| More info: contact your Merial or Ancare Territory Manager or your reseller Haemonchus Dipstick Test Barbers Pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is a blood-feeding parasite of the abomasum of sheep. Its ability to reproduce at a rapid rate by laying many eggs and its fast lifecycle means disease outbreaks can occur rapidly In a mob, resulting in cases of severe anaemia and sudden death, ‘The Haemonchus Dipstick Test was developed by the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) as a decision support tool to help decide when to drench for Barber's Pole worm. The test detects blood in sheep faeces to identify whether Barber's Pole worm is present, and to help determine the level of infection and damage being caused. Test procedure - The Haemonchus Dipstick Test is conducted on dung samples pooled from ten to twenty fresh dung pats. Following dilution and a boling step, the sample is tested with a reagent strip. The emount of colour change that occurs is read on a scale calibrated to aifferent infection levels (see enclosed instruction card for full details) Important notes - Many factors must be considered when deciding to drench for Barber's Pole worn, including = Season +The region in which your property is located - Recent rainfall and climate Class of sheep + Previous pasture use Length of time on pasture = Worm egg count results ete he Haemonchus Dipstick Test is another element in the decision making process. It is not a Stand-alone” tes. ‘The test should be used regularly (weekly) in high risk periods, but may be used less frequently (fortnightly or monthly) when conditions are less favourable for Barber's Pole worm disease, AAs the testis not a direct test (it measures blood in the faeces, not actual worm numbers) the results should be interpreted with reference to trends in test results conducted over the preceding weeks. Keep a diary of test results, and consider drenching when a sudden rise in score is seen. Reading the dipstick ~ Follow the test instructions carefully, paying particular attention to the timings for each step in the test process. The diagram below shows how the test scores are read: Reading the test result ~ the second and thie panels on the test stip bottle shouls nat be used In scaring the dipstick result” ‘itis suggested that you mark the numbers and cross out the unused panels on your test strip bottle as shown in the diagram. Use the permanent marker supplied in the kit (continued overteah) Reali© Collect one faecal polit from each of sev- tera frsh piles of dung from the mob to be {ested unt approx half a cup Is callected © "Do no” collect faecal samples directly from the rectum as contamination with blood may 1» Squash the faeces and mx tho dung rxture unt here are no lamps. /© The sample should be mined unt similar in consistancy to tomato sauce ‘tx the ated solution by ging It shor * After boing, remove the § mL bolle from the boling water and place K into a cool ‘water bath for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the 5 mL botle from the cool water and test sample on the Hemastix Test stip within 30 minutes, ‘© Add 20mL of water tothe 120 mL mixing container © Pour a email amount of the Bluted mx trom the 500 mi jug nto 2 § mL container (fo about 23 {ul and secure the id tightly. botte sample for exactly 3 aeconds then remove the sip fom the sample, drawing the test stick edge arose tha container Ip oF lapping 1 ighy again he side of he container loremove excess Fuld © Add fasces untl the water level reaches the ‘30mk line (ie, approx, 10.9 faeces is ade), © Soak the foeces for 10 minutes (or longer i thay Add more water up to the 100 mL mark and] © Filthe 500 mL jug wth $00 mL of water (ve a final 5 second ste © Remove 10 ml of this mixture for Step 6 © Add the 10 mL of the dung mixture from Step 5 to the 500 mt jug, Place the 5 mL bottle into boiling water for 20 minut = Dip a Hemastix Test strip into the cooled S mL. |* Read the colour against the colour chart at the side othe bot ater exactly 69 seconds| from wen the slick was fst immersed. Record the colour result to the nearest 0.5 from 110 5 (Ade 0.5 t0 result f dung was sf) Consult the accompanying it leaflet for Interpretation ofthe results, IMPORTANT NOTES: Read the accompanying leaflet bofere using this Test Store Test tips in ht exgnal pscksging vith he desiccant inside andthe ld tity slosed, and sore na coo, dry place, away fm heal and sung. Thence cooker provides In te Starter Wt isa suggested doling water bath. Concult he boling instuctons inthe cooker before use. For mote information contact your local Ancate Area Manager or Ancare Technical Hotine on 1800 00" 873. Ancare Australia Pt Lid, Level 6, 79 George Steet, Parramatta NSW 2150 (ABN 73 076 252 241). ©2008 Ancare Ausiraa Py La. All ighls reserved. ANTT-08-008 Angare‘Test Results - The following interpretations for each score are intended as a guide only. Trends in test results collected over several weeks should be considered for each mob tested. *Ploase note ~ 0.5 must be added to the test score ifthe dung samples being tested are soft or runny. 1 = Low level of blood in dung, and low level of infection - Retest at next planned time depending on season ot, 2-25 - Higher level but may be normal for the mob - Retest in one week + Score=3-3.5 - High level of blood in dung - Expect significant level of disease in mob - Treat with an effective drench og. Genesis Xtra + Score=4+ — - Severe disease / deaths likely to occur - immediate treatment required with effective drench eg. Genesis Xtra Retesting - Wait for two wooks after drenching. Affected mobs may have high scores for one to two weeks post drenching. If you are unsure of the Barber's Pole infection status of your sheep despite using the test, send, ‘samples tothe lab for a worm egg count. Contact Ancare Technical Services on 1800 001 973 if you need further information or help with the Haemonchus Dipstick Test. the sign of good animal care