POULTRY FECAL FLOTATION PROCEDURES AND PICTURES

[rbaker0345]

HI, I WOULD LIKE TO START THIS THREAD AS AN INFORMATIVE PLACE WHERE POULTRY PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT HOW TO PERFORM A FECAL FLOTATION AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE VARIOUS PARASITES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN A SAMPLE OF CHICKEN POO.

FIRST I WILL START BY EXPLAINING MY SETUP AND POSTING SOME PICTURES OF VARIOUS PARASITES THAT I HAVE FOUND.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME AND IN THIS WAY WE CAN COMPILE A SORT OF PHOTO ALBUM OF PARASITES AND PARASITE EGGS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS WHICH ACCOMPANY THE PRESENCE OF PARASITES IN OUR CHICKEN FRIENDS.

I LIVE ON THE VERY TIP OF THE OUTER BANKS, IF YOU'RE BEING POLITE YOU MAY CALL IT "THE BEACH" BUT REALLY ITS JUST A SWAMP. I HAVE A FRESHWATER POND AND MUSCOVY DUCKS AS WELL AS A FREE RANGE FLOCK OF OVER 100 BIRDS. MY POND ATTRACTS MANY KINDS OF WILDLIFE AND THIS LEADS MY FLOCK TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDEROUS VARIETY OF PARASITES WHICH CAN BE DEPOSITED IN MY POND BY SAID WILDLIFE.

 

[rbaker0345]

I USE MY CAMERA PHONE OR MY LITTLE HANDHELD DIGITAL CAMERA TO TAKE VERY GOOD PICTURES OF WHAT I SEE UNDER MY MICROSCOPE. IT TAKES A LITTLE PRACTICE BUT ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT YOU CAN TAKE SOME REALLY KILLER PICTURES OF ALL KINDS OF MICROBES THROUGH THE EYEPIECE OF YOUR MICROSCOPE.

 

[rbaker0345]

TO START: I PURCHASED A MICROSCOPE ON EBAY FOR $20. It looks very much like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microscope-/271369951966?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2ee8dade

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT THIS BE THE MINIMUM QUALITY OF MICROSCOPE THAT YOU PURCHASE AND THAT YOU DEFINITELY GET ONE THAT PLUGS IN AND USES A LIGHTBULB INSTEAD OF A MIRROR.

TRY TO AVOID THIS KIND OF MICROSCOPE STARTER KIT (LIKE THE ONES THAT YOU CAN BUY IN WAL-MART OR TOYS R US): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Meade-Child...063?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5af9b80bc7

YOU COULD GO ALL OUT AND GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS: http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLYMPUS-CH-...=BI_Heavy_Equipment_Parts&hash=item2333128a17 which is stereoscopic and has a mechanical stage.

 

[rbaker0345]

SOME SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED BESIDES A MICROSCOPE:

ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY:

1. A FECAL FLOTATION MEDIA LIKE FECASOL WHICH IS A BRAND OF PRE-MIXED LIQUID WHICH COMES IN A GALLON JUG, READY TO USE. YOU CAN BUY A POWDER WHICH YOU ADD WATER TO OR THERE ARE VARIOUS RECIPES FOR SUGAR OR SALT (SALINE) FLOTATION SOLUTIONS THAT YOU CAN FIND ON THE WEB.

2. GLASS SLIDES (I GET THESE ON EBAY)

3. SLIDE COVERS (EBAY AGAIN)

4. SOME KIND OF FECAL LOOP. I USE THOSE DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS THAT YOU GET WITH YOUR CHINESE OR OTHER ASIAN TAKEOUT FOOD. OR YOU CAN PROBABLY GET A REAL FECAL LOOP FROM EBAY.

5. SOME KIND OF TEST TUBE. I USE THOSE TALL PLASTIC SHOT GLASSES THAT YOU CAN GET FROM THE DOLLAR STORE, THEY STAND ON THEIR OWN (AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE BLACKLIGHT REACTIVE, NOT THAT THAT MATTERS). YOU CAN PURCHASE ACTUAL TEST TUBES, BUT THOSE DONT STAND ON THEIR OWN, SO YOU WILL ALSO NEED A TEST TUBE RACK.

YOU MAY NEED THESE:

1. PLASTIC PIPETTES
2. Q-TIPS
3. A VINYL PLACEMAT (POOP MAT) TO PROTECT YOUR SURFACES FROM POOP SPILLS.
4. CONTACT SALINE SOLUTION (FOR MOUTH/CROP SWABS).
5. A SMALL KITCHEN TIMER (I GOT AN AWESOME ONE FROM THE DOLLAR TREE FOR A DOLLAR, YOU CAN SET IT FOR A CERTAIN TIME AND SAVE THAT TIME ON THE TIMER TO USE IT OVER AND OVER AND THE BEST THING IS THAT I GOT IT FOR ONLY A DOLLAR!)
6. A FECAL SQUIRT BOTTLE ALSO CALLED A: 500ml Plastic Washing bottle,Graduated Bottle,Bent Mouth,Lab plasticware500ml Plastic Washing bottle,Graduated Bottle,Bent Mouth,Lab plasticware ON EBAY

 

[casportpony]

We bought this one:
http://www.amscope.com/b340b.html

 

[rbaker0345]

PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCTING A FECAL FLOTATION:

1. OBTAIN SAMPLE USING YOUR FECAL LOOP OR CHOP STICK
2. PLACE THE LOOP WITH THE SAMPLE ON IT DIRECTLY INTO YOUR TEST TUBE AND LEAVE IT THERE WHILE YOU POUR SOME FECAL FLOTATION SOLUTION INTO THE TEST TUBE (FILL ONLY 1/4 OF THE TUBE AT THIS POINT)
3. AGITATE, AGITATE, AGITATE USING THE FECAL LOOP IN AN UP AND DOWN MOTION (JUST DON'T BREAK THE TUBE).
4. SET THE FECAL TUBE IN THE TEST TUBE RACK OR ON THE POOP MAT AND REMOVE THE FECAL LOOP TO A SINK WHICH IS PREFERABLY NOT NEAR ANYPLACE THAT YOU PREPARE FOOD. DISINFECT OR DISCARD THE LOOP OR CHOPSTICK.
5. FINISH FILLING THE FECAL TUBE. YOU WANT TO FILL IT ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND TRY TO CREATE A SMALL BEAD ON THE TOP WITHOUT LETTING IT SPILL OVER (THIS TAKES SOME PRACTICE, DON'T WORRY IF YOU MAKE A MESS THE FIRST FEW TIMES, YOU WON'T RUIN YOUR FLOAT)
6. PLACE A COVER SLIP OVER THE MOUTH OF THE TUBE, ON TOP OF THIS "BEAD"
7. LET IT SIT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES TO ALLOW THE HEAVY DEBRIS TO SETTLE AND THE LIGHTER DEBRIS (WHICH WILL CONTAIN ANY EGGS) TO FLOAT TO THE TOP.
8. THIS LIGHTER DEBRIS WILL ADHERE TO THE COVER SLIP WHICH YOU CAN THEN LIFT OFF (AFTER YOUR 15MIN IS UP) AND PLACE, POOPY WATER SIDE DOWN, ON A GLASS SLIDE.


CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW READY TO VIEW YOUR SLIDE.

 

[casportpony]

And a bunch of stuff from here:
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

While we have everything needed, we have to set it all up, lol.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

@rbaker0345 , what books do you recommend?

-Kathy

 

[rbaker0345]

I don't have any books, I am a vet tech, so I know many parasites by sight and the ones I don't know, I just research on google.