In Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) control programs, microscopic examination is applied as a standard method for detecting the presence and the number of STH eggs. The time limitations of fresh specimen processing, especially for an accurate quantitative diagnosis, cause the specimen processing to be delayed or should be performed at a referral laboratory. This deferment requires preservatives to keep the stool integrity without reducing the accuracy. The aims of this study were: 1) to compare the proportion of positive samples and the intensity of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm infection based on the examination of fresh samples and stool preserved by 10% formalin for >12 months and 2) to determine the most reliably accurate between Kato-Katz and mini-FLOTAC methods in detecting A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm eggs in preserved stools both qualitatively and quantitatively. Seventy-eight (78) stool samples were examined by mini-FLOTAC, and KatoKatz methods. Proportion of positive samples of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworms in fresh and in >=12 months 10% formalin preserved stools had no significant difference. Helminths density (eggs per gram of stool/EPG) in fresh samples was fewer compared to EPG in preserved samples (p <0.05) which leads to a lower proportion of moderate and high level groups in fresh stools samples compared to those in preserved samples (p <0.05). In preserved samples, as qualitative method, mini-FLOTAC detected more A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura eggs than Kato-Katz, while hookworm eggs were detected more by Kato-Katz than the miniFLOTAC. As a quantitative detection, Kato-Katz showed higher calculation of STH EPG than mini-FLOTAC. Using 10% formalin preservation for stool samples, the STH eggs' morphology could still be well identified. Homogenization process and low number of samples tested, were acknowledged as the limitation of this study.
Infections by gastrointestinal parasites are found in a variety of animals worldwide. For the diagnosis of such infections, the flotation method is commonly used to detect parasitic microorganisms, such as oocysts or eggs, in feces. Instead of adding a flotation solution after the final centrifugation step and using a cover slip to collect the parasites, the method using a wire loop for the recovery of the organisms has been reported as one of alternative methods. However, the recovery rates of microorganisms from the flotation method have not been analysed. In the present study, the utility of a flotation method with the use of a wire loop of 8 mm in diameter (the loop method) was evaluated using different numbers of E. tenella oocysts and Heterakis gallinarum eggs, and chicken fecal samples collected at the farms. Consequently, we found that the oocysts and eggs in tubes could be collected at a ratio of 2.00 to 3.08. Thus, our results indicate that the loop method is a simple and time saving method, implicating the application for the estimated OPG/ EPG (Oocysts/Eggs per gram) of the samples.