Private

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 0579-XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 2.0
hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and
complete and review the information collected.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
VETERINARY SERVICES
NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM
2150 CENTRE AVE, BLDG B
FORT COLLINS, CO 80526

OMB Approved
0579-XXXX
EXP: XX/20XX

NAHMS Sheep 2024 Study –
GI Parasite Composite
Collection Record

Sampling materials:
• Supplies sent to Coordinators: Plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and lubricant
• Kit contents: 2 gallon sized Ziploc® bags, 2 quart sized Whirl-pak® bags, 2 tongue depressors, 2 ice packs, 2
liner bag (one to use as a trash bag), 1 medium insulated cooler, and paperwork that includes instructions,
submission form, labels, and 1 FedEx airbill addressed to LSU in Baton Rouge, LA.
• You will need to provide you own gloves.

Collection Instructions
1. Collect samples Sunday-Wednesday. Sample sheep that have not been dewormed in the previous 60 days.
2. Samples from 6 to 10 (more is better) sheep or lambs are pooled into one sample.
3. From each sheep, collect 5-6 fecal pellets. Collect samples from the rectum when possible. Rectal retrieval might
not be possible on some sheep (e.g. preweaned lambs), and fresh off the ground samples are acceptable. Place
pellets from all sheep in the same Ziploc® bag to form a composite sample.
4. Samples must be fresh (not petrified). Do not exclude diarrhea samples.

5. Make a composite sample with the fecal pellets.

If needed, add a very small amount of water the bag to moisten the feces making it easier to work with. With the
samples in the bag, squish the contents until you have a soft composite of feces.

6. Wrap the sample tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, excluding all air.

Tear off approximately 12 inches plastic wrap and aluminum foil and 12 inches of plastic wrap. Using the tongue
depressor, dump the composite of feces onto a sheet of plastic wrap, fold the plastic wrap over the feces and kneed
it like dough until the sample is in a “cigar” shape. Wrap tightly in the plastic wrap, then wrap the “cigar” tightly in
aluminum foil and place the wrapped feces into a clean Whirl-pak® bag, again excluding all air from the bag.

7. Attach the label to the bag and fill in the the NAHMS ID.
8. Keep the samples cool but DO NOT FREEZE.
9. Fill out the pink submission form and the digital collection form.

RECTAL RETRIEVAL

To avoid contamination from common organisms on the ground, rectal retrieval is best. Rectal retrieval might not be
possible on some sheep (e.g. preweaned lambs), and fresh off the ground samples are acceptable.

1. Apply lubricating
jelly to the glove
before entering the
rectum.
• Lightly stroking the
rectum might
encourage defecation.

2. Retrieve a
minimum of 5-6
pellets per
animal.
• Place pellets from
all sheep the same
plastic bag.

Prepare the Pooled Samples
1. Knead the bag until
individual fecal
pellets cannot
readily be seen.
• If needed, add a
very small amount of
water to give a
consistency of thick
paste.

4. Place the cigar
shaped composite
into a Whirl-pak®
and place the
Whirl-pak® into a
clean Ziploc®.
• Again, squeeze out
excess air of the
double bagged
sample.

2. Dump composite
onto plastic wrap
and form a “cigar
shaped.
3. Wrap the sample
tightly in plastic
wrap, then
aluminum foil,
excluding all air.

5. Attach a label on
the outer bag and
write the
NAHMSID on the
label.
6. Keep the samples
cool but do not
freeze.

Collection Record

Fill out the pink submission form and the digital collection record. Use the QR code or the URL

below to access the GI Parasite Composite Collection Record.

Shipping Instructions
1. Ship on Sunday-Wednesday. Keep samples cool and ship within 24 hours of collection. Wednesday
collections must be shipped the same day. Do not collect or ship samples Thursday through Saturday.
2. Place all the samples in the liner bag and tie shut. Place an ice pack on the top and bottom of the
samples. Add filler to the box if necessary. Close the insulated cooler box.
3. Place the filled out pink submission form on top of the cooler lid and seal the cardboard box.
4. Secure the box and ship to LSU, in Baton Rouge, LA, within 24 hours. A shipping airbill is provided in the
kit. Ship only Sunday-Wednesday.
NOTE: Remove or black out all extraneous labels on outside of box.

NAHMS Sheep 2024
GI Parasite Composite
Collection Record
•

Sample should be kneaded and formed into a composite cigar shape while still fresh.

•

Ship within 24 hours of collection on Monday through Wednesday.

•

If sample cannot be formed into a composite cigar shape on site, store in the refrigerator
for less than 24 hours before kneading/shaping/wrapping, and shipping.
NAHMS ID:

Parasite Kit ID:

(6 digits)

Collection Date:
(mm/dd/yy)

IF POSSIBLE, COLLECT SAMPLES FROM SHEEP THAT ARE SUSPECTED TO HAVE HIGHER
LEVELS OF PARASITES.
1. What is the total number of animals you sampled?
(Should equal the number of ages listed above) .......................................................... ________ head
2. For each animal sampled, select the animal class and enter the age in years or months.
Age (years or months)

Breed (enter code from Breed
Reference Card or specify “other
breed”

Class (pregnant ewe, nursing ewe,
preweaned lamb, weaned lamb, open ewe,
ram, or wether)

4. What is the total number of sheep in your flock?………………………………………..
5. Were any of the following used to select the sheep that were sampled?
a. Animal showed clinical signs .............................................................................
i. IF YES, what were the signs?
Diarrhea ............................................... 1 Yes

3 No

Weight loss ........................................... 1 Yes

3 No

Poor hair coat ....................................... 1 Yes

3 No

_________ flock total

1 Yes

3 No

b.

Anemic (based on FAMACHA) ............ 1 Yes

3 No

Other signs ........................................... 1 Yes

3 No (specify:____________________)

Other reasons sheep were selected for sampling?
(specify: ________________________________) ............................................

1 Yes

3 No

6. Are you using copper wire particle boluses or other alternative dewormer treatments?
1 Yes

3 No

IF YES, please list:__________________________________________________

7. Have these sheep EVER been treated with a dewormer?............................................
1 Yes 3 No
IF YES, what date were they last treated? ............................................................................... ___________ mm/dd/yy
IF YES, check all product(s) used the last time they were treated.
1 Albendazole (Valbazen®),

5 Levamisole (Tramisol®, Levasole®, Prohibit®)

2 Fenbendazole (Safeguard®, Panacur®)

6 Pyrantel (Strongid®)

3 Ivermectin (Ivomec)®)

7 Morantel (Rumatel®)

4 Moxidectin (Cydectin®)

OR LIST HERE: __________________________________________________
8. Which best describes the management of the sampled sheep during the past 30 days?
1 Open range (large unfenced acreage)
2 Fenced range (large fenced acreage)
3 Fenced farm (cultivated pasture or browse)
4 Dry lot (pen which does not allow grazing and is not meant for
finishing sheep on a high-energy diet for slaughter)
5 Other (specify: ______________________________________)
How many people in each category helped with the collection of the individual fecal samples?
_____ Fed VMO
_____ Fed AHT
_____ State Gov’t
_____ Producer
_____ Other, specify: ______________________________
Not counting Producer time, how many hours did it
take everyone to collect and prepare the samples for shipping:

________ hours

How many round-trip hours did it take for everyone to get to the farm and back:

________ hours

NAHMS Sheep 2024
GI Parasite Composite Submission Form
NAHMS ID:
6 digits

Date:

Kit #:

mm/dd/yy

Number of animals included in composite sample:

Printed on labels

__________________________
6-10