Miracidia hatching technique for diagnosis of canine schistosomiasis

A method of processing feces with subsequent hatching of Heterobilharzia americana eggs was found to be preferable to saline sedimentation for the diagnosis of canine schistosomiasis. The feces were filtered and washed in 3 changes of 0.85% NaCl solution. The remaining sediment was flooded with distilled water to promote the hatching of viable eggs. Miracidia were subsequently observed, which confirmed infection in naturally infected raccoons and experimentally infected dogs.