Intestinal screening for parasites
Parasitology
Parasites cause chronic inflammation and disrupt the host’s metabolism. In a disrupted intestinal microbiota and impaired barrier resistance, parasites can develop a strong pathological potential.
Parasitological studies were originally conducted with microscopic relief studies on cysts, the encapsulated parasites. As cysts, parasites can survive outside the body for extended periods, for example, in the soil.
However, there are parasites that do not form cysts. These parasites are very sensitive to oxygen and disappear soon after the fecal sample is taken.
For this reason, the TFT was developed, where parasites are fixed and then can be detected through microscopic examination. This research also includes immunological tests for antibodies of several common parasites.
Since 2010, a new, faster, and more cost-effective method for researching parasitic infections has been available with the qPCR method, a DNA test for parasites. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a rapid and highly sensitive method to amplify one or more parts of small amounts of genetic material specifically, which can then be analyzed. The sensitivity of PCR is higher than the sensitivity of traditional cyst/egg research and TFT. However, worm eggs are not detected in PCR. Additionally, sporadic parasites such as Cyclospora and Isospora belli or apathogenic species like Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, or Iodamoeba butschlii are not detected by PCR. Therefore, the PCR method is highly sensitive but unfortunately not very specific. This means that the results of the PCR method are very reliable, although only a very limited number of parasites are tested. For this reason, RP Sanitas Humanus works with the high-quality parasitological Triple Feces Test (TFT).
The excretion of parasites is irregular. Therefore, in this test, fecal samples are collected for three days. Another characteristic of this test is the use of fixative sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF) on days 1 and 3. This ensures that the parasites are preserved so that they do not decay and can be correctly identified. The preparations are then stained using the Iron Hematoxylin Kinyoun method (IHK method), a very good staining method. On day 2, the internal structure (nuclei, vacuoles) of potential parasites is examined with a direct iodine-potassium iodide stain (JKJ). The above-mentioned characteristics of the TFT are responsible for much higher specificity and sensitivity to parasites in feces compared to the conventional method, where sedimentation of fresh feces with ether is performed. Each sample is microscopically examined for parasitological disorders such as worms, worm eggs, and protozoa. Additionally, the samples are immunologically tested for Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia lamblia.
The collection of the three stool samples does not have to occur on three consecutive days but can be done at intervals of several days, provided they are three consecutive bowel movements. However, the three stool samples must not be taken on the same day.
It is therefore important that the parasitological examination be conducted with the TFT, as it involves not only immunological but also microscopic examination, allowing for a much wider spectrum of parasitological disorders to be detected.
Interested? Schedule a consultation appointment today for stool parasite analysis.
Your NMC team Krk