Description
Fecal Workshop (Sunday, December 7, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
Price covers materials
Skill Level: Beginner Plus
Basic Skills Needed:
- Ability to use a compound microscope (the standard “school” or “light” microscope).
- Basic knowledge of a few common parasites that affect wildlife (e.g.: roundworms, strongyles (AKA hookworms), coccidia, etc.).
- Awareness that some fecal parasites have zoonotic potential and the ability to apply appropriate exposure-prevention practices.
Description: Diarrhea? Dehydration? Anemia? Failure to thrive? Eating but still skinny? Zoonotic concern? Get your hands dirty (metaphorically) by learning The Passive Fecal Flotation Technique – a surprisingly simple method that may provide an answer to those questions! Internal parasites of the gastrointestinal tract may be the cause of many conditions affecting wildlife of all species. Fecal Flotation is a technique anyone can learn to identify parasites in their animals.
This wet lab begins with a brief PowerPoint discussion of common GI parasites in wild animals of Northeastern USA, a description of sample collection requirements, and a comparison of several types of fecal tests. Participants will then run their first Fecal Flotation! A copy of the PowerPoint and other informational handout(s) will be provided.
