At home fecal egg count tests

[BroncoMo]

https://www.farmsteadhealth.com/microscope.html#fecal%20kit

Has anyone used these? I’m trying to revamp and improve my worming program. I understand the evolution of worming and that FECs are recommended, but they have never been practical for me. I’ve tried a few times through my vet but as someone with a full time job outside of horses, and several horses to do (12-14; small breeding program plus a few prospects), I simply don’t have the time to get it done. If these kits are accurate and user friendly, it would pay for itself quickly; I’m less than thrilled about $30+ per horse several times per year.

Living situation: everyone is on dry lots. I live in the tundra so grass is scarce and fragile. They only get to graze for about two months in the summer. I’m able to keep the lots cleaner-is in the summer; really the wind just blows manure away. But in the winter, paddock cleanliness is less than ideal, mostly due to ice and snow. I do not feed in the manure and even their alfalfa goes in to feed tubs. But the wind blows, hay ends up blowing in to manure areas on occasion, horses throw their hay, etc. So they’re not actively eating out of poop, but obviously nothing is perfect.

I have a handful of teenaged broodmares, one middle aged show horse, two middle aged pasture pets, and usually a handful of prospects from babies up through 2 or 3 years old. I understand babies are usually higher shedders.

Thoughts on the above FEC kits for the extremely busy working adult with more than just a horse or three?

[Twigster]

They are not difficult to do at all. Once you get an “assembly line” set up each count only takes a few minutes plus the sample processing time. You may want to reach out to a university and see if you can get an old microscope from them that is binocular cheaper versus that scope, as it will be easier to use. I do my own FECs and have done them for the barn before as well. I was disappointed in the results from the vet clinic as they consistently reported much lower counts than what I could see with my own eyes.

I do a lot of microscopy for work, so I have that advantage, but this is not complex. The eggs are large and easy to identify.

[Scribbler]

The eggs will not hatch into larvae when the temperature is below 45 so midwinter frozen poop is not such a huge reinfection risk, if that is comforting.

[BroncoMo]

@Scribbler

The eggs will not hatch into larvae when the temperature is below 45 so midwinter frozen poop is not such a huge reinfection risk, if that is comforting.

It is and I wasn’t sure what temperature they were viable at.

[BroncoMo]

@Twigster

They are not difficult to do at all. Once you get an “assembly line” set up each count only takes a few minutes plus the sample processing time. You may want to reach out to a university and see if you can get an old microscope from them that is binocular cheaper versus that scope, as it will be easier to use. I do my own FECs and have done them for the barn before as well. I was disappointed in the results from the vet clinic as they consistently reported much lower counts than what I could see with my own eyes.

I do a lot of microscopy for work, so I have that advantage, but this is not complex. The eggs are large and easy to identify.

Would you suggest the battery powered scope, or the lab scope? Not that either are very expensive at all. Just want to make sure if I go this route that I buy the right one.

[Texarkana]

I used to manage the educational microscopes for a university… we didn’t part with ours until they were literally garbage. Those things took a beating.

I would not want either of the scopes in the link based on the pics. They are monocular and don’t have a mechanical stage, and expensive for what they are to boot.

When I wanted a new scope for myself, I purchased a brand new binocular scope from Amazon for less than $200. I have spent much of my life with top quality equipment and have no complaints about my “cheap” microscope; the optics are perfectly fine, and definitely better than anything used and abused in academic labs.

If that’s not feasible, if you have a university nearby, troll Craigslist. A lot of graduate students purchase their own and end up selling.

FECs are super easy. Seriously, anyone can learn. The hardest part is learning how to discern the eggs from all the crap on the slide (pun intended), but once you can positively ID them, they are completely obvious.

The kit you linked I believe is a standard flotation, the kind that has to sit for an extended period of time, then you count the eggs that have stuck to the cover slip. I don’t like those kits because a) I hate waiting and b) they aren’t as accurate for horse manure without centrifucation.

For home use, I think a McMaster slide is infinitely more user-friendly. They sell the slides on Eggzamin.com cheap; they also sell kits, or you can source the materials on your own.

[BroncoMo]

Thank you for the info Tex! If we’re talking $200 ish then there’s no reason for me to go to the college looking for beat up crap. If I go looking, do you mind if I send you a PM with a couple so I can make sure I get something usable? Seriously, I have no earthly clue what to look for in those things. Bonus points if the microscope would allow me to evaluate semen some, but again, not sure what that entails and I know scopes specifically for reproduction are priced out the ying yang.

I also don’t know the difference in kits but will look at the site you recommended. The website is certainly more professional looking at the very least.

I appreciate all the advice so far. This looks like it’s feasible for me to do. And can probably just sample as I see fresh piles (and know who they came from). Rather than stockpiling in the fridge to make one run to the vet (that was a gross one-time experiment).

[Texarkana]

Of course you can PM me any scopes!

I was posting from a tablet last night, so I was lazy and didn’t post links.

This is the scope I purchased for myself:
https://www.amazon.com/Awarded-Best-…croscope&psc=1

For about $10 less, you can purchase it without the “extra goodies” it comes with-- slides, lens paper, etc. It would be plenty suitable for basic motility evaluation of semen-- you can accomplish that easily with 400x. On these cheaper scopes, the highest power magnification isn’t fabulous because of lighting limitations, but you should be able to see some morphology with the 1000x/2000x.

Amscope is another company that makes a comparable model around the same price point, but the Omax seemed to have better reviews. However, I think they might be two branches of the same parent company (don’t know that for sure).

I didn’t notice last night, but the link you posted sells a McMaster slide at the very bottom of the page. But I’ve always gotten mine here:
http://eggzamin.com/shop/

When I have parasite control questions, I tend to refer back to the AAEP’s Parasite Control Guidelines in conjunction with what my own local vets have recommended. The AAEP also gives instructions on how to perform their recommended FEC techniques on p. 24-25 of the document:
https://aaep.org/sites/default/files…idelines_0.pdf

A centrifuge for a Modified Wisconsin Technique is going to be out of the budget of most home users, though.

I make my own saturated epsom salt flotation solution.

[BroncoMo]

Wonderful info Tex. Thanks! That’s the exact scope I was going to send you. I did some research this morning and found that 200x-400x would do for basic semen evaluation. I’m super giddy! I may have stumbled across opening lots of possibilities here. I’m just a DIY mare owner but do occasionally wonder about the semen quality I get after it’s been shipped. Thanks again!

[Texarkana]

While I don’t want to detract from veterinary services or the importance of including one’s vet in deworming decisions, it’s a passion of mine to teach and encourage people to do their own FECs! It’s an incredibly basic skill that could slow the roll of anthelmintic resistance. Because let’s face it, we’re never going to get the whole horse world on board with FECs when you have to pay a vet or third party to test manure. Especially since the testing costs more than the tube of dewormer itself.

It would sure be nice if those smart phone apps in development would get their kinks worked out…

[Twigster]

So glad you are finding some good options! If you don’t have a lot of options nearby for used scopes, the inexpensive amazon options can be great. I am lucky that I live near a wealth of private colleges, and so was able to get a nice olympus student scope for free when it was “retired.”

DIY float solution is also very easy. I was going to mention there are several recipes, and like Texarkana I use a saturated MgSO4/Epsom salt solution. The McMaster’s slides with the green lines are easier to see than the ones with the etched lines, IMO.

[BroncoMo]

Thank you all for the ideas. Yes Tex I firmly believe in continuing ones education and being able to think independently. One can never know too much

I’ll keep that info on slides handy. Thanks Twigster!