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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Effects of fecal collection and storage factors on strongyli...
Veterinary parasitology2009; 167(1); 55-61; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.09.043

Effects of fecal collection and storage factors on strongylid egg counts in horses.

Abstract: Fecal analyses are becoming increasingly important for equine establishments as a means of parasite surveillance and detection of anthelmintic resistance. Although several studies have evaluated various egg counting techniques, little is known about the quantitative effects of pre-analytic factors such as collection and storage of fecal samples. This study evaluated the effects of storage temperature, storage time and airtight versus open-air storage on fecal egg counts. The experimental protocols were replicated in two study locations: Copenhagen, Denmark and Athens, Georgia, USA. In both locations, the experiment was repeated three times, and five repeated egg counts were performed at each time point of analysis. In experiment A, feces were collected rectally and stored airtight at freezer (-10 to -18 degrees C), refrigerator (4 degrees C), room (18-24 degrees C), or incubator (37-38 degrees C) temperatures. Egg counts were performed after 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 120h of storage. In experiment B, feces were collected rectally and stored airtight or in the open air in the horse barn for up to 24h. Egg counts were performed after 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24h of storage. In experiment A at both locations, samples kept in the refrigerator showed no decline in egg counts, whereas storage in the freezer and incubator led to significantly declining egg numbers during the study. In contrast, storage at room temperature yielded marked differences between the two study locations: egg counts remained stable in the U.S. study, whereas the Danish study revealed a significant decline after 24h. In experiment B, the Danish study showed no differences between airtight and open-air storage and no changes over time, while the U.S. study found a significant decline for open-air storage after 12h. This difference was attributed to the different barn temperatures in the two studies. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the pre-analytic factors affecting egg counts in horses using an experimental protocol replicated in two contrasting geographic and climatic locations. Our results demonstrate that refrigeration is the best method for storage of fecal samples intended for egg count analysis, but that accurate results can be derived from fecal samples collected from the ground within 12h of passage.
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2009-09-30 PubMed ID: 19850412DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.09.043Google 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 studied how the way fecal samples are collected and stored impacts the count of strongylid eggs in horses. The results showed that keeping samples refrigerated prevented a drop in egg counts, but storage in room temperatures, freezers, and incubators caused significant declines.

Research Background and Motivation

  • This study was undertaken due to the increasing importance of fecal analyses in equine establishments for parasite detection and surveillance of anthelmintic resistance.
  • While many studies have evaluated different egg counting techniques, there was a lack of understanding regarding how pre-analytic factors, particularly the collection and storage of fecal samples, affect egg counts quantitatively. hence, this research was conducted to fill this gap of knowledge.

Research Methodology

  • The study evaluated the impacts of three primary variables: storage temperature, storage time, and storage method (airtight vs open-air) on fecal egg counts.
  • This experimental research was carried out in two geographically different locations – Copenhagen, Denmark, and Athens, Georgia, USA, and was repeated three times in each place.
  • Five repeated egg counts were performed at various time intervals after storing the rectally collected fecal samples under different conditions.

Findings from Experiment A

  • Fecal samples were stored in different temperature environments: freezer, refrigerator, room, and incubator.
  • In both study locations, refrigeration of fecal samples did not yield any reduction in egg counts, confirming its effectiveness in preserving the egg count.
  • Storing samples in the freezer and incubator led to a significant drop in egg numbers.
  • Storing at room temperature showed varying results in both locations. While the egg count remained stable in the samples from the U.S. study, a significant decline was observed in the samples from Denmark after 24 hours.

Results from Experiment B

  • Fecal samples were stored either airtight or in open air in the horse barn for up to 24 hours.
  • The Danish study showed no difference in egg count between airtight and open-air storage and no changes over time.
  • However, the U.S. study found a significant decrease in egg count for open-air storage after 12 hours. This was attributed to the different barn temperatures in the two locations.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The research concluded that refrigeration is the most effective method for storing fecal samples meant for egg count analysis.
  • However, the research also established that accurate results can be derived from fecal samples collected from the ground within 12 hours of passage.
  • This study is significant as it provides crucial insights on how pre-analytic factors impact egg counts in horses, which in turn could guide equine establishments in preserving samples for accurate analyses.

Cite This Article

APA
Nielsen MK, Vidyashankar AN, Andersen UV, Delisi K, Pilegaard K, Kaplan RM. (2009). Effects of fecal collection and storage factors on strongylid egg counts in horses. Vet Parasitol, 167(1), 55-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.09.043

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 167
Issue: 1
Pages: 55-61

Researcher Affiliations

Nielsen, M K
  • Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup Denmark. mkn@life.ku.dk
Vidyashankar, A N
    Andersen, U V
      Delisi, K
        Pilegaard, K
          Kaplan, R M

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Climate
            • Denmark
            • Feces / parasitology
            • Georgia
            • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
            • Horse Diseases / parasitology
            • Horses
            • Least-Squares Analysis
            • Parasite Egg Count / methods
            • Parasite Egg Count / standards
            • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
            • Specimen Handling / methods
            • Specimen Handling / standards
            • Specimen Handling / veterinary
            • Strongylida / growth & development
            • Strongylida Infections / diagnosis
            • Strongylida Infections / parasitology
            • Strongylida Infections / veterinary
            • Temperature
            • Time Factors

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