Treating Flock for Lice/Mites

[Kiki]

Here's the skinny on fecal tests. What is looked for on the slide, from either float or direct smear, are the worm eggs. Eggs are shed by the adult worms in cycles, so it is possible to have worms and have nothing show up in the feces. Usually it it best to do 2 tests, 2 weeks apart, if nothing is seen on the first test.

I wonder if you know the cycle for each type of worm?

 

[townchicks]

@kikisgirlsNot off the top of my head, but 2 weeks is what the vet I used to work for recommended. I do know, when I took in a stray cat, I did 2 weeks apart, as her first sample was "negative" and her second sample was LOADED with roundworm eggs. so, at least for roundworms, 2 weeks works.

 

[Kiki]

@kikisgirlsNot off the top of my head, but 2 weeks is what the vet I used to work for recommended. I do know, when I took in a stray cat, I did 2 weeks apart, as her first sample was "negative" and her second sample was LOADED with roundworm eggs. so, at least for roundworms, 2 weeks works.

Thanks...you just gave me a new project to work on.
I am now interested in finding out the life cycles of worms!
WOOT!

 

[FishMtFarm]

I'm about to dip my girls. My hubby is anti-chemical anything on our chickens, so that leaves me with few effective options. Thankfully he didn't get on my case about it when I had to treat our flock for fowl pox, but I convinced him the antibiotics were absolutely necessary for their survival because of secondary infections. Only one shows signs of scaly leg mites, but I figure it's probably best to treat everyone at the same time, as I have young chicks in the run.

I got the idea from a former post on here to use neem oil and make a dip out of it (2tbsp. to 1 gal. water). Neem oil is supposed to be effective against many types of insects and parasites, but it's more expensive than the mite/lice sprays. People use it to spray their gardens, so I'm not too worried about it's safety.

We'll give it a try and see how it goes, I guess. But if it doesn't work, I'll have to sneak in a Permethrin treatment while DH is at work to avoid the argument. I try my best to keep things natural, but sometimes effectiveness matters more.

Elector PSP is not a chemical and works very well. Quite expensive but is worth the price cause it goes a long ways.

 

[casportpony]

Well what ever the method is called where they simple smear some fresh poop on a slide and look at it under the scope...will not cut it for ME anymore.

That's what I call "direct smear", but it proably has other names too.

I want the more "accurate type" of poop testing from now on.

This:
https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/test/detail.aspx?testcode=FECQL
is what I am talking about.
This type of test.

A double centrifugation concentration fecal flotation with sugar and/or zinc sulfate solution used as a general test for evaluating feces for parasitic infections

 

[Kiki]

https://assets.ctfassets.net/fistk1...proe6122_Elector_Fact_Sheet_USPBUELS00018.pdf


https://assets.ctfassets.net/fistk1...f/biproe8103_Elector_NFM_USPBUELS00010_1_.pdf

 

[Kiki]

That's what I call "direct smear", but it proably has other names too.

YES!

 

[casportpony]

I wonder if you know the cycle for each type of worm?

Pictures from the Veterinary Parasitology Reference Manual - Fifth Edition

Roundworm




Cecal worm




Capillary worms




Gapeworm




Tapeworm




Coccidia

 

[EggSighted4Life]

YES!
View attachment 1407163

So... I bought my own microscope but have not yet proceeded. My understanding is the term float would indicate the solution added that makes the eggs float. But apparently it can be done in my original planned (and recently discovered less accurate) way which would be "passive". And the better way, indicated in your post would be with a centrifuge.

I was (am) going to call the office and ask what they do. Also, I don't think the vet themselves run the test, but their tech. I totally questioned the results when both dog and chicken samples came back negative for anything.... I mean shouldn't their be SOME coccidia present?/ I wanted to know the load count. And asked what do they mean by negative just below a threshold or none. Response was none detected... I wondered if they were wearing their glasses that day.

If I can't rely on the vet, maybe I shouldn't be as nervous about messing my own up. Beside I could probably run 100 floats to check accuracy for the cost of one... Noting, I do *mostly* trust my vet. And I do understand things can happen.. like I said it has been two months.

 

[casportpony]

Centrifuge should be used for accurate results. @KikisGirls, where is that post about fecal results for direct smear with and without centrifuge?