Intestinal parasites are a common cause of which clinical sign?

• A. Diarrhea
• B. Cough
• C. Vomiting
• D. Rash

Answer: (A)

Intestinal parasites irritate and disrupt the lining of the gut, leading to inflammation, poor absorption, and increased gut motility. These changes commonly result in diarrhea, making it the most likely clinical sign you’d see with intestinal parasites. In a wildlife patient, you’d often note soft, frequent stools, sometimes with mucus. Coughing points to parasites that migrate to the lungs rather than staying in the intestines, vomiting can occur with GI upset but is less characteristic, and a rash isn’t a typical feature of intestinal parasite infections. So diarrhea is the best-supported sign.