Which pig parasite can be diagnosed by muscle biopsy?

Which pig parasite can be diagnosed by muscle biopsy?

• A. Oesophagostomum Dentatum
• B. Trichinella Spiralis
• C. Eimeria Suis
• D. Fasciola Hepatica

Answer: (B)

Muscle biopsy is diagnostic for parasites that form encysted larvae in skeletal muscle. Trichinella spiralis travels to the muscles and forms encysted larvae within muscle fibers, creating a characteristic nurse cell–larva complex that can be seen on biopsy. This makes muscle tissue the key diagnostic sample for trichinellosis. The other parasites don’t produce muscle-stage cysts; they inhabit the digestive tract or liver and are diagnosed from feces or other tissues. Oesophagostomum dentatum and Eimeria suis are identified by intestinal parasites or oocysts in feces, while Fasciola hepatica is detected by liver-stage involvement or eggs in feces/serology, not muscle tissue.

Muscle biopsy is diagnostic for parasites that form encysted larvae in skeletal muscle. Trichinella spiralis travels to the muscles and forms encysted larvae within muscle fibers, creating a characteristic nurse cell–larva complex that can be seen on biopsy. This makes muscle tissue the key diagnostic sample for trichinellosis.

The other parasites don’t produce muscle-stage cysts; they inhabit the digestive tract or liver and are diagnosed from feces or other tissues. Oesophagostomum dentatum and Eimeria suis are identified by intestinal parasites or oocysts in feces, while Fasciola hepatica is detected by liver-stage involvement or eggs in feces/serology, not muscle tissue.