Parasitology

Parasitology

The Parasitology section of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Clinical Diagnostic Laboratories provides diagnostic services to identify parasites from multiple hosts including companion animals, horses, livestock, camelids, wildlife, and exotic and laboratory animals. Our goal is to improve animal health and support veterinarians in treating and managing parasitic infections in individual animals and herds by offering accurate detection and identification of parasites of veterinary concern. 

Diagnostic Services

We specialize in detecting and identifying parasites from various sample types, including animal feces, tissues, and fluids. Our lab uses validated techniques to ensure accurate identification, which is critical for diagnosis, treatment, and management of parasites.

Fecal Testing:
  • Qualitative, double centrifugal fecal flotation
  • Fecal floats are performed using zinc sulfate (spg 1.18–1.2) to detect Giardia spp. 
  • Quantitative fecal egg count (FEC) and fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT)
  • McMaster test for livestock and horses
  • Modified Stoll’s test for camelids (separate sample submission form)
  • Mini-FLOTAC for hookworms in dogs
  • Qualitative fecal sedimentation for fluke ova
  • Direct fecal smear (wet mounts for in-patients only)
  • Baermann technique to recover larval nematodes
Serum Testing:
  • Heartworm antigen test
    • Heat-treated heartworm antigen test can be requested for immune complex dissociation (ICD)
  • Neospora caninum indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in dogs
Additional Testing:
  • Knott's technique to detect heartworm microfilariae in blood
  • Identification of ecto- and endoparasites submitted in biopsies, or as necropsy samples, whole specimens, etc.
  • Tritrichomonas foetus/blagburni InPouch culture (feline only)
  • KOH digestion of skin scrapings for ectoparasites
  • Acid-fast stain for Cryptosporidium oocysts
  • Direct immunofluorescent assay for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts
Research Collaboration

We collaborate on research projects to develop new diagnostic methods, investigate parasitological problems, or provide customized testing. Visit our Research Website for more information.

Contact and Consultation

We offer expert consultations on test selection, specimen collection, and result interpretation. To reach our team, email the Parasitology Department at vetparasitology@ucdavis.edu. We strive to respond to inquiries within 1-2 business days.

All tests are conducted by an experienced hospital laboratory technician (HLT) and overseen by veterinary medicine faculty who specialize in identifying parasitic infections in domestic and wild animals.

General Submission Guidelines

We accept a range of samples, including feces, blood, urine, tracheal washes, skin scrapings, whole parasites, and necropsy materials.

  • Please provide detailed case history and signalment with each submission to ensure accurate diagnosis.
  • For shipping conditions, sample requirements, fees, and turnaround times, refer to our Test Menu.
  • Forms and submission guidelines are available on our website under Forms & Guidelines.

 

Note: Laboratory submissions must be made by a licensed veterinarian. We do not accept submissions from animal owners, and results are only released to veterinarians.