Assignment instructions: As a newly hired Veterinary Technician at your local animal hospital, you were asked to complete a gram stain on a fecal swab sample obtained from a canine patient in the office. The patient is experiencing signs of severe dehydration and lethargy, possibly caused by the severe diarrhea the patient has been experiencing for the past few days. To rule out any possible bacterial pathogenic causes, a fecal swab and gram stain analysis was ordered.
After performing the gram stain, you observe mostly red, slightly curved, rod-like shaped cells under the 100x objective of a light microscope:
*** see photo of cell stain for this assignment in attachments***
A microscope image featuring mostly red, slightly curved, rod-like shaped cells, under the 100x objective of a light microscope
You have then been asked to prepare a report analyzing this gram stain result. Include in your report, the following:
Are these cells stained gram-negative or gram-positive?
If so, how can you determine that the staining process was performed correctly?
What can you determine about the cell wall type of the cells shown?
What can be determined about the cells overall cellular shape? Cellular arrangement?
Explain why this staining method is considered a differential stain and not a simple stain. Whats the value behind using this staining method and not a simple staining method in this scenario?
In summary, identify a rationale for possible causes of infection in this patient. Based on your microscope analysis, what are potential bacterial candidates for your diagnosis? Use basic taxonomic descriptions and criteria to help you in your analysis. Also, feel free to consider the symptoms the patient is experiencing as further support for your clinical diagnosis.
Are there more tests to consider after this result and if so, why? What are the limitations associated with conducting just a gram stain result for diagnosis?
Must include:
Basic knowledge of microscopic characteristics for bacteria: cell shape, cell arrangement, cell wall type.
Basic knowledge of the gram stain method and how its used to differentiate and identify bacterial organisms.
Demonstration of basic knowledge of taxonomic classification for bacteria
