Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Quantifying parasites in samples of hosts.

L Rózsa1, J Reiczigel, G Majoros

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Veszprém, Hungary.

The Journal of Parasitology
|April 26, 2000
PubMed
Summary

This study revisits parasite quantification methods, advocating for statistical tools that align with biological realism. It highlights that prevalence, mean intensity, and median intensity require distinct statistical approaches for accurate cross-sample comparisons.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genetic status of lowland-type Racka sheep colour variants.

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience·2021
Same author

Effect of genetic and nongenetic factors on chemical composition of individual milk samples from dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) under intensive management.

Journal of dairy science·2017
Same author

Exact inference for the risk ratio with an imperfect diagnostic test.

Epidemiology and infection·2016
Same author

Malformations of the gill filaments of the ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus (L.) (Pisces) caused by echinostomatid metacercariae.

Journal of fish diseases·2016
Same author

Light and scanning electron microscopical examination of the third stage larva of Physocephalus dromedarii (Nematoda: Spirocercidae)--an abomasal nematode of the one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Parasitology research·2015
Same author

Effect of pregnancy and embryonic mortality on milk production in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

Journal of dairy science·2014

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Biostatistics
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Current recommendations for parasite quantification in host samples often lead to statistical inconsistencies.
  • Authors are frequently compelled to use median or geometric mean for cross-sample comparisons, diverging from initial measures like mean intensity or abundance.
  • This practice creates a disconnect between statistical methods and the biological interpretation of parasite data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the inconsistent practices in parasite quantification and statistical comparison.
  • To prioritize biological realism in interpreting statistical descriptors of parasite data.
  • To advocate for the selection of statistical tools that appropriately match the chosen biological descriptors.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing terminological recommendations for parasite quantification.
  • Evaluation of statistical limitations in comparing parasite measures across different host samples.
  • Proposal for a framework prioritizing biological interpretation in selecting statistical methods.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence, mean intensity, and median intensity are identified as suitable descriptors for quantifying parasites within host samples.
  • These different measures possess distinct biological interpretations.
  • Each measure necessitates specific statistical methodologies for valid inter-sample comparisons.

Conclusions:

  • A call to reconsider current statistical practices in parasitology to better reflect biological reality.
  • Emphasizing the importance of aligning statistical tools with the biological meaning of parasite descriptors.
  • Promoting the use of appropriate statistical methods for accurate comparison of prevalence, mean intensity, and median intensity across studies.

Related Experiment Videos