How do you make a smear for an ear mite? - briefly
Collect a sterile cotton swab, wipe a tiny sample of ear discharge onto a clean glass slide, add a drop of mineral oil or saline, cover with a coverslip, and examine under a microscope. Label the slide and analyze promptly to avoid drying.
How do you make a smear for an ear mite? - in detail
Preparing a microscopic smear to detect ear mites requires sterile technique, precise handling of the specimen, and appropriate staining. The process can be divided into three phases: collection, slide preparation, and staining.
Specimen collection
- Secure the animal gently; use a restraining towel or assistant if needed.
- Examine the ear canal with a otoscope to locate debris or live mites.
- Using a sterile cotton swab or a small curette, rotate the instrument against the canal walls to dislodge mites, wax, and cellular material.
- Transfer the swab tip into a clean microcentrifuge tube containing 0.9 % saline solution; vortex briefly to release the material.
Slide preparation
- Place a clean glass slide on a flat surface.
- Using a pipette, dispense 2–3 µL of the saline suspension onto the slide.
- Spread the droplet with a second slide or a cover slip at a 45° angle to create an even, thin film.
- Allow the smear to air‑dry for 1–2 minutes; do not heat the slide.
Staining and examination
- Prepare a drop of a rapid stain such as methylene blue or a commercial veterinary mite stain.
- Apply the stain to the dried smear, cover with a cover slip, and let it sit for 30–60 seconds.
- Gently tap the excess stain off the edge of the cover slip; avoid washing the slide.
- Examine under a light microscope at 100×–400× magnification. Look for the characteristic oval body, short legs, and gnathosomal structures of ear mites.
Quality control
- Use a new swab and slide for each ear to prevent cross‑contamination.
- Verify stain efficacy with a control slide containing known mite material.
- Record the number of mites observed and note any accompanying inflammatory cells.
Following these steps yields a clear, diagnostic smear that enables accurate identification of ear mite infestations.