The following is a e-mail conversation which I felt some others may be interested in:

__________________
~~~~ Someone is always listening, whether you want them to our not . . . now I've said to much. ~~~~

5.9.3 Leopard geckos
2.2.0 U. Phantasticus
0.0.3 D. Auratus
0.0.2 D. Azureus
0.1.0 Homosapians
0.1.0 Ratterrier
0.0.0 Cats!!! (We're Dog & Lizard People)
http://home.comcast.net/~tha3rdman

To which I replied:

__________________
~~~~ Someone is always listening, whether you want them to our not . . . now I've said to much. ~~~~

5.9.3 Leopard geckos
2.2.0 U. Phantasticus
0.0.3 D. Auratus
0.0.2 D. Azureus
0.1.0 Homosapians
0.1.0 Ratterrier
0.0.0 Cats!!! (We're Dog & Lizard People)
http://home.comcast.net/~tha3rdman

3rdman I really like that habitiat you made, in fact this afternoon I was yard saling and flea marketing and I saw a bookshelf like you started with and my g/f had to drag me away, she could see it in my eyes ! I was gonna get it and spend way too much time on it! But I wanted to ask you about the fecal exams you do, do you gram stain what you find? ANd do you isolate what you get growing in the sodium nitrate (thats why you use right?)? I think im going to start doing my own, i learned alot in my microbio class and have some great resources here at campus. Just wondering how you did it?
thanks
-cf

Hey looks very familiar maybe even my writing lol, just a tip I think you should include a link to your site so others can see. Now I can see it in your signature, sorry.

If your going to start doing them I do recomend the book "Understanding Reptile Parasites" As for gram staining, enlighten me, I have never heard of it.

The sodium nitrate isn't used to "grow" the parasites it's used to seperate the eggs and fecal matter. The solution has a specific gravity of 1.2 which to my under standing is lighter than the fecal matter, but heavier then the eggs, which makes them float. Probly why they call is a fecal float

P.S. The bookshelves are 50 dollar brand new at various chain stores from "Home Depot" to "Office Max" even "Wal-Mart (in some cases)"

__________________
~~~~ Someone is always listening, whether you want them to our not . . . now I've said to much. ~~~~

5.9.3 Leopard geckos
2.2.0 U. Phantasticus
0.0.3 D. Auratus
0.0.2 D. Azureus
0.1.0 Homosapians
0.1.0 Ratterrier
0.0.0 Cats!!! (We're Dog & Lizard People)
http://home.comcast.net/~tha3rdman

ok now im more confused ! Lets make sure we are on the same page!
step 1-place sodium nitrate into tube
step 2- place small peice of feces in tube and shake
step 3- allow to settle and save the surface material and disregard the bottom
step 4- If im right up to now this is where im getting confused, you take the surface material and smear it on a slid then view under a microscope?


So all you are looking for is eggs? Most feces is made up of >30% bacteria by dry weight, due to natural microfauna and microflaura. So doesnt a single fecal test yeild several different strainds of bacteria, fungus, and yeast. I definately do need that book !
As for the gram stain its just a stain used on isolated bacteria to determine their cell wall characteristics, or just whether or not they are gram postive or gram negative, this helps to further determine what they (the bacteria) are using simple tests with selective medias. Theres also serial dillutions to make sure that the bacteria aren't in overwhelming amounts!
Thanks and if we come up with any questions Ill be able to talk with my lab proffesor thursday
-cf

I guess it's time that I finish my project and make that likn to the procedures go some where,

All of you steps above are more than less correct. Alot of people mix the feces and idoine in a vial, then fill the tube about 1/2 with the solution stir well, and let sit for 10-15 min depending on solution used.

After the set time fill the vial till it begins to brim, place a cover slide on top of the solution allow to sit again for a few min. then carefully remove the slide cover and place on a slide.

Wala, have fun viewing, and Yes in a float your looking for eggs. Now on a fecal smear your looking for alot of other things, movement and such

Although when I did A smear I seen alot of movement most of which I figured were bacteria being I was down 1000x - 2000x and they still werent clear. And some really looked like sperm

As for the bacteria and such they must be heavy enough to sink in a 1.2 solution

__________________
~~~~ Someone is always listening, whether you want them to our not . . . now I've said to much. ~~~~

5.9.3 Leopard geckos
2.2.0 U. Phantasticus
0.0.3 D. Auratus
0.0.2 D. Azureus
0.1.0 Homosapians
0.1.0 Ratterrier
0.0.0 Cats!!! (We're Dog & Lizard People)
http://home.comcast.net/~tha3rdman

What type of eggs do you look for? Not many microscopic species reproduce by eggs.
Tommorow im gonna go to the science library and see if I cant find something on reptiles pathogens, as well as their commensalistic relationships!
Is this all they do at the vets? Seems like not much for 15 bucks? Ive only had it done once and the results were negative. .
What I was getting confused was I though you took a fecal smear and used a media to get growth. Which seems much more useful but maybe with reptiles its an overkill.
Ill let you know what I find!
-cf

I'd most definatly be interested in any additional information you would have also a moderator on here Is another biology buff.

On my site I have pictures of Pinworm ova, But yes basically thats all they do at the vets, they arent culturing any thing just see whats in the poo lol

__________________
~~~~ Someone is always listening, whether you want them to our not . . . now I've said to much. ~~~~

5.9.3 Leopard geckos
2.2.0 U. Phantasticus
0.0.3 D. Auratus
0.0.2 D. Azureus
0.1.0 Homosapians
0.1.0 Ratterrier
0.0.0 Cats!!! (We're Dog & Lizard People)
http://home.comcast.net/~tha3rdman

Checking the poo doesn't sound as fun anymore ! But im still gonna try it! This is much easier than anything I have been doing recently. I just need to get a microscope now, thats a big investment though! Ill let you know what I find at the library tommorow, if I make it! But no matter what ill be doing some research on this topic shortly. Thanks for the help!
-cf