A challenge to the computer fraternity: computerized counting in veterinary parasitology

Parasitologists in animal health research at the Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine are often awarded grants to study the effectiveness of new anthelmintic drugs. The procedure followed in these studies begins with the infection of young calves with various species of nematode larvae. These larvae are allowed to mature -approximately six weeks -and the drug being tested is administered. (Calves used as controls are given placebos.) One week after treatment the calves are killed, and their gastrointestinal tracts removed. From these, four 1:60 dilution samples of the contents and wash of the abomasum and small intestine are taken. The contents of the large intestine are also kept. Each sample is then examined under stereoscope, and the nematodes found are counted and removed. These nematodes will later be speciated, and all pertinent data statistically analyzed.