title: Fasciola hepatica: comparison of the sedimentation and FLOTAC techniques for the detection and quantification of faecal egg counts in rats.
abstract: We compared the sedimentation and FLOTAC techniques for the detection and quantification of Fasciola hepatica eggs in faecal samples obtained from 120 experimentally-infected rats before intervention, and in 42 rats after drug administration. Additionally, the average time for a single test was determined. A single FLOTAC showed a higher sensitivity (92.6%) than 2, 4 and 8 sedimentation readings (63.0-85.2%) for detecting F. hepatica eggs in rat faeces post-treatment. On average, it took 21 min to prepare and examine a single FLOTAC, whereas 114 min were needed for the sedimentation method including the reading of 8 slides. In both treated and untreated rats, the sedimentation method resulted in higher mean faecal egg counts (FECs) than FLOTAC (P<0.05). In view of the high sensitivity and efficiency, the FLOTAC technique holds promise for experimental work in the F. hepatica-rat model. Additional research is needed to determine the reasons for the observed differences in FECs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Duthaler
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Maurelli
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keiser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics