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Parasitology research2014; 113(6); 2401-2406; doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3919-4

Comparison of the sensitivity of coprological methods in detecting Anoplocephala perfoliata invasions.

Abstract: The autopsy of 487 slaughter horses revealed the presence of Anoplocephala perfoliata in 36 animals. The invasions varied in the intensity (3 to 2,069 tapeworms) and in the level of tapeworms' proglottid maturity. Twenty nine horses were found to contain tapeworms with gravid proglottid. Fecal samples collected from the rectum were tested using following techniques: flotation with solution-saturated NaCl, decantation, McMaster's, and modified sedimentation-flotation methods (50 g feces samples, flotation solution-saturated NaCl and sucrose, specific gravity 1.25 g/ml). The number of A. perfoliata positive fecal samples was significantly higher using the sedimentation-flotation methods 21 (58.33%) than flotation 6 (16.66%), decantation 3 (8.33%), and McMaster's 1 (2.77%) techniques. The sensitivities of the coprological methods during the patent period were 20.69, 10.34, 3.45, and 72.41% for the flotation, decantation, McMaster's, and sedimentation-flotation method, respectively. Sedimentation-flotation techniques proved to be more sensitive than other one. The lowest intensity of invasion possible to detect using this method was nine tapeworms with gravid proglottid.
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Publication Date: 2014-04-29 PubMed ID: 24777342PubMed Central: PMC4031382DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3919-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the effectiveness of different diagnostic tests for detecting the presence of Anoplocephala perfoliata (a type of tapeworm) in horses. The study found that the sedimentation-flotation method was the most sensitive technique for identifying these parasitic invasions.

Study Overview

The research involved the autopsy of 487 slaughter horses, of which 36 were found to be infected with Anoplocephala perfoliata. The infection levels varied significantly, ranging from 3 to 2,069 tapeworms per horse. Upon investigation, the researchers determined that twenty-nine of the infected horses had tapeworms with mature proglottid, a segment of a tapeworm containing fertilized eggs.

Comparison of Diagnostic Techniques

Various diagnostic methods were used in the study, including:

  • Flotation with solution-saturated NaCl
  • Decantation
  • McMaster’s technique
  • Modified sedimentation-flotation method

The researchers tested fecal samples from the horses using these techniques to determine the presence and number of A. perfoliata. The results of the tests revealed significant differences in sensitivity between the methods.

Results

The accuracy of the diagnostic techniques varied considerably:

  • The sedimentation-flotation method detected the presence of A. perfoliata in 21 of the samples (58.33%).
  • The flotation technique identified the parasite in 6 samples (16.66%).
  • Decantation found the tapeworms in 3 samples (8.33%).
  • McMaster’s method detected them in only 1 sample (2.77%).

Furthermore, the sensitivity of the methods during the patent period (when the tapeworms are mature and releasing eggs) was 20.69% for flotation, 10.34% for decantation, 3.45% for McMaster’s, and 72.41% for the sedimentation-flotation method.

The modified sedimentation-flotation method proved to be the most sensitive technique, capable of detecting an invasion as low as nine tapeworms with gravid proglottid.

Cite This Article

APA
Tomczuk K, Kostro K, Szczepaniak KO, Grzybek M, Studzińska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M. (2014). Comparison of the sensitivity of coprological methods in detecting Anoplocephala perfoliata invasions. Parasitol Res, 113(6), 2401-2406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3919-4

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 113
Issue: 6
Pages: 2401-2406

Researcher Affiliations

Tomczuk, Krzysztof
  • University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland, krzysztof.tomczuk@up.lublin.pl.
Kostro, Krzysztof
    Szczepaniak, Klaudiusz Oktawian
      Grzybek, Maciej
        Studzińska, Maria
          Demkowska-Kutrzepa, Marta
            Roczeń-Karczmarz, Monika

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Cestoda / isolation & purification
              • Cestode Infections / diagnosis
              • Cestode Infections / parasitology
              • Cestode Infections / veterinary
              • Feces / parasitology
              • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
              • Horse Diseases / parasitology
              • Horses
              • Sensitivity and Specificity

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              Citations

              This article has been cited 11 times.
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