WORMCHECK SERVICES
FLOTATION FAECAL EGG COUNT
Standard FEC for all livestock, $10 each
FECs are the gold standard for parasite diagnosis in livestock. The results from a FEC are interpreted as Eggs Per Gram (EPG) of manure. Using the EPG value, it can be determined if animals need to be dewormed or not.
For horses, FECs will accurately detect strongyles and ascarids infections. Strongyles make up 99% of all horse infections, and a standard FEC is an excellent routine health check to monitor overall worm burdens in horses.
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For ruminant livestock, (cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas), FECs will detect strongyle species, tapeworms and other roundworm types (e.g. whip worm, Nematodirus spp). Using the EPG value from a FEC, worm burdens and any deworming requirements can be quickly identified using FECs. However, as all strongyle eggs have similar morphological characterisitics, it is difficult to distinguish between strongyle species on a FEC. Further testing, such as the Barbers Pole PCR (detailed below), may be required if you wish to determine if you have Barbers Pole worm in your livestock.
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EQUINE TAPEWORM FEC
A higher sensitivity FEC to check for equine tapeworm $15 each. Recommended once a year for horses.
WormCheck is now offering a FEC specific for Equine Tapeworms (Anoploceaphala species).
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A normal flotation FEC uses just 2g of manure – this enables FECs to be high throughput and therefore economically viable. A small 2g sample of manure is more than enough to detecting strongyle and ascarid eggs in horses, however for worms that do not consistently lay eggs, it does lead to a decrease in sensitivity. Equine tapeworms do not shed eggs as consistently as roundworms, and so can be missed on a standard flotation FEC. It is estimated that the typical sensitivity of standard FECs is less than 50% for tapeworms. There is also some confusion about the actual true prevalence of tapeworms in Australian horses, due to the lack of consistent and accurate testing. Published studies have the prevalence at anywhere between 5% and 62% of horses across Australia.
By increasing the mass of manure checked, and including centrifuge steps, the sensitivity can be increased to above 90% giving a much more reliable indication of tapeworm infection in your horses. Why do we need to check for tapeworms? Firstly, it is to make sure that you are using the appropriate dewormers. As flatworms, tapeworms need to be treated using a drench containing praziquantel. Most anthelmintic drenches for horses can be bought as a single active just for roundworms (e.g. ivermectin only) or as a combination for roundworms and tapeworms (e.g. ivermectin + praziquantel). Choosing a roundworm only dewormer when you have a tapeworm infection means that those tapeworms will not be removed. Choosing a roundworm + tapeworm dewormer when you do not have tapeworms means the unnecessary usage of a drug. Secondly, while small burdens of equine tapeworms are considered unpathogenic, large burdens may result in symptoms of unthrifitness and enteritis. Significant burdens may lead to colic or even perforation of the intestine, which is fatal.
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References:
Beasley, A. M., Kotze, A. C., Barnes, T. S., & Coleman, G. T. (2020). Equine helminth prevalence and management practices on Australian properties as shown by coprological survey and written questionnaire. Animal Production Science, 60(18), 2131-2144.
Traversa, D., Fichi, G., Campigli, M., Rondolotti, A., Iorio, R., Proudman, C. J., ... & Perrucci, S. (2008). A comparison of coprological, serological and molecular methods for the diagnosis of horse infection with Anoplocephala perfoliata (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea). Veterinary Parasitology, 152(3-4), 271-277.
Tomczuk, Krzysztof, et al. "Comparison of the sensitivity of coprological methods in detecting Anoplocephala perfoliata invasions." Parasitology research 113 (2014): 2401-2406.
Proudman, C. J., and G. B. Edwards. "Validation of a centrifugation/flotation technique for the diagnosis of equine cestodiasis." The Veterinary Record 131.4 (1992): 71-72.
BARBERS POLE PCR
A sensitive and accurate test to identify the presence of Barbers Pole worm in ruminant livestock. $50 per test.
See the Barbers Pole Page for more information.
Barber’s Pole (BP) worm (Haemonchus contortus) is considered the worst of all the roundworms to infect ruminants, such as goats, sheep and alpacas. The reason BP is notorious is that it is one of the only worm species that directly sucks blood. Adult worms live in the abomasum (stomach) and a single worm may take up to 0.05mL of blood per day. With a burden of 5000 worms, an animal may lose 250mL of blood per day. In severe (acute) cases, animals can die from anaemia and protein loss. In chronic cases, the continued loss of blood will result in animals that lose weight and show weakness and inappetence rather than classic anaemia symptoms (e.g. pale membranes, bottle jaw).
Monitoring the presence of BP in your livestock can allow you to make more informed decisions about treatment. Being able to determine what type of strongyles are infecting livestock is important for appropriate management: BP worm may require more aggressive management than less problematic strongyles, such as nodule worm (Oesophagostum spp) or scour worms (Trichostrongylus spp).
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BP worms are most problematic in small ruminants, such as sheep, goats and alpacas.
SEDIMENTATION FAECAL EGG COUNT
A FEC for diagnosing Liver Fluke and Rumen Fluke infections in livestock. $15 each.
Liver flukes and rumen flukes cannot be diagnosed on a standard FEC due to differences in their eggs compared to roundworms. If your animals graze wet/swampy ground it may be worth getting them checked for liver fluke.
Liver fluke can be highly pathogenic in livestock and causes weight loss and anemia. Currently liver fluke is common throughout the irrigation districts around Maffra, VIC, and there are also reports of it around Wonthaggi, VIC.
FECRT
Monitoring drug resistance
Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) are a secondary FEC performed 10-14 days after de-worming, to ensure that treatment was effective. For most livestock, a decrease of over 95% in worm eggs is desirable. FECRTs can be organised the same as FECs, and cost $10 each.