Gastrointestinal (GI) cytology offers many advantages to the small animal practitioner in the assessment of patients with
gastrointestinal tract disease. GI cytology is easy to perform, widely accessible (most practices will have the materials
needed to acquire and prepare samples for GI cytology), is inexpensive relative to other GI-relevant diagnostic tests, and
has the potential to provide definitive diagnoses for some patients with signs of GI disease. Some elements of GI cytology
in small animal practice are likely underutilized as a diagnostic tool. This presentation will discuss the benefits of fecal
flotation, fecal direct smears and wet mounts, cytology of rectal scrapes and impression smears or squash preparations of
intestinal biopsies.
Fecal flotation
Fecal flotation will be familiar to most veterinary nurses, and its importance as a diagnostic tool for intestinal parasitism
appreciated by all. Familiarity with the morphological forms of the various ova of the common small animal parasites (roundworms,
hookworms, whipworms, coccidial organisms, flukes in some parts of the country) is key to optimal use of fecal flotation as
a diagnostic tool in small animal practice. It is important to remember that fecal flotation may have applications in diseases
of organs other than the GI tract, most commonly the respiratory tract. For example, ova of Capillaria aerophila, a lungworm of cats, can be detected with fecal flotation. Other respiratory parasite ova capable of being detected with
fecal flotation include Oslerus osleri (tracheal worm of dogs), and Filaroides hirthi.
The solution most commonly cited as being superior for detection of the greatest number of possible GI and respiratory ova
is zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), which can be purchased as a pre-made solution. The sensitivity of ova detection is improved further
by combining ZnSO4 flotation with centrifugation. The combination of ZnSO4 flotation with centrifugation is more likely to
allow detection of Giardia cysts than flotation alone; occasionally trophozoites can also be detected by ZnSO4 centrifugation. It is important to examine
the prepared slide with both low and higher (40X) objectives as many protozoal organisms will escape detection if scanned
only with a 4X objective. It is fair to say though that clinicians may have individual preferences, and the ZnSO4 solution
may be insufficient to float some heavier ova (e.g. tapeworm ova).
Direct fecal smears
Examination of a stained smear of a fecal sample can be useful for the detection of numerous pathogens. Trophozoites of Balantidium coli, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia can all potentially be found on examination of a thin smear (usually best accomplished with a diarrheic stool sample), but
often special stains such as iodine (Giardia), methylene blue (Entamoeba histolytica), or acid methyl green (Balantidium coli) are needed to optimize detection. Some bacterial pathogens such as clostridial spores, or Campylobacter species, will be evident with a Diff-Quick or Wright's-Giemsa type stained. Such stained direct smears may also allow detection
of inflammatory cells (neutrophils, macrophages) and occasionally other intestinal pathogens that are found in the cytoplasm
of these inflammatory cells (e.g. Histoplasma, Leishmania).
Wet mounts
Wet mounts of stool samples are most commonly used for the detection of intestinal parasites that are ciliated or flagellated
and capable of movement within an aqueous medium. In addition to the trophozoites of Balantidium coli, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia, trophozoites of trichomonads such as Tritrichomonas foetus, a parasite responsible for causing large bowel diarrhea in cats and dogs, may be observed in a fresh or wet mount of a stool
sample. A drop of watery stool sample may be placed directly on a microscope slide and a cover slip placed over the drop;
the preparation should be thin enough to be able to read through. If the sample is too thick or opaque, addition of drops
of 0.9% saline until appropriately diluted is recommended. The slides are typically examined under 10X or 40X objectives,
focusing the higher power examinations for better examination of structures that resemble trophozoites. If the morphologic
features are difficult to appreciate with thin wet mounts of stool samples, a stain as noted above could be added to the smear
to help better identify observed organisms.
