However,
their microscopic identification in river samples requires a lot of time and skills.
Microfilarial detection was accomplished most commonly in the past by
the microscopic identification of microfilariae on a direct blood smear, above the buffy coat in a microhematocrit tube (or capillary tube), using the modified Knott test, or after millipore filtration.
Furthermore, an animal does not need to be treated for Clostridium unless symptoms are present;
microscopic identification of the organism in the healthy patient is not necessarily a justification for treatment.
In most cases,
microscopic identification of the organism in a symptomatic pet will support beginning antibiotic therapy.