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  Discussion on Fecal exam results
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Member:
vera

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 9:19 am:

I took advantage of the free fecal exam program by intervet and just got the results back. horse #1 is ++ (11-50) for roundworms, horse #2 is + (1-11) for both roundworms and strongyles, and horse # 3 is + for strongyles and ++ for roundworms. Both ++'s that I have are on the low end of the scale. Still I'm very worried. I did this right before giving them pyrantal pamoate at the beginning of March. What should I do?????
Member:
vera

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 2:19 pm:

The total eggs counts were given as well. Horse #1 had a total egg count of 13. I'm supposed to multiply by 150 and that gives me eggs per pound, so horse #1 has 1950 eggs/pound manure and horse number #2 has 1050 eggs/lb manure, and horse #3 has 2400 eggs/pound. All I've seen on the internet as far as interpreting these results is in eggs per gram so in that case they all have single digit numbers if I divide by 454. I'm quite confused.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 - 8:49 am:

Angela, since I do not know the procedure used I cannot really comment on their values and evaluations. But your math is correct and if the technique used comparable to a McMasters technique your values (eggs per lb/454 gm per lb) indicate a very low level of parasitism.

Have you seen our recently updated deworming program? There are good reasons why we would recommend a avermectin type dewormer at this time of the year instead of pyrantel. More about this in both the Overview and Schedule articles.
DrO
Member:
vera

Posted on Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 - 12:10 pm:

Results
All labs use the “Modified Wisconsin Sugar Floatation Technique” for conducting fecal worm egg counts. The results are reported as the incidence of eggs from a specific genera, coccidia or tapeworm: 0-10 eggs =+, 11-50 eggs =++, over 50 eggs =+++. The total number of eggs of all genera (except tapeworms and coccidia) is given in Total Count column. Number of eggs reported X 150 = Eggs per Pound of Manure (the standard measure of parasite contamination level).

Above is copied from the paperwork for the fecal exam. Yeah, I think I'm a little messed up with my rotation schedule. I was planning on giving Equimax next. How soon can I give that? I'd like to get on a better routine.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 - 8:13 am:

Modified Wisconsin Sugar Flotation Technique I will have to look up. And I don't think I have ever seen eggs per lb reported, I always see eggs per gm. If the results of this test are comparable there evaluations are very strict as their +++ translates to as little as 2 eggs per gram a common level found in healthy horses.

Little work has been done on what is considered a safe level of parasite burden and recommendations are based largely on levels detected in otherwise healthy horses. Yes we all know there are lots of health problems with high parasite burdens but things get a bit hazy between high and no parasites. In general the lower the better but this eventually bumps into overexposure of our anthelmintics and resistance development. This is an ongoing issue with no absolute solution yet.
DrO
Member:
mari1yn

Posted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 - 3:13 pm:

My vet is concerned dewormers are becoming ineffective. That worms are becoming resistant to dewormers. They recommend doing fecal testing and deworm only based on results of fecal testing. Does this work?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 23, 2009 - 7:05 am:

Hello Marilyn,
With the recent finding that ascarids are becoming resistant to the avermectins we are being warned no dewormer is forever. We cover your question in depth in our "Overview" and "Schedule" articles at Horse Care » Worms, Deworming, Parasite Control.
DrO
Member:
mari1yn

Posted on Saturday, Oct 24, 2009 - 12:19 pm:

Thanks Dr. O. Am changing vets after move to CA. The current DVM I am considering wants to use dewormer only for parasite(s) found in fecal sample which she would check each month. She says this is the new thinking among veterinarians. Just seeking clarification. Thanks again for your valued opinion. Marilyn
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 25, 2009 - 9:49 am:

Good worming regimens will typically have prepatent periods longer than 30 days which means once administered it takes longer than 30 days before egg productions starts back up almost no matter how wormy the horse is. I would think basing deworming programs on quarterly or even twice yearly results would be sufficient in the vast majority of cases. The bigger the problem the more frequently it should be done.
DrO
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