Fecal Egg Counts: A useful tool in parasite management Eco-Farm Day, Cornwall, ON Feb 25, 2017 Laurie Maus MSc. Hawk Hill Farm, Dunvegan ON

Parasites in Livestock Large financial impact on the livestock industry Responsible for death, disease and reduced productivity Results in increased costs for veterinary support and feed Rescue treatment can result in loss of organic status of the animal

Parasite Life Cycle

Parasite management First steps in parasite management is to identify the problem: Who - groups/individuals are vulnerable What - parasites are present Where - environments that are most contaminated When – are parasites present

Modified McMaster Fecal Egg Count Easy to learn Quantitative Cost effective Should be used in combination with other tools Producers should work with their veterinarian

Use FEC in combination with: eye mucous membrane colour (FAMACHA) body condition score growth rate diarrhoea/dags Other symptoms such as bottle jaw, coat/fleece condition, energy level

FAMACHA Chart

Body Condition Scores

Limitations of FEC: only detects parasites whose eggs are shed in manure eg does not detect bots in horses, lungworms in sheep false negatives eg " hypobiosis, pre-patent period false positives eg not all parasites cause disease eg many species of coccidia inability to tell the difference between eggs of different species ie number of species have very similar eggs

Capital equipment for FEC: McMaster slide Weigh scale Microscope Tea strainers Hand counter Timer Measuring device such as a syringe, graduated cylinder or cup Estimated set up costs <$400.

Capital Equipment

McMaster Slide

Disposable supplies FEC: Transfer pipettes or 1 ml syringes Tongue depressors Dixie Cups Flotation solution Estimated costs per sample 25 cents

Sample Collection collect fresh samples and keep cool (not frozen) store in frig process within 7 days but ideally within 3-4 be consistent in sampling, sample preparation and sample counting keep records especially if doing fecal egg reduction tests https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?itemID=21718#.WMbYR6Lav cs

General sample preparation: Weigh sample (2 or 4 grams) Mix with flotation solution Strain into second cup Stir well and load first chamber Stir well and load second chamber Place on microscope and set timer (minimum 2 minutes) Count both chambers – count nematodes, tapes, coccidia separately Take total count and multiply by appropriate multiplier

What you could see: Nematodes Tapes (not in horses) Coccidia And a whole lot of stuff that are not eggs

Parasite Identification: Ruminants

Parasite Eggs: Ruminants

When you first look down the scope:

Nematodes – Sheep/Goats

Tapeworms: Sheep/Goats

Trichuris (Whipworm)- Sheep

Parasite Identification: Camelids

Interpretation of results: Work with vet until you are comfortable with interpretation Interpretation dependent on age of animal, reproductive status of the animal, time of year, time on pasture, identity of the parasite, other symptoms For example I am more conservative with interpretation of counts for lambs, older animals or ewes with multiple lambs

Parasite management includes: pasture management targeted treatment maintenance of refugia stock selection proper nutrition proper drenching technique quarantine new and returning stock stock management

Parasite Management There are no “magic bullets” for parasite management No drug, organic supplement or nutraceutical will solve what is effectively a management issue

Hands on training: Hawk Hill Farm, Dunvegan ON End of May to September 3-4 hours Examine 1-2 samples Class size < 5 students Includes follow up support