them as heartworm larvae.