Accuracy of two methods for counting eggs of sheep nematode parasites

A comparative study was carried out on eight species of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes in order to compare the value of two techniques for egg counting: the classical McMaster technique with saturated magnesium sulfate solution and a technique of egg extraction from faeces and counting by total collection after three centrifugations. Efficiency of extraction from 10 g of faeces was 95.9 to 99.5% according to the species of parasite, whereas the number of eggs counted by the McMaster technique represented only 16.5% of the total eggs present in the faeces. Advantages inherent in the use of these techniques are discussed.