Comparative analysis of different methods of staining the larvae Haemonchus contortus , Mullerius sp. (Nematoda, Strongylida) and Strongyloides papillosus (Nematoda, Rhabditida)

Abstract

We conducted an analysis of 14 methods of staining nematode larvae of the species Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803), Strongyloides papillosus (Wedl, 1856) and Mullerius sp. It was established that alizarin red, brilliant blue, gentian violet and bromophenol blue did not colour the nematode larvae acceptably without heating. The most contrasting staining of the cuticle of H. contortus, S. papillosus and Mullerius sp. was achieved using brilliant blue, methylene blue, Ziehl’s solution (with heating of preparations) and Lugol’s solution (without change in temperature). The staining of the nuclei of the intestinal cells of H. contortus was the best by using Lugol’s solution, while to the best reveal the morphological peculiarities of the gullet of S. papillosus and H. contortus, stains brilliant blue, methylene blue, brilliant green (with heating of preparations) and Lugol’s solution (without change in temperature) have been observed. Differentiation of the nematodes of the gullet H. contortus and S. papillosus is possible through determination of the presence of the cuticle using brilliant green (with heating of preparations). The methods of differential diagnostics presented here allow near-patient testing of the larvae of the above-mentioned nematode species to be conducted without paralyzing them by formalin or spirit, which saves time in their identification.