The Comprehensive Parasitology (Culture, PCR + Parasitology) profile is an important tool for identifying imbalances in intestinal microflora. It includes comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora including Clostridium species, and dysbiotic flora, as well as detection of infectious pathogens and parasites by PCR and other gold standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also performed for appropriate cultured bacterial and fungal species at no additional charge. Parasitology testing can include one-, two- or three-day collection, based on practitioner preference.

NOTE: Please ensure that a correct amount of stool sample is provided in EACH vial. If this cannot be the case, please click on the <Practical> tab for further information.

Indications

Contributing/causal factors

• Antibiotic use

• Consumption of exotic and uncooked foods

• Contamination of the water supply

• Household pets

• Increased use of daycare centers

• Increased travel to/visits from countries where parasitic infection is endemic

Comprehensive Parasitology (Culture, PCR + Parasitology) profile is an important non-invasive diagnostic tool that permits practitioners to objectively evaluate the status of beneficial and imbalanced commensal bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, yeast/fungus and parasites by culture, PCR, and other gold standard methods.. Precise identification of pathogenic species and susceptibility testing greatly facilitates selection of the most appropriate pharmaceutical or natural treatment agents.

Bacteriology
A good balance of beneficial microflora has been known to be associated with health benefits since the turn of the century. At that time Metchnikoff drew attention to the adverse effects of dysbiotic gut microflora on the host and suggested that ingestion of fermented milks ameliorated what he called "autointoxication." He proposed that the consumption of large quantities of Lactobacillus species would reduce the number of toxin-producing bacteria and result in better health and increased lifespan.

Over the past 90-plus years there has been extensive scientific research demonstrating that a good balance of Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and beneficial E. coli bacteria are important to the functional health of the gut, and as a consequence, to the whole organism. The benefits identified include inhibition of microbial pathogens, prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, prevention of travelers' diarrhea, reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms, reduction in serum cholesterol levels, enhancement of the immune system, and inhibition of the proliferation of Candida albicans. Research has shown that improved biological value of food can be achieved through the activity of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria which have been reported to produce folic acid, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, biotin and vitamin K.

The mechanisms by which these benefits are derived are not yet fully understood. However, research suggests that some of the beneficial effects may be due to the following activities of beneficial bacteria:

• Release of substances antagonistic to enteropathogenic microorganisms such as:
• lactocidin
• lactobicillin and
• acidolin
• Competition with pathogens for adhesion receptors
• Production of lactase
• Production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, propionate and acetate

In a healthy balanced state of intestinal flora, the beneficial bacteria make up a significant proportion of the total microflora. However, in many individuals we see an imbalance of beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of non-beneficial or even pathogenic microorganisms—dysbiosis. This can be due to a variety of factors including:

• Daily exposure to chemicals in our drinking water that are toxic to friendly bacteria
• The use of antibiotics
• Chronic consumption of highly processed foods (low in fiber, high in sugar)
• High stress levels

Patients may present with chronic symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fatigue, chronic headaches and allergies to a variety of foods.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prescriptive and natural agents is also performed for appropriate cultured bacterial species at no additional charge. This provides the clinician with important and specific clinical information to help plan an appropriate treatment protocol.

Practical

Specimen requirements: STOOL

QUANTITY: Each vial must be filled until the indicated fill line, and must not be filled to the top.

STORAGE: 

Black & Orange capped vials: REFRIGERATE (DO NOT freeze)

PLEASE NOTE:

If there are any missing or improperly produced samples, the following options are available:

1. SEND A NEW (COMPLETE) SAMPLE, where the patient/practitioner will be liable for the added shipment costs.

2. REQUEST a downgraded version of the test. The downgraded report will only contain the analytes measured from each vile:

   - BLACK capped vial: parasitology

   - YELLOW/ORANGE capped vial: Bacteria/Yeast Culture & PCR

Once the downgraded version of the test has been requested based on the delivered vials, the invoice price will be adjusted to accommodate the new report. A new order will have to be submitted to receive a full report, as results cannot be transferred between past orders.

The x2 indicates two day collection.

When doing the stool test, you have seven (7) days to collect all the vials from the date you start collecting the first vial.

Taking enzymes will affect the results. We recommend to stop taking digestive enzymes 2 days before starting the test and during the test.

We do allow for patients to take magnesium citrate, Psyllium grain, or prune juice.

Age requirements:

Applicable to all ages. For infants, collect from the middle of the stool, not touching the diaper as this will contaminate the sample. The stool needs to be free of urine.

Research

Imbalanced flora

Mackowiak PA. The normal microbial flora. N Engl J Med. 1982;307(2):83-93.

Dysbiotic Flora

• Lispki E. Digestive Wellness. New Canaan,CT: Keats Publishing;1996.

• Mitsuoka T. Intestinal Flora and Aging. Nutr Rev 1992;50(12):438-446.

• Murray MT. Stomach Ailments and Digestive Disturbances. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing; 1997.

• Pereira SP, Gainsborough N, Dowling RH. Drug-induced Hypochlorhydria Causes High Duodenal Bacterial Counts in the Elderly. Ailment Pharmacol Ther 1998;12(1)99-104.

• Weisburger JH. Tea and Health: The Underlying Mechanisms. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1999;220(4):271-275.4.

Beneficial Flora

• Elmer G, Surawicz C, and McFarland L. Biotherapeutic agents - a Neglected Modality for the Treatment and Prevention of Intestinal and Vaginal Infections. JAMA. 1996; 275(11):870-876.

• Fitzsimmons N and Berry D. Inhibition of Candida albicans by Lactobacillus acidophilus: Evidence for Involvement of a Peroxidase System. Microbio. 1994; 80:125-133

• Fuller R. Probiotics in Human Medicine. Gut. 1991;32: 439-442.

• Oksanen P, Salminen S, Saxelin M, et al. Prevention of Travelers’ Diarrhea by Lactobacillus GG. Ann Med. 1990; 22:53-56.

• Percival M. Intestinal Health. Clin Nutr In. 1997;5(5):1-6.

• Perdigon G, Alvarez M, et al. The Oral Administration of Lactic Acid Bacteria Increases the Mucosal Intestinal Immunity in Response to Enteropathogens. J Food Prot. 1990;53:404-410.

• Siitonen S, Vapaatalo H, Salminen S, et al. Effect of Lactobacilli GG Yoghurt in Prevention of Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea. Ann Med. 1990; 22:57-59.

• Valeur, N, et al. Colonization and Immunomodulation by Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract. Appl Environ. Microbiol. 2004 Feb; 70(2):1176-81.

• Weisburger JH. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1999;220(4):271-5.