title: A comparison of the FECPAK and Mini-FLOTAC faecal egg counting techniques.
abstract: Faecal egg counts (FECs) are used for detecting and quantifying nematode infections and are the basis for determining drug efficacy and anthelmintic resistance in faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs). Currently, several FEC techniques are available for detecting and quantifying eggs of sheep nematodes. A comparison of the egg counts from the FECPAK (with a minimum detection limit of 30 eggs per gram (epg)) and Mini-FLOTAC (with a minimum detection limit of 5 epg) showed better diagnostic performance with Mini-FLOTAC in terms of measurement error (level of over- or under-estimation of FEC) and precision (variability in FEC). A tendency to under-estimate FEC was observed with the FECPAK particularly at egg densities of less than 500 epg. It is concluded that Mini-FLOTAC is a reliable diagnostic tool offering reduced measurement error and a higher level of precision.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Division of Farm Animal Science, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom. Electronic address: olivia.godber@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Olivia F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Godber
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Division of Farm Animal Science, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Clare J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Phythian
authors.affiliation: University of Naples Federico II, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.affiliation: University of Naples Federico II, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ianniello
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coles
authors.affiliation: University of Naples Federico II, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: University of Naples Federico II, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: FECPAK; Faecal egg counts; Mini-FLOTAC; Nematodes; Sheep