The parasitological laboratory is a highly specialized division of the Averroes Laboratories (ARL). Here, parasites are detected using direct or indirect methods. The laboratory has extensive experience in the field of effectiveness of antiparasitics and the detection of resistance development.
A major part of the tests performed in the parasitology laboratory involves faecal testing for eggs or testing for the presence of other stages of parasite. This can be samples from cattle, sheep, goats, pets, poultry and horses
Field studies
The parasitological laboratory is very well equipped for studies like prevalence studies, registration studies, or testing anti-parasitic agents in practice. For instance, recently a study has been carried out into a new agent against coccidiosis. Averroes Laboratories (ARL) usually works with recognized, standardized procedures. But if a study requires a new procedure or a new test, developing and applying that is also part of the services package.
Liver fluke forecast
Averroes Laboratories (ARL) has a study group ‘liver fluke prognosis’. This study group draws up an expectation of the liver fluke infection pressure on the basis of precipitation data, temperature, snail counts, and lamb liver rejection percentages. Livestock farmers and veterinarians use this prognosis as a basis to draw up their treatment plans.
Testing
Parasites are demonstrated in a direct or an indirect manner. For the direct manner Averroes Laboratories (ARL) uses the light microscope for identification, for the indirect manner we demonstrate parasite antigen or the antibodies formed against the parasite after an infection.
- Light microscopy
That means the process of knowing the parasite to be present in the specimen on the basis of its size shape and colour under the light microscope. In case with many parasites there exists the differentiation of regarded parasite at different stages of its development, for example, worms, larvae or eggs. - ELISA
As often we work with sera, we generally employ ELISAs (Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay) to show the presence of antibodies. ELISAs are based on the principle that the antibodies in question, or parts thereof, attach to a carrier (indirect ELISAs) or compete with a specific labelled antibody (blocking ELISAs). Attached antibodies are then made visible by staining.