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ToDay's VeTeriNary PracTice | November/December 2015 | tvpjournal.com PracTical ParasiTology Peer reviewed 88 Parasite Identifcation i strongly encourage veterinarians to consider the use of a digital camera attached to their microscopes (Figure, page 87), which allows you to capture images in fecal preparations, blood smears, skin scrapings, and cytologic preparations and email them to your preferred expert. often you will have a diagnosis or confrmation in a very short time. all the equipment required is readily available through internet sources. contact an expert near you for more information. as mentioned earlier, several textbooks and/or diagnostic manuals are available to assist veterinarians. 1-4 3. With all of the new antiparasitic drugs entering the market, I am having a diffcult time deciding which ones to use. What products are best? some veterinarians view the wide variety of available antiparasitic drugs as a liability and burden in making choices. i view the assortment of new products as a bonus. it allows us to individualize treatment and prevention for each pet. Product Criteria Not surprisingly, criteria used in product selection should include: • Target pet (eg, dog versus cat) • Formulation (oral, topical, injectable) • efficacy • safety • convenience. additional criteria could include spectrum of activity (parasites eliminated), overlap with products currently used, and existence of parasite resistance. certainly, veterinarians cannot ignore cost, invoicing and inventory issues, and prescription (including online pharmacies) versus marketing outside the veterinary channel. New Drugs New antiparasitic drugs, whether approved by the Federal Food and Drug administration or environmental Protection agency, must comply with established performance mandates to gain approval. These products will prevent or eliminate the parasites that are included on their labels. That said, there may be nuances of difference between categories of performance, such as speed of elimination of parasites, residual activity, and resistance of topical products to frequent water immersion and bathing, depending on products and individual pet situations. Veterinarians should carefully review the results of studies that support performance and safety claims. Learning More Product sponsors are enthusiastic about sharing their data in the clinic (breakfast meetings, lunch and learn forums) or at regional, local, and national scientifc meetings. There is no lack of opportunity for those considering the use of a new product to get excellent detailed information. Many veterinarians prefer to discuss new products with an academic mentor or other trusted professional. Just remember that it is not the responsibility of these individuals to make choices for the practice community, but rather to help sort through the complexities of the data and wealth of information that accompany new product launches. 4. I have conficting canine heartworm results: one antigen test is positive, while the follow- up confrmation test is negative. Which test do I believe? This is a common question that can cause signifcant concern for the veterinarian who must make a treatment decision. First, let's deal with the possible reasons for the discrepancy. if the 2 tests are different platforms (ie, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay versus immunomigration) or even similar platforms but from different manufacturers, they can vary in their performance characteristics. • Do they possess different sensitivity and specificity properties? • is one easier to read than the other? • is one more complex than the other with greater potential for error? • Were the tests performed on the same blood sample or on samples collected at different time points? • if one (or both samples) was shipped to another laboratory, was the sample stored properly prior to shipment and received by the test laboratory in a short time and in acceptable condition? answers to these questions can help explain why the discrepancy exists and which test result should determine a follow-up strategy. a low female heartworm burden that results in circulating antigen levels that are near the minimum detection level of the test is more likely to cause the discrepant result described.