DIAGNOSTIC TESTS:
hookworm eggs, fecal smear, wet mount [
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Most common method:
microscopic identification of eggs in stool
collect stool specimen sample
fix the specimen in 10%
formalin
concentrate using the
formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique
examine a the sediment under a microscope
hookworm eggs are unsegmented or in an early segmentation stage
Egg differentiation:
e
gg specimens of
A. duodenale
and
N. americanus
cannot be distinguished morphologically
rear filariform larva in fecal smear on a moist filter strip for 5-7 days in order to distinguish between hookworm species [
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]
Parasites differentiation:
rarely, eggs will hatch into larva in the stool; these larva are very similar in appearance to those of
Strongyloides
Hookworm larva have a much longer oral opening than that of
Strongyloides
larva
obtain a stained smear of the larva in the stool in order to differentiate between the two parasites based on their oral openings
Secondary method:
D-xylose Tolerance Test
D-xylose is a simple sugar
If the intestine is properly absorbing nutrients, it will absorb D-xylose when consumed
The D-xylose Tolerance Test measures the intestine's ability to absorb D-xylose
Because hookworm has negative effects on the gastrointestinal system, an infected individual will experience a negative D-xylose Tolerance Test
D-xylose 3-D structure [
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