Evaluation of iodine-glycerol for wet-mount preparation of feces for detection of intestinal parasites

Abstract

parasites. The Iodine-Glycerol wet mount of feces was compared with 10% KOH and saline wet mount preparations of feces. Results: A total of 200 fresh feces specimens were examined in the study of which 58 specimens were found to be positive for either trophozoites, cysts, ova or larvae of different parasites by all these methods. A total of 49 feces specimens were positive by Iodine-Glycerol preparation of feces, while 38 and 36 feces specimens were positive by 10% KOH and saline preparations respectively. Wet mount preparations made using Iodine wet mount do not dry up due to the presence of glycerol. Wet mounts prepared with the iodine–glycerol solution were compared with conventional iodine mounts and were evaluated for any visible differences in the clarity of mount and the visual details of morphology and internal structures of parasites under low- and high-power microscopy. The iodine–glycerol solution lasted longer without drying out, even after 2 days, while the iodine wet mounts dried up in <10 min. The parasitic ova, cysts and larvae were impacted by the use of 0.25% Iodine-Glycerol and could be easily visualized, detected and identified. Conclusion: From these findings we recommend the routine use of 0.25% Iodine-Glycerol wet mount along with saline wet mount for demonstration of intestinal parasites in a parasitology laboratory.