Practical guide to the diagnostics of ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes, liver fluke and lungworm infection: interpretation and usability of results

Table 6 Characteristics and main limitations of different copromicroscopic techniques used for the diagnosis of helminth infection in ruminants

FEC technique	Diagnostic performance			Technical performance			Comment
FEC technique	Detection limit	Accuracy	Precision	Cost	Processing time^b	Equipment needs	Comment
McMaster	Medium^a	Low	Low	Inexpensive	Medium	Basic laboratory equipment	Most common technique across the globe
Modified Improved McMaster	Medium	Low	Low	Low	Medium	Fully equipped laboratory
Modified Wisconsin	Very Low	Low	Very low	Low	Long	Fully equipped laboratory	Lack of precision due to the lack of a grid on the coverslip
Mini-FLOTAC	Low	High	High	Low	Very long	Basic laboratory equipment	Allows detection of GIN, lungworm larvae and trematodes
FLOTAC	Very Low	Very high	Very high	Low	Very long	Fully equipped laboratory	Requires centrifugation steps with two different rotors
FECPAK	Medium	Low	Low	Expensive	Long	All equipment is provided by the manufacturer	It is a pen-sided tool. Utility is limited to gastrointestinal strongyles

GIN Gastrointestinal nematodes
^aDetection limit of McMaster. The efficacy of the modified McMaster can be increased by changing the fecal/fluid ratio and/or reading several chambers
^bMedium: 6 min/sample; Long: 13 min/sample [37]

ISSN: 1756-3305