Parasites & Vectors (Feb 2023)

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

  • Gustavo Adolfo Sabatini,
  • Fernando de Almeida Borges,
  • Edwin Claerebout,
  • Leonor Sicalo Gianechini,
  • Johan Höglund,
  • Ray Matthew Kaplan,
  • Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes,
  • Sian Mitchell,
  • Laura Rinaldi,
  • Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna,
  • Pedro Steffan,
  • Robert Woodgate

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05680-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 1 – 17

Abstract

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Abstract The diagnostics of ruminant parasites remains one of the cornerstones for parasite control best practices. Field veterinarians have several techniques at their disposal (fecal egg count, coproculture, FAMACHA®, plasma pepsinogen, ELISA-Ostertagia, ELISA-Fasciola, Baermann and ELISA-Lungworm) for the identification and/or quantification of gastrointestinal nematodes, lungworms and liver fluke infecting small ruminants and cattle. Each of these diagnostic tools has its own strengths and weaknesses and is more appropriate for a specific production operation and/or age of the animal (young and adults). This review focuses on the usability and interpretation of the results of these diagnostic tools. The most advanced technical information on sampling, storage, advantages and limitations of each tool for different types of production operations and animal categories is provided. Graphical abstract

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