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All horses harbor some worms because of the self-perpetuating cycle of fecal contamination and pasture grazing. Internal parasites can be passed onto the foal, making parasitism one of the most common equine diseases. Whether the horse is confined, lightly grazed, or exposed to full-time pasture access, understanding a horse’s level of parasite burden is critical in managing their overall healthcare. Parasight System provides you the tool to do manage that burden.
Parasight System for horses is a less than five minute test that replaces McMaster and other microscope-based technologies. Designed for use in-clinic or in the field, Parasight for horses identifies and counts strongyles and ascarids using an automated software counting algorithm. The Parasight System outputs an image of the parasite eggs and provides a count in eggs per gram (“EPG”). The easy-to-use Parasight App provides a simple user interface to display, email, and store results.
Proven to be significantly less variable and more accurate than the traditional McMaster FEC test method, the Parasight System for horses utilizes a filtration prep process rather than floatation thus removing the float time. The imaging process removes the microscope and manual count used in other methods. It really is a push-button test! Parasight is in use at major equine hospitals, ambulatory veterinary clinics and veterinary schools throughout the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Which parasites are detected?
Strongyles and Ascarids, being the most common, present the greatest health risks including: weight loss, colic, diarrhea or constipation, rough hair coat, poor growth and maturity in foals, intestinal ulceration, and gastric obstruction.
Ova detected include strongyles and ascarids. The test distinguishes between ova and provides an eggs per gram (“EPG”) for each.
What is a fecal egg count and what does it involve?
Fecal egg count (FEC) testing is the most recognized method for assessing a horse’s parasite burden. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Equine Parasite Control Guideline state “in order to determine the egg shedding potential for an individual horse, it is necessary to collect a fecal sample and perform a fecal egg count (FEC).”
According to the AAEP Guidelines, two FEC tests should be performed annually. Ideally, one in the Spring and repeated in the Fall. FEC tests before any deworming treatment and another test a minimum 14-day post deworming. The first FEC identifies your horse’s worm burden and shedder category. This allows the practitioner to prescribe properly. The second test, a Fecal Egg Reduction Test (FECRT) helps determine the efficacy of the anthelmintic used. Regular fecal egg count testing avoids subjecting horses to excessive chemical treatments, delivers valuable information to the owner, Veterinarian and slows down the worldwide occurrences of Anthelmintic Resistance (AR). Resistance is not the ability to survive a dose of anthelmintics, but rather the fact that the parasite has ability to inherit that survivability and continue to pass that on.
The test involves counting the number of parasite eggs within a sampling of feces. Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, ACVM, University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center shares “it’s time we came up with something more sophisticated” adding “that advanced, more accessible technology would encourage more owners and veterinarians to check fecal counts before treating”. Parasight Systems patented, simple sample preparation, enables the largest analyzed sampling of stool (5-6 cc) elevates this automated diagnostic technology to be the highest in efficiency, accuracy, specificity, repeatability, and sensitivity in the market. The fully automated system, using enhanced AI imagery, can achieve clinical results with a digital image in less than 5 minutes. These medical results are then instantly shareable with the clients and able to integrate with PMS.
Quantifying and Identifying parasites in horses, fecal egg count tests can also be used for:
· Assisting in evaluating anthelmintic resistance
· Establishing a burden/shedder classification (high, medium, or low)
· Forming a baseline for future test comparisons
· Preparing individualize deworming treatment plans per horse.
A parasite load can be used to classify a horse into a shedding category. The AAEP classifies horses into three different levels of egg shedding categories – Low, Medium and High:
Parasight System for cattle is an approximately five minute test that replaces McMaster and other microscope-based technologies. Designed for in-clinic use, Parasight for cattle identifies and counts round worms using an automated software counting algorithm. The Parasight System outputs an image of the parasite eggs and provides a count in eggs per gram (“EPG”). The easy-to-use Parasight App provides a simple user interface to display, email, and store results.
Cattle fecal matter is unique from horse fecal matter in both density, consistency, and diet. As a result, a 2minute centrifugation in a floatation medium is required to prepare the sample. In addition, the egg chamber used for processing and imaging is unique. For clinics who are using Parasight System for all three species we have things easy by color coding the test kit supplies: black egg chambers for horses and blue egg chambers for cattle.
Proven to be significantly less variable and more accurate than the traditional McMaster FEC test method, the Parasight fecal test for cattle uses the same hardware system used for horses. The sample prep process and egg chamber filter are the only variances. Parasight is in use at major equine hospitals, ambulatory veterinary clinics and veterinary schools throughout the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Which parasites are detected?
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