What is parasitology?
Parasitology is the study of the biology of parasites and parasitic diseases. This scientific discipline encompasses studying the distribution, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of parasites, including the host response to these agents.
What is parasitology diagnostics?
Parasitology diagnostics relates to the process of diagnosing the presence of parasites and parasitic infections present in host animals and humans. This field is vital to the health and wellbeing of all animals because the ongoing presence of parasites and parasitic infection in animals can cause serious health issues, and even death. Parasitology diagnostics educates animal caregivers with knowledge of their animals’ health and empowers them and health professionals such as veterinarians to determine the best course of treatment to target the animals’ parasitic infection.
How parasitology diagnostics is used in the agriculture industry
Parasitology diagnostics are of great importance in the agriculture industry due to the negative animal welfare and economic ramifications of parasitic infection in cattle and grazing animals. Parasitology diagnostics is currently used across the world in agriculture as a means of identifying if the animals in question have parasites, and if so what type and how many. This diagnostic process is traditionally carried out by laboratories, however OvaCyte™ brings this diagnostic capability to the point of care. If an intestinal parasitic infection is identified, the farmer or agriculture professional can then proceed to treat the host animal or animals through medications, thereby reducing the time that these animals spend suffering and impending agricultural production.
How parasitology diagnostics is used in veterinary science
In veterinary science, intestinal parasite egg testing is one of the most commonly executed tests. Parasitic infection is prevalent in cats and dogs, and as a way to combat this pet owners are advised to treat their pets regularly using worming tablets. This preventative measure has its merit, however veterinary professionals are now seeing an alarming increase in parasite resistance to deworming medications that is in part directly attributed to the unnecessary deworming of healthy dogs and cats.
As in agriculture, laboratory tests are used to confirm the presence of parasites in companion animals, however this is not an efficient process. OvaCyte™ has the potential to empower veterinarians to perform these tests in a cost and time efficient manner in the clinic and even during the consult. This enables veterinarians to give the correct deworming advice based on the diagnosis, and thus avoid the standard blind treatment regimens that are so often currently used.
Learn more about OvaCyte™ here.
