FECRT

What is a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) & why is it important?

An initial faecal egg count (FEC) is performed to determine if worming treatment is even needed. If the FEC results suggest that worming treatment is required, then do so.

The day of administering the wormer is day 0. Then 10-14 days after administering the wormer, a second sample is tested for a FEC.

A FECRT is a calculation that can be done once you have both the initial and post worming FEC results. This calculation estimates the efficiency or effectiveness of the chosen wormer.

With increasing resistance occurring across ALL horse anthelmintics/wormers it is important to know if the wormer you have used has actually worked on reducing the amount of worm eggs released in the manure. If the efficiency is reduced, then there is a change that you horse may suffer from worm related disease.

If you suspect that the worming treatment has failed or reduced efficacy as a result of resistance then it is important to have the FECRT performed.

The calculation used to determine the FECRT is pictured as well as an interpretation of these result.

Reference: Based on FECRT guidelines from the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) and National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) equine parasite control recommendations wcvm.usask.ca+11sciencedirect.com+11noah.co.uk+11.