Journal of Helminthology

Table of Contents - 1998 - Volume 72, Issue 04  

Research Note

Specific gravity of Opisthorchis viverrini eggs

T. Harnnoia1 c1, A. Wijita1, N. Morakotea1, V. Pipitgoola2 and W. Maleewonga2

a1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

a2 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

Abstract

The specific gravity of the eggs of the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini was determined using a sucrose gradient centrifugation and found to range from 1.2713 to 1.3043. The peak egg count was located at the sucrose fraction with a specific gravity of 1.2814. An attempt to float eggs in saturated sodium nitrate solution, sp.gr. 1.4, failed. Examination of human stool specimens for O. viverrini eggs by simple flotation in saturated sodium nitrate solution and the formol-ether sedimentation technique revealed that the flotation technique was not as efficient as the sedimentation technique. It was suggested that the flotation techniques were inappropriate for the detection of O. viverrini eggs in faeces or contaminated soil.

(Accepted March 25 1998)

Correspondence:

c1 Fax: 66 53 217144, E-mail: tharnnoi@suandok01.medicine.cmu.ac.th