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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports / Comparison of McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC fecal egg counting te...
Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports2017; 10; 132-135; doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.10.003

Comparison of McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC fecal egg counting techniques in cattle and horses.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare two fecal egg count (FEC) techniques; McMaster (McM) and Mini-FLOTAC (mF), for the detection of cattle and horse gastrointestinal nematode eggs, in different locations. Experiment 1: feces were collected from 16 cattle and FEC was performed individually, using mF with the sensitivity of 5 eggs per gram of feces (EPG) and McM with a sensitivity of 50 EPG at Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais - EPAMIG and the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the University of Parana - LDP/UFPR. Experiment 2: Fecal samples from 30 horses were analyzed with mF (sensitivity of 5 EPG) and McM (sensitivity of 25 EPG) at the University of Mato Grosso do Sul - UFMS and LPD/UFPR. Experiment 3: feces were collected from 14 foals and FEC was performed using mF (sensitivity of 5 EPG); and McM (sensitivity of 25 EPG) only at the LPD/UFPR. For cattle, the average FEC of mF was 962 at LPD; and 1248 at EPAMIG; for McM it was 1393 at LPD and 1563 at EPAMIG. For horses, the FEC average using the mF was 650 at LPD and 469 at UFMS; and for McM it was 677 at LPD and 554 at UFMS. For foals, the average FEC for mF was 404 and 436 for McM. In all experiments, the standard deviation and the coefficient of variation values were significantly lower for mF. Therefore, it is recommended the use of the Mini-FLOTAC technique, which is a method with less variability and higher accuracy, particularly for animals with low FEC.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2017-10-10 PubMed ID: 31014585DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.10.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research compares two methods of detecting eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes in cow and horse feces: the McMaster technique and the Mini-FLOTAC technique. The study found that Mini-FLOTAC is more accurate and less variable, particularly for animals with lower egg counts in their feces.

Study Design and Data Collection

  • The study consists of three experiments. In each experiment, fecal samples from cattle, horses, and foals were analyzed using the Mini-FLOTAC technique (mF), and the McMaster technique (McM).
  • The first experiment involved fecal samples from 16 cattle, which were analyzed at two locations: Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG) and the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the University of Parana (LDP/UFPR). mF was used with a sensitivity of 5 eggs per gram of feces (EPG), while McM was used with a sensitivity of 50 EPG.
  • The second experiment focused on fecal samples from 30 horses, using the mF method (sensitivity of 5 EPG) and the McM method (sensitivity of 25 EPG) at the University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) and LDP/UFPR.
  • In the third experiment, feces collected from 14 foals were analyzed only at the LPD/UFPR, using both mF and McM with a sensitivity of 5 EPG and 25 EPG respectively.

Findings

  • In the first experiment, the average fecal egg count (FEC) using mF was 962 at LPD and 1248 at EPAMIG for cattle. With the McM method, the average FEC for cattle was 1393 at LPD and 1563 at EPAMIG.
  • In the second experiment, the average FEC for horses using mF was 650 at LPD and 469 at UFMS. Using McM, the average FEC for horses was 677 at LPD and 554 at UFMS.
  • In the third experiment, the average FEC for foals was 404 using mF and 436 using McM.
  • In all three experiments, the standard deviation and the coefficient of variation values were significantly lower for mF, indicating less variability with this technique.

Conclusion

  • The findings suggest that the Mini-FLOTAC method offers higher accuracy and less variability, particularly for animals with low FEC.
  • The researchers recommend using the Mini-FLOTAC technique for fecal egg count in cattle and horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Dias de Castro LL, Abrahão CLH, Buzatti A, Molento MB, Bastianetto E, Rodrigues DS, Lopes LB, Silva MX, de Freitas MG, Conde MH, Borges FA. (2017). Comparison of McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC fecal egg counting techniques in cattle and horses. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 10, 132-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.10.003

Publication

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports
ISSN: 2405-9390
NlmUniqueID: 101680410
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 132-135
PII: S2405-9390(17)30052-7

Researcher Affiliations

Dias de Castro, Luciana L
  • Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Federal University of Parana, UFPR, R. dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral, Curitiba, PR CEP 80.035-050, Brazil. Electronic address: lu.diasdecastro@ufpr.br.
Abrahão, Carolina L H
  • Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Federal University of Parana, UFPR, R. dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral, Curitiba, PR CEP 80.035-050, Brazil.
Buzatti, Andreia
  • Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Federal University of Parana, UFPR, R. dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral, Curitiba, PR CEP 80.035-050, Brazil.
Molento, Marcelo B
  • Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Federal University of Parana, UFPR, R. dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral, Curitiba, PR CEP 80.035-050, Brazil.
Bastianetto, Eduardo
  • Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
Rodrigues, Daniel S
  • Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais EPAMIG, José Cândido da Silveira, 1647, União, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 31170-495, Brazil.
Lopes, Luciano B
  • Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril, Caixa Postal 343, Sinop, MT CEP 78550-970, Brazil.
Silva, Marcos Xavier
  • Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
de Freitas, Mariana Green
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443, Bairro Ipiranga, CP 549, CEP 79074-460, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
Conde, Mario Henrique
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443, Bairro Ipiranga, CP 549, CEP 79074-460, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
Borges, Fernando de Almeida
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443, Bairro Ipiranga, CP 549, CEP 79074-460, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cattle Diseases / parasitology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
  • Parasite Egg Count / methods
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / diagnosis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Citations

This article has been cited 20 times.
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