Hair, Swabs and Impressions

Question 1

what does alopecia mean?

Answer 1

hair loss

Question 2

what does otitis mean?

Answer 2

ear infection/inflammation

Question 3

what does puritis mean?

Answer 3

itchiness

Question 4

what does pyoderma mean?

Answer 4

skin infection

Question 5

what does erythema mean?

Answer 5

redness

Question 6

what does seborrhea mean?

Answer 6

flaky skin

Question 7

what does pododermatitis mean?

Answer 7

inflammation of skin on paws
- bumblefoot

Question 8

what does urticaria mean?

Answer 8

hives

Question 9

what does atopy mean?

Answer 9

allergic skin disease

Question 10

what does hyperkeratosis mean?

Answer 10

hypertrophy of horny layer of epidermis

Question 11

what equipment do you need for a tape impression?

Answer 11

Gloves
Clippers
Tape
Slides
Diff Quick
Immersion oil
Microscope

Question 12

what is the method for tape impression?

Answer 12

Apply tape onto skin area
- make sure not to touch sticky side of tape
Rub tape with thumb nail to ensure good contact
Stick on the slide
Stain with diff-quick

Can be examined under oil immersion for bacteria and yeast

Question 13

what can be seen with a tape impression?

Answer 13

10 and 40 objective lens
- superficial ectoparasites
- fleas, flea dirt, lice, ear mites and eggs, harvest mite

100 objective lens (oil)
- bacteria (small)
- fungi-spores
- yeasts - eg. malassezia
- some cells - eg. neutrophils

Question 14

what are the advantages and disadvantages of tape impression?

Answer 14

Advantages
- cheap
- quick
- non-invasive
- good for hard to access areas

Disadvantages
- hard to get large population
- only top layer - no burrowing parasites

Question 15

what equipment is needed for direct impression?

Answer 15

Gloves
Clippers
Needles
Slides
Diff-quick
Immersion oil
Microscope

Question 16

what is the method of direct impression?

Answer 16

Used on exudative lesions
- if non–exudative can be ‘picked’ with a needle to express fluid

Gently press the slide onto the lesion
Air-dry
Stain with diff-quick

Question 17

what can be seen with a direct impression?

Answer 17

100 objective lens (oil)
- Bacteria, Fungi and Yeast
- inflammatory cells - eg neutrophils and eosinophils
- pre-histology smears from biopsies - Mast Cell tumors

Question 18

what are the advantages and disadvantages of direct impression?

Answer 18

Advantages
- non-invasive
- good for moist lesions
- can detect microorganisms

Disadvantages
- only surface sample
- slide could break
- not possible in difficult to reach areas

Question 19

what equipment is needed for hair brushing?

Answer 19

Gloves
Hairbrush
White and Brown paper
Paraffin
Slides
Coverslips
Diff-quick
Microscope

Question 20

what is the method of hair brushing?

Answer 20

Brush hair close to roots

Place sample:
- over white/brown paper
- moistened paper = turns brown if fleas
- in petri dish and liquid paraffin
- on slide with liquid paraffin and cover slip

Examine

Question 21

what ca be seen with hair brushing?

Answer 21

Best way to get ectoparasites
- harvest mites
- ticks
- lice
- fleas/flea dirt
- ear mites
- surface mites

Question 22

what are the advantages and disadvantages of hair brushing?

Answer 22

Advantages
- quick
- cheap
- non-invasive

Disadvantages
- only superficial ectoparasites in coat

Question 23

what equipment is needed for hair plucking?

Answer 23

Gloves
Forceps
Slides
Paraffin
Cover slips
Microscope

Question 24

what is the method for hair plucking?

Answer 24

Use forceps to pluck hair in an alopecic area

Place onto a slide with paraffin

Evaluate under low power

Question 25

what can be seen with hair plucking?

Answer 25

demodex
fungal spores

causes of problems
- broken ends = self trauma
- tapered ends = endocrine problems/inflammation

Question 26

what are the advantages and disadvantages of hair plucking?

Answer 26

Advantages
- can detect demodex and fungal infections
- quick
- easy
- good for hard to access areas

disadvantages
- painful
- temperament needs to be considered

Question 27

what equipment is needed for skin scrapes?

Answer 27

Gloves
10 blade
Slides
Coverslips
Paraffin
Microscope

Question 28

what is the method of skin scrapes?

Answer 28

Squeeze prior to scraping

Scrape on skin (superficial)

For deep scape continue until capillary oozing

Question 29

what can be seen with a skin scrape?

Answer 29

Superficial
- scabies
- lice
- ear mites

deep
- same as superficial
- plus demodex

Question 30

what are the advantages and disadvantages of skin scrapes?

Answer 30

advantages
- provides sample of epidermis
- only method to diagnose deep parasites

disadvantages
- painful
- may need sedation
- can cause further irritation
- risk of secondary infection
- feasibility depends on location

Question 31

what equipment is need for a swab sample

Answer 31

Gloves
Plain swabs/ cotton buds
Slides
Cover slips
Diff Quick
Microscope

Question 32

what is the method for swab sampling?

Answer 32

Rub swab over skin/ gently around external ear
- if dry area swab can add saline/paraffin

Roll swab along slide
- can suspend large earwax in paraffin

Add cover slip

Examine under microscope

Question 33

what can be seen with a swab sample?

Answer 33

4 or 10 objective lens
- ear mite

100 objective lens (oil)
- fungi/ringworm- moist swab
- yeast (eg Malassezia)
- bacteria
- inflammatory cells

Question 34

what are the advantages and disadvantages of swab sampling?

Answer 34

advantages
- detect bacteria and fungal infection
- quick
- easy
- good for heard to reach areas
- good for moist or deep lesions

disadvantages
- uncomfortable
- may need sedation