Evaluation of Kato-Katz and spontaneous sedimentation methods for the diagnosis of platynosomiasis in Neotropical primates

Abstract

Platynosomiasis is a parasitic infection reported in non-human primates, including marmosets, and is frequently difficult to diagnose. In this study, the Kato-Katz method and the spontaneous sedimentation method were evaluated for their usefulness in identifying Platynosomum eggs in fecal samples from Callithrix penicillata that naturally harbor Platynosomum illiciens. Spontaneous sedimentation allowed the diagnosis of 41.7% (5/12) and 66.7% (8/12) of infected marmosets from one and three slides, respectively, prepared from the same fecal sample. The examination of a single Kato-Katz thick smear detected 83.3% (10/12) of infection cases. The analysis of feces on three different days increased the rate of diagnosis, since 75% (9/12) and 100% (12/12) of the primates with platynosomiasis were identified using serial spontaneous sedimentation (3 slides/day) and the Kato-Katz method, respectively. The mean number of Platynosomum eggs per gram of feces determined via the Kato-Katz method was 71.7 (8-240). The spontaneous sedimentation method when performed in series is acceptable for the diagnosis of platynosomiasis. However, the Kato-Katz method, which was here used for the first time to detect this infection, has a higher diagnostic sensitivity and the advantage that a quantitative analysis of the eggs released in the host feces is possible.Keywords: Fecal parasitological diagnosis, platynosomiasis, Platynosomum, marmosets, spontaneous sedimentation, Kato-Katz thick smear. ResumoA platinossomose é uma infecção parasitária relatada em primatas não-humanos, inclusive saguis, cujo diagnóstico é frequentemente difícil. Neste estudo, os métodos de sedimentação espontânea e Kato-Katz foram avaliados quanto à sua utilidade na identificação de ovos de Platynosomum em amostras fecais de Callithrix penicillata naturalmente albergando Platynosomum illiciens. A sedimentação espontânea permitiu o diagnóstico de 41,7% (5/12) e 66,7% (8/12) dos saguis infectados a partir da análise de uma e três lâminas, respectivamente, preparadas de uma mesma amostra fecal. O exame de uma única lâmina de Kato-Katz detectou 83,3% (10/12) dos casos de infecção. A análise de fezes em três dias diferentes aumentou as taxas de diagnóstico, uma vez que 75% (9/12) e 100% (12/12) dos primatas que apresentaram a platinossomose foram identificados, usando-se a sedimentação espontânea (três lâminas/dia) e o Kato-Katz em série, respectivamente. O número médio de ovos de Platynosomum por g de fezes, determinado através do método de Kato-Katz, foi de 71,7 (8-240). O método de sedimentação espontânea, quando realizado em série, é aceitável para o diagnóstico da platinossomose. Entretanto, o método de Kato-Katz, o qual foi pela primeira vez usado para se detectar essa infecção, mostrou uma maior sensibilidade diagnóstica, com a vantagem de que é possível uma análise quantitativa dos ovos liberados nas fezes do hospedeiro.Palavras-chave: Diagnóstico parasitológico fecal, platinossomose, Platynosomum, saguis, sedimentação espontânea, Kato-Katz.

Infection by Platynosomum illiciens (= P. fastosum) in domestic cats of Araguaína, Tocantins, northern Brazil

“…The laboratory diagnosis of platynosomiasis through coproparasitological examination is an important tool in veterinary clinical practice. Methods of sedimentation or flotation in a saturated solution of sugar, salt or zinc are used and although there is not still consensus as to the most suitable method for the recovery Platynosomum eggs in feline feces, some methods have a sensitivity of up to 100% (MATI et al, 2015;RAMOS et al, 2016). The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of P. illiciens infection in domestic cats in the city of Araguaína, Tocantins, Brazil, using necropsy and coproparasitological tests.…”

Experimental platynosomosis: Characterization of parasite development in the mouse model

“…Despite the great importance of platynosomosis, mainly in veterinary practice with domestic cats, and recent studies on some aspects related to the life cycle of Platynosomum (Pinto et al, 2014, the diagnosis (Azevedo et al, 2013;Rocha et al, 2014;Mati et al, 2015) and pathology of this infection (including its carcinogenic potential) (Andrade et al, 2012;Daniel et al, 2012;Headley et al, 2012;Montserin et al, 2013), aspects of parasite development and the host-parasite interaction are not completely understood. The scarcity of experimental studies on http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.021 0304-4017/© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.…”

Effectiveness of Vitamin A in Albendazole Against Reinfection of Ascaris Lumbricoides

“…In this study also reported the same result with the previous study (p-value = 0.478) but there was intensity difference of Ascaris lumbricoides between two groups before and after treatment (p-value = 0.001). However, Payne et al reported a decreasing Ascaris lumbricoides infection after giving 400 mg albendazole and 200,000 IU vitamin A at three months follow up [15][16][17]. The different results should be affected by others factor which influenced the reinfections and drug pharmacology.…”