Kato Thick and Kato-Katz Smear Technique

• Who developed the Kato Thick Smear Technique?

  Kato and Miura
• Originally, what was the Kato Technique developed for?

  Schistosomiasis control programs in Japan
• What is the Kato Technique used for?


  Discovery and quantification of eggs in stool samples
• What is not useful for diagnosis using the Kato Technique?


  Protozoa or helminth larvae
• What is the main determinant for the sensitivity of the KatoTechnique?

  Consistency of the stool
• What type of method is the Kato Thick Smear Technique?

  Qualitative method
• What is a characteristic of the Kato Thick Smear Technique?


  It is simple and economical, and is useful in mass stool examinations
• What kind of eggs are best detected using the Kato Thick Smear Technique?


  Eggs with thick shells
• What happens if the preparation of Kato Thick is kept too long before examination?

  Some eggs become too transparent or distorted, making identification very difficult
• Kato Thick Smear Technique usefulness is limited? 


  If stools are diarrheic or watery
• Kato Thick Smear Technique not able to detect?

  protozoan cysts and trophozoites
• What is the best time frame for examining the Kato Thick preparation?


  10-20 minutes
• What type of method is Kato-Katz?


  Quantitative method
• What does the Kato-Katz method employ to determine the intensity of helminth infection?

  Egg counting
• What is the main determinant for the sensitivity of Kato-Katz technique?

  Consistency of the stool
• What type of stool yields higher egg counts in the Kato-Katz technique?


  Well-formed stools
• What solution can be layered over the cellophane paper for the identification of Schistosoma ova?

  1% eosin solution
• What is the purpose of 1% eosin solution in the Kato-Katz method?


  To help in the visualization of the miracidium
• What is the Kato-Katz technique used to assess in relation to anthelminthic drugs?

  Cure rate and egg reduction rate
• For what type of surveys is the Kato-Katz method used?


  Epidemiological surveys for the monitoring of a helminth control program
• Which infections can be assessed for intensity using the Kato-Katz method?


  Schistosoma and common soil-transmitted helminths like Ascaris, Trichuris, and Hookworm
• It clears the fecal material, enabling the visualization of helminth eggs under LPO.

  Glycerin
• This provides green background, and minimizes brightness. Not useful for diagnosis of protozoan infections.


  Malachite green