Faecal Testing

Faeces should be collected as soon as possible into a sterile sample pot and stored in a fridge/cool dark place until sending. Results are most valuable from the freshest specimens, and also when they are identified to individual birds or species groups. An unidentified sample from a large mixed species group is of less value as additional sampling is likely to be needed to refine the species of parasite and work out which animal(s) it came from. If samples can be collected after voiding onto a clean dry surface this is less prone to contamination than samples picked up after a longer time on a damp substrate/soil.

Tests Available

• Full faecal profile (code: FPRO) – this includes routine microbiology (aerobic, anaerobic) and selective cultures (e.g. Salmonella, Yersinia, Campylobacters) appropriate for species. It also include a worm egg/oocyst count, a protozoal/Giardia microscopic exam and cryptosporidial examinaton
• Worm egg count (code: WEC) – this is a routine worm egg and coccidial oocyst examination using a salt solution technique. It does not include any bacteriology and will not detect cryptosporidia, Giardia, motile protozoa or lungworm larvae. This is the typical “routine parasite screen” for worms and coccidia. It needs about 3g sample minimum but can be done on less without actual counts of eggs/oocysts..
• Faecal culture (code: MIC on a faecal sample) – microbiology only on a faecal sample - this includes routine microbiology (aerobic, anaerobic) and selective cultures (e.g. Salmonella, Yersinia, Campylobacters) appropriate for species. No parasites will be detected. This can be done on a CTM swab from rectum/cloaca alone, doesn’t need a full faeces sample.
• Baermann examination (code: BAER) – this is a special test designed to detect tiny lungworm larvae in faecal samples (e.g. Angiostrongylus, Dictyocaulus), that would otherwise not be found on routine parasitology. Needs a larger volume of faeces, ideally about 50 g
• “Selective cultures”(codes: SAL, CAM, YER) – these are special cultures looking just for the named organism, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia and no others.

Pathologists use their discretion when interpreting requests for faecal examination if more general instructions (e.g. faecal screening or microbiology/parasitology) are made on the submission form.