Accuracy and precision of McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC egg counting techniques using egg-spiked faeces of chickens and two different flotation fluids

摘要

Faecal egg counting techniques (ECTs) are useful tools for assessing anthelmintic efficacy and selecting hosts resistant to parasite infection. McMaster (MM) is one of the most commonly used ECTs, but it suffers from low sensitivity and precision. Mini-FLOTAC (MF) has been proposed to replace MM, but so far has not been evaluated for gastro-intestinal nematode infections in chickens. This study compared sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of MM and MF with two trials using egg-spiked faecal samples ranging from 50-1250 eggs per gram of faeces (EPG). In addition, effects of two flotation fluids with different specific gravities (SG), namely salt (SG= 1.20) and sucrose solutions (SG= 1.32), on accuracy and time-spent for both ECTs were evaluated.