Parasite Simulated Laboratory
What is the Parasite simulated laboratory demostrating?
This laboratory is to be conducted to examine a fecal collection and fecal floatation. This laboratory is simulated based off a live animal laboratory. Throughout the live animal laboratory, students took a fecal collection from cattle (using PPE, personal protective equipment) then conducting a fecal floatation to examine under the microscope. Looking under the microscope, students were able to determine the amount and types of parasites that were present in the fecal floatation.
How do I teach this lab?
- First, students will need to make a fecal collection for this simulation.
- Take small amount of the hay and mix it with a teaspoon of sand and silt.
- These materials represent what the animal ingests (parasite eggs, hay, and water).
- (Hay- feed, Sand- tapeworm, Silt- roundworm)
- These materials represent what the animal ingests (parasite eggs, hay, and water).
- Take small amount of the hay and mix it with a teaspoon of sand and silt.
- Instructor will need to inform students about PPE and the importance. Students will then need to put on the PPE that is provided for them.
- Next, students will need to simulate collecting the fecal sample.
- Students will need to use the water wigglies as the rectum and students will use two fingers to collect the sample.
- Students will collect at least 4 grams of the fecal materials.
- Students will then need to prepare the fecal sample for the microscope slide.
- Instructor will have students place the 1 gram sample onto the weight.
- Students will need to strain the fecal sample with 10mL of water and collect the liquid.
- Using the dropper, the students will use the dropper to place one drop of the liquid sample on to the microscope slide.
- Students will then look at the liquid sample and count the silt and sand particles that represent the parasite eggs.
- Instructors can have students record on the worksheet how many parasite eggs were found and complete the questions provided.
Lesson Plan
Click the following link to view the lesson plan for this simulated lab: Lesson Plan – Parasites
Materials List
- Great value 16oz clear cups
- Great value premium knives 48 ct
- Household metal wire mesh oil strainer
- Super fish water wigglies
- Modeling Dough
- Paper towels
- Nitrile gloves
- Sand
- Potting soil
- Hay
- Plastic pipet (disposable)
- Microscope or magnifying glass
- Prepared Slides
- Digital Scale
- Centrifuge tubes with racks
- Blank microscope slides
- Disposable OB gloves
- Wash bottles
This is simulating a parasite lab taught by Dr. Powell and Dr. Rosencrans. For additional information on the content of Dr. Powell and Dr. Rosencran’s lab, please visit the Supplemental Resources tab!
