Page 312 - parasitology for medical and clinical laboratoryprofessionals

292 GLOSSARY

Erythema chronicum Expanding red rash found in acute animals, particularly those that have hair. Fleas are capable of
infections with Lyme disease agents and is in migrans response transmitting parasitic infections such as tularemia, typhus, and
to the actual skin infection with the Lyme bacteria. brucellosis. Fleas that are swallowed by animals and humans
Erythematous rash Redness and eruption of the skin may also be infected by cat and dog tapeworms and may infect
caused by dilatation and congestion of the capillaries that are other animals and humans.
often a sign of inflammation or infection. Flotation method A common method used to recover the
Esophagus Muscular tube that carries food and liquids from eggs of parasites and oocysts is that of a flotation technique.
the mouth to the stomach. This procedure relies on the differences in the specific grav-
Ether and formalin Used in the formalin-ethyl ether sedi- ity of the eggs that are contained in fecal specimens, where the
mentation procedure for the detection of parasites and their eggs float and the fecal material is found on the bottom of the
eggs. tube used for the test.
Ethyl acetate Ethyl acetate for safety has replaced ether for Fluke Parasitic worm of the trematode class.
some procedures as this compound is quite flammable and ex- Fly disease of hunters Hunters may be exposed to ill ani-
plosive. The procedure using this chemical is primarily for the mals with epizootic hemorrhagic disease or bluetongue virus
routine recovery of protozoan cysts, helminth larvae, and ova that are spread by a small, biting midge fly.
(including operculate and schistosoma eggs) but is not as use- Folic acid Used to treat certain types of anemias, including
ful for other organisms. those as a result of parasitosis.
Etiologic agent The organism or microorganism that is re- Fomites Equipment or substances to which organisms cling
sponsible for causing a disease. and are able to transmit disease to those in contact with these
Eukaryotic Condition where the nucleus is organized and items.
enclosed within a membrane. Fork-tailed cercariae Dermatitis caused by schistosomes
Excystation “Hatching” of a cyst, which becomes metacystic may be called “swimmer’s itch” and occurs in water when the
trophozoites. skin is penetrated by a free-swimming, fork-tailed infective cer-
caria, which originate in a snail host.
F Formalin Preservative for biological specimens and may be com-
bined with other chemicals to achieve a more desirable result.
Febrile A condition characterized by a clinically significant Fossilized Preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and
rise in the body temperature. other organisms; ancient specimens may have had organic ma-
Fecal-oral route Refers to handling or coming in contact terial replaced by minerals such as silicon or calcium.
with objects or food materials that have become contaminated Free-living Term refers to an organism with the ability to act
by feces and are transferred to the mouth by hand or some or function independently outside a host.
other mechanical means. Fulminant colitis Rapid and sudden onset of inflammation
Feces Solid waste material. of the colon.
Feline Refers to members of the cat family.
Fertilized An ovum is fertilized where there is a fusion of G
gametes to produce a new organism. In animals, the process
involves a sperm fusing with an ovum. Gametocytes Malarial stage in life cycle of the genus Plasmo-
Fibrils Threadlike fiber or filamentous appendages such as a dium which reproduces in the blood of the Anopheles mosquito.
myofibril or neurofibril as a component of a cell or a parasitic Gelatin capsule Device attached to a string which is swal-
organism. lowed into the gastrointestinal tract upon which parasites may
Filariasis Condition where a chronic disease is present due to adhere.
filaria or microfilaria. “Germ of laziness” Term applied to those suffering from
Filariform infective Strongyloides stercoralis is an example the effects of hookworm infection, such as accompanying
of the roundworm that stage larvae lives in soil. The larvae anemia and malnourishment.
have two stages in their life cycle: a rod-shaped (rhabdoid) Giardiasis Condition of a victim who suffers from an intesti-
first stage, which is not infective; and in the second stage the nal infection by Giardia lamblia.
threadlike (filariform) larvae can penetrate intact human skin Giemsa stain Hematologic stain useful in demonstrating
and even internal organs. morphology of blood parasites.
Flagellates Protozoa with long hairlike tails (flagella) that pro- Glandular Generally used for diseases that relate to, affect, or
vide locomotion. resemble a gland.
Flame cell Specialized excretory cell that performs functions Glycogen vacuole Glycogen is similar to starch and will
similar to a kidney; found in many freshwater invertebrates stain with a variety of stains; this is a food storage vacuole
such as nematodes, flatworms, platyhelminthes, and rotifers. found in certain amoebae; humans also store glycogen in tis-
Flatulence Excessive gases in the stomach and intestines. sues and organs to be used as energy sources.
Flatworm Belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes. Golgi apparatus Series of curved and parallel sacs that may
Fleas Ectoparasites that are wingless and have stout legs concentrate products for the secretory cells; in other cells their
for jumping. Fleas are generally parasitic for warm-blooded function is not completely understood.