Your step-by-step parasitology learning environment. Collect and analyse faecal samples from your own camelid herd. No more waiting for results, no more blanket treatments, you take control of the timeline.
From the fundamentals of solution choices, testing protocols, a microscope tour, parasite identification of major gut roundworms and Eimeria species of veterinary importance, and count calculations, it's all covered.
Featuring videos with detailed narrated presentations, high-quality colour microscope images from real camelid samples, PDF checklists to download and quizzes to test your understanding
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Your Course teacher, Sue Thomas, introduces herself along with her herd of alpacas in the coastal town of Lyme Regis in Devon, England.
Before you can start analysing your own camelid herd samples, you'll need some basic equipment. Some of this you'll already have in your kitchen, but some you will need to purchase. This is a short video, highlighting the equipment you'll need to make a start and a PDF shopping list for you to download.
Here we look at the different types of tests available before we narrow down to our chosen alpaca testing protocol.
The different tests are explained.
We consider why we use a flotation test.
Understanding hydrometers
Sheather's solution, a recipe and making guide.
Golden Rule Number 1
A guide to take you through the collection, weighing and mixing process for accuracy and precision.
This ingenious piece of laboratory equipment is hugely underrated.
Let's look at the invention
The anatomy of the McMaster slide
Golden Rule No. 2
Counting practice
Setup of the microscope
What type do I need?
Essentials and nice to have optionals!
This section is about the grid, moving up and down columns (mowing the lawn), counting as you go. What you should count, and, what you can ignore.
A narrated PowerPoint presentation highlighting the gut roundworm eggs and oocysts, which cause disease in camelids.
Basic morphometrics.
Which numbers to take to the vet for treatment?
Test your understanding or just have some fun with the quiz!
From discovering that my elderly alpaca, Emma, had diarrhoea, collecting a sample, analysing the sample, and treating it took less than 40 minutes. I have created this video to introduce you to Emma and share the analysis process using the McMaster slide. Hope this helps with your analysis!
Some FAQ's answered to help you better understand your microscope, followed by a detailed video on 'planes of focus', highlighting exactly where you need to be.