粪便卵数减少试验(FECRT)仍然是确定驱虫化合物在野外功效的首选方法,包括驱虫药耐药性的诊断.我们提出了改进FECRT标准化和性能的指南,该指南分为四个部分。在第一部分,我们解决了与实验设计相关的主要问题,粪便卵数(FEC)方法的选择,统计分析,并解释FECRT结果。在第二部分,我们提出了一系列一般性建议,适用于本指南中涉及的所有动物.在第三部分,我们为牛提供单独的指导细节,小反刍动物(绵羊和山羊),马和猪来解决不同动物类型特有的问题。最后,我们提供了对每个不同宿主物种进行FECRT所需的具体细节的概述。解决统计权力与统计权力的问题实用性,我们还为每种动物物种提供两个单独的选择;(i)旨在检测功效微小变化的版本,旨在用于科学研究,和(ii)资源密集程度较低的版本,供兽医和牲畜所有者常规使用,以检测功效的较大变化。与以前的FECRT建议相比,注意到四个重要差异。首先,现在通常建议根据相同动物的治疗前和治疗后的FEC进行FECRT(配对研究设计),而不是对治疗和未治疗(对照)动物的治疗后FEC(未配对研究设计)。第二,而不是要求最小平均FEC(以卵/克(EPG)表示)的组进行测试,新的要求是在显微镜下计数的鸡蛋总数最少(在应用转换因子之前计数的鸡蛋总数)。第三,我们通过提供三个独立的选项来提供治疗组的所需大小的灵活性,这取决于(预期)计数的卵子数量。最后,这些指南针对所有主要的牲畜物种,定义降低功效的阈值适应宿主物种,驱虫药和寄生虫物种。总之,这些新指南为所有主要牲畜品种的FECRT提供了改进的方法和标准化。
The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) remains the method of choice for establishing the efficacy of anthelmintic compounds in the field, including the diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance. We present a
guideline for improving the standardization and performance of the FECRT that has four sections. In the first section, we address the major issues relevant to experimental design, choice of faecal egg count (FEC) method, statistical analysis, and interpretation of the FECRT results. In the second section, we make a series of general recommendations that are applicable across all animals addressed in this
guideline. In the third section, we provide separate guidance details for cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats), horses and pigs to address the issues that are specific to the different animal types. Finally, we provide overviews of the specific details required to conduct an FECRT for each of the different host species. To address the issues of statistical power vs. practicality, we also provide two separate options for each animal species; (i) a version designed to detect small changes in efficacy that is intended for use in scientific studies, and (ii) a less resource-intensive version intended for routine use by veterinarians and livestock owners to detect larger changes in efficacy. Compared to the previous FECRT recommendations, four important differences are noted. First, it is now generally recommended to perform the FECRT based on pre- and post-treatment FEC of the same animals (paired study design), rather than on post-treatment FEC of both treated and untreated (control) animals (unpaired study design). Second, instead of requiring a minimum mean FEC (expressed in eggs per gram (EPG)) of the group to be tested, the new requirement is for a minimum total number of eggs to be counted under the microscope (cumulative number of eggs counted before the application of a conversion factor). Third, we provide flexibility in the required size of the treatment group by presenting three separate options that depend on the (expected) number of eggs counted. Finally, these
guidelines address all major livestock species, and the thresholds for defining reduced efficacy are adapted and aligned to host species, anthelmintic drug and parasite species. In conclusion, these new
guidelines provide improved methodology and standardization of the FECRT for all major livestock species.