FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Quantifying the sources of variability in equine faecal egg ...
Veterinary parasitology2012; 188(1-2); 120-126; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.005

Quantifying the sources of variability in equine faecal egg counts: implications for improving the utility of the method.

Abstract: The faecal egg count (FEC) is the most widely used means of quantifying the nematode burden of horses, and is frequently used in clinical practice to inform treatment and prevention. The statistical process underlying the FEC is complex, comprising a Poisson counting error process for each sample, compounded with an underlying continuous distribution of means between samples. Being able to quantify the sources of variability contributing to this distribution of means is a necessary step towards providing estimates of statistical power for future FEC and FECRT studies, and may help to improve the usefulness of the FEC technique by identifying and minimising unwanted sources of variability. Obtaining such estimates require a hierarchical statistical model coupled with repeated FEC observations from a single animal over a short period of time. Here, we use this approach to provide the first comparative estimate of multiple sources of within-horse FEC variability. The results demonstrate that a substantial proportion of the observed variation in FEC between horses occurs as a result of variation in FEC within an animal, with the major sources being aggregation of eggs within faeces and variation in egg concentration between faecal piles. The McMaster procedure itself is associated with a comparatively small coefficient of variation, and is therefore highly repeatable when a sufficiently large number of eggs are observed to reduce the error associated with the counting process. We conclude that the variation between samples taken from the same animal is substantial, but can be reduced through the use of larger homogenised faecal samples. Estimates are provided for the coefficient of variation (cv) associated with each within animal source of variability in observed FEC, allowing the usefulness of individual FEC to be quantified, and providing a basis for future FEC and FECRT studies.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2012-03-13 PubMed ID: 22469484DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.005Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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.

The research studies the factors influencing the variability encountered when quantifying the parasite load in horses using faecal egg count (FEC). It finds that major variability sources are egg aggregation within faeces and variation in egg concentration between faecal piles, and suggests that larger, homogenised faecal samples can reduce this variability.

Understanding FEC in Horses

  • The study addresses the faecal egg count (FEC) technique, commonly used to calculate the nematode (a type of parasite) burden in horses.
  • This method is often applied in clinical settings to guide treatment and prevention strategies.
  • However, the study notes that the statistical process for FEC is complex, involving multiple sources of error and variation between samples.

Influence of Sampling Error and Sample Variation on FEC

  • The paper highlights that it’s crucial to identify and quantify the sources of variability in the distribution of mean FEC as it can help optimize the technique’s utility.
  • To achieve this, the research utilized a hierarchical statistical model coupled with repeated FEC measurements taken from a single animal over a short time period.

Results and Insights from the Study

  • The research provides the first comparative estimate of multiple sources of both within-horse and between-horse FEC variability.
  • It shows that a significant portion of the variation in FEC among horses is due to intra-animal variation, notably the aggregation of eggs within faeces, and differences in egg concentration in different faecal piles.
  • This variability, however, can be minimised by using more substantial, homogenised faecal samples.

Role of McMaster Procedure in FEC

  • The research finds that the McMaster procedure, a commonly used method for FEC, has a small coefficient of variation and is highly repeatable when a sufficiently large number of eggs are observed.
  • Little error is associated with the counting process in this technique, thereby showing that it can be a reliable method for conducting FEC.

Implications and Future Directions

  • Understanding how variations between samples taken from the same animal can be reduced can enhance the reliability of the faecal egg count method.
  • With estimates of the coefficients of variation related to each within-animal source of variability in observed FEC, the utility of individual FEC measurements can be quantified.
  • This can inform future FEC and Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) studies, potentially leading to more effective parasitic load management in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Denwood MJ, Love S, Innocent GT, Matthews L, McKendrick IJ, Hillary N, Smith A, Reid SW. (2012). Quantifying the sources of variability in equine faecal egg counts: implications for improving the utility of the method. Vet Parasitol, 188(1-2), 120-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.005

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 188
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 120-126

Researcher Affiliations

Denwood, M J
  • Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. matthew.denwood@glasgow.ac.uk
Love, S
    Innocent, G T
      Matthews, L
        McKendrick, I J
          Hillary, N
            Smith, A
              Reid, S W J

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Feces / parasitology
                • Helminthiasis, Animal / diagnosis
                • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
                • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                • Horses
                • Parasite Egg Count / methods
                • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
                • Seasons

                Citations

                This article has been cited 17 times.
                1. Kazienga A, Levecke B, Leta GT, de Vlas SJ, Coffeng LE. A general framework to support cost-efficient survey design choices for the control of soil-transmitted helminths when deploying Kato-Katz thick smear. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023 Jun;17(6):e0011160.
                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011160pubmed: 37347783google scholar: lookup
                2. Coffeng LE, Vlaminck J, Cools P, Denwood M, Albonico M, Ame SM, Ayana M, Dana D, Cringoli G, de Vlas SJ, Fenwick A, French M, Kazienga A, Keiser J, Knopp S, Leta G, Matoso LF, Maurelli MP, Montresor A, Mirams G, Mekonnen Z, Corrêa-Oliveira R, Pinto SA, Rinaldi L, Sayasone S, Steinmann P, Thomas E, Vercruysse J, Levecke B. A general framework to support cost-efficient fecal egg count methods and study design choices for large-scale STH deworming programs-monitoring of therapeutic drug efficacy as a case study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023 May;17(5):e0011071.
                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011071pubmed: 37196017google scholar: lookup
                3. Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Bousquet E, Bartz J, Heyer N, Nielsen MK, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Occurrence of Strongylid Nematode Parasites on Horse Farms in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, With High Seroprevalence of Strongylus vulgaris Infection. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:892920.
                  doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.892920pubmed: 35754549google scholar: lookup
                4. Morgan ER, Lanusse C, Rinaldi L, Charlier J, Vercruysse J. Confounding factors affecting faecal egg count reduction as a measure of anthelmintic efficacy. Parasite 2022;29:20.
                  doi: 10.1051/parasite/2022017pubmed: 35389336google scholar: lookup
                5. 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.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100046pubmed: 35284858google scholar: lookup
                6. Coffeng LE, Levecke B, Hattendorf J, Walker M, Denwood MJ. Survey Design to Monitor Drug Efficacy for the Control of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis and Schistosomiasis. Clin Infect Dis 2021 Jun 14;72(Suppl 3):S195-S202.
                  doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab196pubmed: 33906226google scholar: lookup
                7. Tombak KJ, Budischak SA, Hauck S, Martinez LA, Rubenstein DI. The non-invasive measurement of faecal immunoglobulin in African equids. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020 Aug;12:105-112.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.05.005pubmed: 32528845google scholar: lookup
                8. Lynsdale CL, Mon NO, Franco Dos Santos DJ, Aung HH, Nyein UK, Htut W, Childs D, Lummaa V. Demographic and reproductive associations with nematode infection in a long-lived mammal. Sci Rep 2020 Jun 8;10(1):9214.
                  doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66075-wpubmed: 32513991google scholar: lookup
                9. Odden A, Denwood MJ, Stuen S, Robertson LJ, Ruiz A, Hamnes IS, Hektoen L, Enemark HL. Field evaluation of anticoccidial efficacy: A novel approach demonstrates reduced efficacy of toltrazuril against ovine Eimeria spp. in Norway. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018 Aug;8(2):304-311.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.05.002pubmed: 29777962google scholar: lookup
                10. Geurden T, Chartier C, Fanke J, di Regalbono AF, Traversa D, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Demeler J, Vanimisetti HB, Bartram DJ, Denwood MJ. Anthelmintic resistance to ivermectin and moxidectin in gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Europe. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2015 Dec;5(3):163-71.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2015.08.001pubmed: 26448902google scholar: lookup
                11. Hämäläinen A, Raharivololona B, Ravoniarimbinina P, Kraus C. Host sex and age influence endoparasite burdens in the gray mouse lemur. Front Zool 2015;12:25.
                  doi: 10.1186/s12983-015-0118-9pubmed: 26435728google scholar: lookup
                12. Lynsdale CL, Santos DJ, Hayward AD, Mar KU, Htut W, Aung HH, Soe AT, Lummaa V. A standardised faecal collection protocol for intestinal helminth egg counts in Asian elephants, Elephas maximus. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2015 Dec;4(3):307-15.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.06.001pubmed: 26236632google scholar: lookup
                13. Stringer AP, Linklater WL. Host density drives macroparasite abundance across populations of a critically endangered megaherbivore. Oecologia 2015 Sep;179(1):201-7.
                  doi: 10.1007/s00442-015-3319-1pubmed: 25903391google scholar: lookup
                14. Matthews JB. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2014 Dec;4(3):310-5.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.10.003pubmed: 25516842google scholar: lookup
                15. Kuzmina TA, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Dzeverin II, Kharchenko VA. Fecundity of various species of strongylids (Nematoda: Strongylidae)--parasites of domestic horses. Parasitol Res 2012 Dec;111(6):2265-71.
                  doi: 10.1007/s00436-012-3077-5pubmed: 22903448google scholar: lookup
                16. Jamshidpour R, Nabavi R, Moadab H, Rezaie F, Chale AC, Sargison N. Evaluation of Benzimidazole Resistance in Equine Cyathostomins in the Kermanshah Province of Iran Using Coprological Analysis and Allele-Specific PCR. Iran J Parasitol 2025 Jul-Sep;20(3):389-399.
                  doi: 10.18502/ijpa.v20i3.19614pubmed: 41181201google scholar: lookup
                17. Bariod L, Saïd S, Calenge C, Scheifler R, Fritsch C, Peroz C, Benabed S, Bidault H, Chabot S, Débias F, Duhayer J, Pardonnet S, Poirel MT, Revelli P, Vuarin P, Bourgoin G. Essential mineral elements in roe deer: Associations with parasites and immune phenotypes in two contrasting populations. Ecol Evol 2024 Oct;14(10):e11613.
                  doi: 10.1002/ece3.11613pubmed: 39474475google scholar: lookup
                Subscribe to our newsletter
                Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.