Which organism is identified by a cecal exam postmortem?

• A. Helicobacter spp.
• B. Brucella spp.
• C. Syphacia spp.
• D. Aspiculuris spp.

Answer: (D)

A cecal postmortem exam is used to detect parasites that actually live in the cecum. The organism that fits this scenario is a pinworm species that inhabits the cecal and adjacent intestinal regions, so examining the cecal contents for adults or eggs readily reveals its presence. Aspiculuris spp. is a mouse pinworm whose life stage and eggs are found in the caecum and nearby sections, making the cecal exam the appropriate method to identify it.

The other organisms are not identified this way. Helicobacter spp. are bacteria of the stomach or intestines and are detected by culture, histology, or molecular methods rather than by inspecting the cecal contents for parasites. Brucella spp. is a bacterial pathogen typically identified by culture or serology, not by a postmortem parasite exam. Syphacia spp. is a pinworm typically detected by perianal or fecal testing, since its eggs are laid around the perianal area rather than being identified primarily through the cecal contents.