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Effects of homogenizing methods on accuracy and precision of equine strongylid egg counts.
Abstract: Recommendations for control of equine strongylid parasites are based on regular determination of fecal egg counts to identify high strongylid shedders and to evaluate treatment efficacy. The McMaster technique has long been used as the standard egg counting technique in equine veterinary practice in most parts of the world, but recent work has found the Mini-FLOTAC technique to perform with significantly better accuracy and precision. The Mini-FLOTAC system comes with a homogenizing device, termed the Fill-FLOTAC, and it has been hypothesized that this device might have a significant impact on accuracy and precision. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of the Fill-FLOTAC homogenizer in comparison with the classical McMaster approach, where samples are suspended in flotation medium by stirring with tongue depressor in a plastic cup. The study compared the McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC techniques, but also included cross-over versions where the Fill-FLOTAC was used with the McMaster chamber, and the tongue depressor and plastic cup homogenizing method was used with the Mini-FLOTAC counting disc. Fecal samples were collected from horses naturally infected with mixed strongylid species. Five samples were included from each of the following egg count levels: 0-500, 501-1000, and >1000 eggs per gram (EPG). Each sample was then analyzed with all four set-ups with three subsamples collected from the same suspension, and three repeated counts determined on each subsample. Both the Fill-FLOTAC homogenizer (p = 0.0098) and the McMaster counting chamber (p = 0.0298) were significantly associated with higher strongylid egg counts, whereas the Mini-FLOTAC chamber was associated with a lower coefficient of variation (p < 0.0001). Precision, however, was not associated with homogenization method (p = 0.9341). Taken together, this study suggests that while the homogenizing method has a positive effect on egg count accuracy, the counting chamber appears to primarily affect precision.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-09-05 PubMed ID: 30253857DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.09.001Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the impact of different homogenization methods on the accuracy and precision of equine strongylid egg counts. The Fill-FLOTAC homogenization method was compared with the conventional McMaster approach, which uses tongue depressors for separation. The results suggest that while the homogenization method impacts the accuracy of the egg count, the counting chamber appears to primarily affect precision.
Investigation Approach and Methodology
- Four different combinations of homogenization devices and counting chambers were compared: the standard McMaster method, the Mini-FLOTAC method, and two crossover versions where the Fill-FLOTAC homogenizer was used with the McMaster chamber, and the tongue depressor and plastic cup homogenizing method was used with the Mini-FLOTAC counting disc.
- Fecal samples were collected from horses naturally infected with mixed strongylid species. For consistency in data, five samples were collected from each of the following egg count levels: 0-500, 501-1000, and >1000 eggs per gram (EPG).
- Each sample was then analyzed using all four setups, with three subsamples taken from the same suspension, and three counts determined on each subsample.
Key Findings
- The study found a significant association between higher strongylid egg counts and both the Fill-FLOTAC homogenizer (p=0.0098) and the McMaster counting chamber (p=0.0298).
- Meanwhile, the Mini-FLOTAC counting chamber showed a lower coefficient of variation, indicating better consistency in comparisons (p<0.0001).
- However, the homogenization method was not associated with precision, which was primarily found to be related to the choice of counting chamber (p=0.9341).
Conclusion
- The study ultimately suggests that while the homogenization method can improve the accuracy of egg count, the precision largely depends on the counting chamber used. This implies that both elements are influential in determining egg counts and must be carefully considered when selecting an approach or technique.
Cite This Article
APA
Went HA, Scare JA, Steuer AE, Nielsen MK.
(2018).
Effects of homogenizing methods on accuracy and precision of equine strongylid egg counts.
Vet Parasitol, 261, 91-95.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.09.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Electronic address: martin.nielsen@uky.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Feces / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Parasite Egg Count / methods
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Strongylida / isolation & purification
- Strongylida Infections / diagnosis
- Strongylida Infections / parasitology
- Strongylida Infections / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Johnson WL, Reynolds S, Adkins CL, Wehus-Tow B, Brennan J, Krus CB, Buttke D, Martin JM, Jesudoss Chelladurai JRJ. A comparison of Mini-FLOTAC and McMaster techniques, overdispersion and prevalence of parasites in naturally infected North American bison (Bison bison) in the USA. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2022;2:100103.
- Abdu S, Chimento M, Alarcón-Nieto G, Zúñiga D, Aplin LM, Farine DR, Brandl HB. The performance of field sampling for parasite detection in a wild passerine. Ecol Evol 2022 Aug;12(8):e9242.
- Boelow H, Krücken J, Thomas E, Mirams G, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Comparison of FECPAK(G2), a modified Mini-FLOTAC technique and combined sedimentation and flotation for the coproscopic examination of helminth eggs in horses. Parasit Vectors 2022 May 12;15(1):166.
- Ghafar A, Abbas G, King J, Jacobson C, Hughes KJ, El-Hage C, Beasley A, Bauquier J, Wilkes EJA, Hurley J, Cudmore L, Carrigan P, Tennent-Brown B, Nielsen MK, Gauci CG, Beveridge I, Jabbar A. Comparative studies on faecal egg counting techniques used for the detection of gastrointestinal parasites of equines: A systematic review. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2021;1:100046.
- Arfuso F, Bazzano M, Brianti E, Gaglio G, Passantino A, Tesei B, Laus F. Nutritional Supplements Containing Cardus mariano, Eucalyptus globulus, Gentiana lutea, Urtica urens, and Mallotus philippinensis Extracts Are Effective in Reducing Egg Shedding in Dairy Jennies (Equus asinus) Naturally Infected by Cyathostomins. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:556270.
- Amadesi A, Bosco A, Rinaldi L, Cringoli G, Claerebout E, Maurelli MP. Cattle gastrointestinal nematode egg-spiked faecal samples: high recovery rates using the Mini-FLOTAC technique. Parasit Vectors 2020 May 6;13(1):230.
- Lejeune M, Mann S, White H, Maguire D, Hazard J, Young R, Stone C, Antczak D, Bowman D. Evaluation of Fecal Egg Count Tests for Effective Control of Equine Intestinal Strongyles. Pathogens 2023 Oct 26;12(11).
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