Fig. 5

Protocols evaluated in the second phase (II: filtration and flotation) for the recovery of Taenia saginata eggs from the gastrointestinal tract, including the time required to perform each step. Gray arrows denote steps from the best-performing protocol of the previous phase, while the other colored arrows (blue, green or beige) denote modified steps. A A single-filtration protocol (G.II.2) and double-filtration protocol (G.II.3) were evaluated. In both protocols, filtration was performed after macerating the gut homogenate in PBS, through a 60-μm filter (for G.II.2) or through stacked 100-μm and 20-μm filters (for G.II.3), following which the filters were thoroughly rinsed with PBS/Tween 80. The 20-μm filter was rinsed an additional time after being inversely attached to a clean tube. Finally, centrifugation at 2000 g for 15 min was performed. B Protocol G.II.4 involved maceration of the gut homogenate in a sugar/salt solution, after which the gut homogenate was subjected to flotation for 1 h in the same solution. Protocol notation: G, gastrointestinal tract; II, phase during which the protocol was evaluated; 2–4, protocol evaluated within that phase. PBS, Phosphate-buffered saline