Correlation between faecal egg counts and real-time PCR egg estimates.

<p>(A) Real-time PCR egg estimates (qEPG) for three methods of sample preparation for DNA isolation from cattle samples collected during Austral spring (Herd 1) are compared to morphological FEC (mEPG); isolation of DNA from 150 mg raw faeces (Method 1), sedimentation followed by isolation of DNA from 150 μl of the resultant sediment (Method 2), and sedimentation followed by isolation of DNA from the entire sediment pellet (Method 3). (B) As for A using only Method 3 on samples collected during Austral summer (Herd 1). (C) As for B using samples collected from an endemic population (Herd 2). (D) Correlation between duplicate sedimentations (mEPG) for all samples (Herds 1 and 2) across all sampling periods; inset–correlation between duplicate FECs for samples with ≤ 20 EPG.