Implementation of Mini-FLOTAC in Routine Diagnosis of Coccidia and Helminth Infections in Domestic and Exotic Birds

Abstract

Mini-FLOTAC (MF) has recently been proposed for the fecal quantification of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in birds due to its higher sensitivity and precision in comparison with the McMaster method. The current research aimed to test the use of MF in routine diagnosis of coccidia and helminth infections in several domestic and exotic bird collections in Portugal. Between July 2020 and April 2021, a total of 142 fecal samples from organic layers, peacocks and ratites were collected in four Portuguese bird collections and processed using MF and fecal cultures to identify and calculate GI parasite shedding and prevalence. The McMaster method was also used to compare the shedding levels obtained for both quantitative techniques. MF’s relative sensitivity and specificity were also assessed, using McMaster as the reference technique. The implementation of MF resulted in an average Eimeria spp. shedding higher in peacocks from bird collection 2 (502 OPG), followed by peacocks from collection 1 (107 OPG) and organic layers (24 OPG) and peacocks from collection 3 (9 OPG). Peacocks were also positive for Capillaria spp., Trichostrongylus tenuis and Strongyloides pavonis, whereas ostriches and emus were infected by L. douglassii. The MF protocol for exotic animals and the McMaster method did not differ significantly for each parasitic agent and bird species, and MF achieved relative sensitivities and specificities higher than 70% for Galliform Eimeria spp., peacock helminths and ratites’ L. douglassii infections. Higher L. douglassii EPG values were identified using the MF protocol for exotic species (2 g of feces/38 mL of sucrose solution), followed by McMaster 2/28, MF 5/45 and MF 2/18. The use of MF allowed for obtaining different intestinal parasitic populations in several bird species and locations, and MF 2/38 is globally proposed as the most suitable protocol for bird fecal samples as an alternative to the McMaster method in the diagnosis of avian intestinal parasitic infections.

The FLOTAC basic technique as a new extraction method for root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) from soil and roots

“…Another plus point of FBT is the need of few laboratory infrastructures, as limited to a benchtop centrifuge and few consumables. Previous parasitological studies reported a rapid and reliable analysis of large numbers of animal samples even in the absence of centrifuges and other basic equipment by an evolution of FLOTAC, namely the mini-FLOTAC (Cringoli et al, 2017;Lozano et al, 2021).…”

Biocontrol of Avian Gastrointestinal Parasites Using Predatory Fungi: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…Domestic and exotic birds are commonly exposed to a wide variety of generalist or host-specific gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, with different life cycles and levels of pathogenicity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…and Isospora spp. can reach prevalence and shedding values up to 80% and 15,000 oocysts per gram of feces (OPG), respectively [6,[9][10][11][12][13][14] and are currently responsible for average losses of approximately 12 billion € annually worldwide in the poultry industry [5,15]. Nematode infections are also a serious problem in Galliformes, being ascarids (e.g., Ascaridia galli), heterakids (e.g., Heterakis gallinarum and H. isolonche), capillarids (e.g., Capillaria spp.…”

“…Nematode infections are also a serious problem in Galliformes, being ascarids (e.g., Ascaridia galli), heterakids (e.g., Heterakis gallinarum and H. isolonche), capillarids (e.g., Capillaria spp. ), strongyles (e.g., Trichostrongylus tenuis), and Strongyloides spp., the most frequent and pathogenic species [6,[8][9][10][11]13,16,17].…”

“…Larger birds like Ratites (e.g., ostriches, emus and rheas), which are commonly kept in zoos worldwide for ornamental exhibition and occasionally in farms for production purposes, are also susceptible to GI parasitic infections, and nematodes belonging to the genera Libyostrongylus and Codiostomum are of most clinical importance, especially Libyostrongylus douglassii, which is responsible for the rotten stomach disease [6,[18][19][20][21][22].…”