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The contribution of simple random sampling to observed variations in faecal egg counts

Torgerson, P R; Paul, M; Lewis, F I (2012). The contribution of simple random sampling to observed variations in faecal egg counts. Veterinary Parasitology, 188(3-4):397-401.

Abstract

It has been over 100 years since the classical paper published by Gosset in 1907, under the pseudonym “Student”, demonstrated that yeast cells suspended in a fluid and measured by a haemocytometer conformed to a Poisson process. Similarly parasite eggs in a faecal suspension also conform to a Poisson process. Despite this there are common misconceptions how to analyse or interpret observations from the McMaster or similar quantitative parasitic diagnostic techniques, widely used for evaluating parasite eggs in faeces. The McMaster technique can easily be shown from a theoretical perspective to give variable results that inevitably arise from the random distribution of parasite eggs in a well mixed faecal sample. The Poisson processes that lead to this variability are described and illustrative examples of the potentially large confidence intervals that can arise from observed faecal eggs counts that are calculated from the observations on a McMaster slide. Attempts to modify the McMaster technique, or indeed other quantitative techniques, to ensure uniform egg counts are doomed to failure and belie ignorance of Poisson processes. A simple method to immediately identify excess variation/poor sampling from replicate counts is provided.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:07 Faculty of Science > Institute of Mathematics
05 Vetsuisse Faculty > Veterinärwissenschaftliches Institut > Chair in Veterinary Epidemiology
Dewey Decimal Classification:570 Life sciences; biology
610 Medicine & health
510 Mathematics
Scopus Subject Areas:Life Sciences > Parasitology
Health Sciences > General Veterinary
Language:English
Date:2012
Deposited On:06 Jul 2012 07:43
Last Modified:20 Jan 2025 04:42
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0304-4017
Funders:SNF
OA Status:Green
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.043
PubMed ID:22521975
Project Information:
  • Funder: SNSF
  • Grant ID:
  • Project Title: SNF
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