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To provide data that can be used to inform treatment and prevention strategies for zoonotic pathogens in animal and human populations, we assessed the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens and their vectors on 2,381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of 8 countries in eastern and Southeast Asia during 2017-2018. Overall exposure to ectoparasites was 42.4% in dogs and 31.3% in cats. Our data cover a wide geographic distribution of several pathogens, including Leishmania infantum and zoonotic species of filariae, and of animals infested with arthropods known to be vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Because dogs and cats share a common environment with humans, they are likely to be key reservoirs of pathogens that infect persons in the same environment. These results will help epidemiologists and policy makers provide tailored recommendations for future surveillance and prevention strategies.

The most common causes of respiratory diseases in wild hedgehogs are the lungworms Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria aerophila, which can lead to life-threatening pneumonia. The aim of the current study was (A) to assess the prevalence of common lungworm infections in northern white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceus roumanicus) in Greece and (B) to identify an efficient and easy to administer treatment option. (A) Fifty-six hedgehogs were admitted to a Greek wildlife rehabilitation center and included in the present study. Fecal tests were performed using the flotation method (ZnSO4 33.2%) combined with the Baermann technique. In total, 49 hedgehogs excreted Crenosoma spp. larvae (87.5%), and 27 of them were also infected with Capillaria spp. (48.2%). One of them died, and the necropsy and lung histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of crenosomosis. (B) Fourteen animals with mixed infections were treated using NexGard® Combo (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, praziquantel) administered orally at a dose rate of 0.2 mL/kg body weight, once. On days 10 and 14 post-treatment, no parasitic elements were detected in the feces of the infected animals. All the animals had gained weight by day 14, and their biochemical parameters were normal. It was concluded that this combination given orally was safe and successful against hedgehog respiratory nematodes.

Feline parasitism affects animals’ health and welfare. Faeces from 472 client-owned cats from Greece were examined to provide updated data on the epizootiology of metazoan endo- and ectoparasites (namely, Toxocara cati, Ancylostomatidae, Dipylidium caninum, lungworms, Toxascaris leonina, Otodectes cynotis, fleas, ticks and Notoedres cati). All positive animals received a topical formulation containing esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel (NexGard® Combo, Boehringer Ingelheim), and its efficacy was evaluated. The overall prevalence of parasitism was 22.9%, while that of multiparasitism was 16.3%. Toxocara cati (18.4%) was the most prevalent endoparasite, followed by Ancylostomatidae (10.8%), D. caninum (4.7%), lungworms (2.5%) and T. leonina (0.4%). Regarding ectoparasites, O. cynotis (3.2%), fleas (2.3%), ticks (0.6%) and N. cati (0.4%) were found. To estimate the efficacy of treatment, the geometric means of the number of parasitic elements before the first treatment and post-treatment, (i) 14 days for intestinal helminths, (ii) 28 and 56 days for lungworms and (iii) 28 days for O. cynotis and fleas, were estimated and compared. Following statistical analyses (paired t-test and McNemar’s test), an efficacy of 100% was recorded against the most commonly detected parasites (gastrointestinal helminths and mites) and a notable statistically significant effect against fleas and lungworms after one dose, while 100% efficacy against lungworms was achieved after two doses of the product. No adverse effects were reported. The prevalence of parasitism in owned cats in Greece remains high, highlighting the demand for targeted preventive antiparasitic schemes. This study demonstrated high-level efficacy and tolerance of NexGard® Combo against common endoparasites and ectoparasites of household cats in Greece.

Domestic cats can be infested by a large range of parasite species. Parasitic infestations may cause very different clinical signs. Endoparasites and ectoparasites are rarely explored in the same study and therefore multiparasitism is poorly documented. The present survey aimed to improve knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors associated with ecto- and endoparasite infestations in owned cats in Europe. From March 2012 to May 2013, 1519 owned cats were included in a multicenter study conducted in 9 veterinary faculties throughout Europe (Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Spain). For each cat, ectoparasites were checked by combing of the coat surface associated with otoscopic evaluation and microscopy on cerumen samples. Endoparasites were identified by standard coproscopical examinations performed on fresh faecal samples. Risk factors and their influence on parasitism were evaluated by univariate analysis followed by a multivariate statistical analysis (including center of examination, age, outdoor access, multipet status, and frequency of treatments as main criteria) with logistic regression models. Overall, 50.7% of cats resulted positive for at least one internal or one external parasite species. Ectoparasites were found in 29.6% of cats (CI95 27.3-32.0%). Otodectes cynotis was the most frequently identified species (17.4%), followed by fleas (15.5%). Endoparasites were identified in 35.1% of the cats (CI95 32.7-35.7%), including gastro-intestinal helminths in 25.7% (CI95 23.5-28.0), respiratory nematodes in 5.5% (CI95 4.2-7.0%) and protozoans in 13.5% (CI95 11.8-15.3%). Toxocara cati was the most commonly diagnosed endoparasite (19.7%, CI95 17.8-21.8%). Co-infestation with endoparasites and ectoparasites was found in 14.0% of the cats, and 11.9% harbored both ectoparasites and gastro-intestinal helminths.Age, outdoor access, living with other pets, and anthelmintic or insecticide treatments were significantly associated with the prevalence of various parasites. This survey demonstrates that parasitism is not a rare event in European owned cat populations. The prevalence of multi-parasitism is significantly greater than expected by chance and hence there is tendency for some individual cats to be more prone to infestation by both endo- and ectoparasites due to common risk factors.

To understand the epidemiology of tick infestation and tick-borne diseases in pet dogs in south-eastern China and to develop a reference for their prevention and treatment, we collected 1550 ticks parasitizing 562 dogs in 122 veterinary clinics from 20 cities of south-eastern China. Dogs were tested for common tick-borne pathogens; collected ticks were identified and processed for the detection of tick-borne pathogens. The use of an in vitro ELISA diagnostic kit for antibody detection (SNAP®4Dx® Plus) on dog sera found the infection rates with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma spp. to be 0.4%, 1.3% and 2.7%, respectively. By using a specific ELISA method, the infection rate with Babesia gibsoni was 3.9%. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides were the major tick species identified on pet dogs. PCR tests were conducted to detect five tick-borne pathogens in 617 ticks. The infection rate was 10.2% for E. canis, 3.4% for Anaplasma platys, 2.3% for B. gibsoni, 0.3% for B. burgdorferi s.l. and 0% for Babesia canis. Some ticks were co-infected with two (1.46%) or three pathogens (0.16%). These results indicate the infestation of pet dogs by ticks infected with tick-borne pathogens in south-eastern China, and the need for effective treatment and routine prevention of tick infestations in dogs.

The efficacy of oral treatment with a chewable tablet containing afoxolaner 2.27% w/w (NexGard®, Merial) administered orally was assessed in eight dogs diagnosed with generalised demodicosis and compared with efficacy in eight dogs under treatment with a topical combination of imidacloprid/moxidectin (Advocate®, Bayer). Afoxolaner was administered at the recommended dose (at least 2.5 mg/kg) on Days 0, 14, 28 and 56. The topical combination of imidacloprid/moxidectin was given at the same intervals at the recommended concentration. Clinical examinations and deep skin scrapings were performed every month in order to evaluate the effect on mite numbers and the resolution of clinical signs. The percentage reductions of mite counts were 99.2%, 99.9% and 100% on Days 28, 56 and 84, respectively, in the afoxolaner-treated group, compared to 89.8%, 85.2% and 86.6% on Days 28, 56 and 84 in the imidacloprid/moxidectin-treated group. Skin condition of the dogs also improved significantly from Day 28 to Day 84 in the afoxolaner-treated group. Mite reductions were significantly higher on Days 28, 56 and 84 in the afoxolaner-treated group compared to the imidacloprid/moxidectin-treated group. The results of this study demonstrated that afoxolaner, given orally, was effective in treating dogs with generalised demodicosis within a two-month period. L’efficacité d’un traitement par comprimés appétents contenant de l’afoxolaner 2.27 % w/w (NexGard®, Merial), administré oralement, a été évaluée chez 8 chiens atteints de démodécie généralisée, et comparée avec l’efficacité chez 8 chiens d’une application topique de la combinaison imidaclopride/moxidectine (Advocate®, Bayer). L’afoxolaner était administré à la dose recommandée (au minimum 2.5 mg/kg) aux jours 0, 14, 28 et 56. La combinaison imidaclopride/moxidectine était administrée aux mêmes intervalles à la dose recommandée. Les examens cliniques et les raclages cutanés profonds ont été réalisés chaque mois pour évaluer la réduction du nombre d’acariens et la résolution des signes cliniques. Les pourcentages de réduction du nombre d’acariens ont été de 99.2 %, 99.9 % et 100 % aux jours 28, 56, et 84, respectivement, dans le groupe traité avec l’afoxolaner, comparé à 89.8 %, 85.2 %, et 86.6 % aux jours 28, 56, et 84 pour le groupe traité avec imidaclopride/moxidectine. Les signes dermatologiques se sont considérablement améliorés du jour 28 au jour 84 dans le groupe traité avec l’afoxolaner. La réduction du nombre d’acariens a été significativement plus importante aux jours 28, 56, et 84 dans le groupe traité avec l’afoxolaner par rapport au groupe traité avec imidaclopride/moxidectine. Les résultats de cette étude démontrent que l’afoxolaner, administré oralement, est efficace dans le traitement de la démodécie généralisée chez le chien dans une période de deux mois.

Background For long time, canine leishmaniosis (CanL) was considered endemic in the southern, central, and insular regions of Italy, whereas heartworm disease (HW) caused by Dirofilaria immitis was considered endemic in the northern region and in the swampy Po Valley. Following the reports of new foci of both diseases, in this study we update the distribution patterns and occurrence of new foci of CanL and HW discussing the main drivers for the changes in the epidemiology of these two important zoonotic canine vector-borne diseases. Methods Based on the statistical analyses of serological assays ( n = 90,633) on L. infantum exposure and D. immitis infection performed by two reference diagnostic centres in Italy over a ten-year period (2009–2019) irrespective of the anamnesis of dogs. The distribution patterns of both parasites are herein presented along with the occurrence of new foci. Results Results highlighted the changing distribution patterns of L. infantum vs D. immitis infection in Italy. CanL is endemic in some areas of northern regions and HW has endemic foci in central and southern regions and islands. Significant differences in L. infantum exposure and HW infection prevalence among the study macroareas were detected. The overall results of the positive tested samples were 28.2% in southern Italy and islands, 29.6% in central Italy and 21.6% in northern Italy for L. infantum and 2.83% in northern Italy, 7.75% in central Italy and 4.97% in southern Italy and islands for HW. HW positivity significantly varied over years ( χ 2 = 108.401, df = 10, P < 0.0001), gradually increasing from 0.77% in 2009 to 8.47% in 2016–2017. Conclusions New potential epidemiological scenarios are discussed according to a range of factors (e.g. environmental modifications, occurrence of competent insect vectors, transportation of infected animals to non-endemic areas, chemoprophylaxis or vector preventative measures), which may affect the current distribution. Overall, the results advocate for epidemiological surveillance programmes, more focussed preventative and control measures even in areas where few or no cases of both diseases have been diagnosed.

Background Five species of the Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) are known in Europe and the Middle East. Among these, Phortica variegata and Phortica okadai are better known for their role as vectors of the zoonotic eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda . Other species, such as Phortica semivirgo and Phortica oldenbergi , have been studied less. Given the paucity of data about these Phortica spp. vectors, we explored the population dynamics and ecology of Phortica spp. in an area highly endemic for T . callipeada (Manziana, Rome, Central Italy). Methods Phortica spp. flies were collected over a 3-year period (2018–2020) during their active season (April–October) with a sweep net while hovering around fermenting fruits or a human operator acting as baits. Collected flies were morphologically identified and tested for a T . callipeada infection and for the presence of Wolbachia , by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Population dynamics of species collected was associated to environmental drivers through generalized additive models. Results Of the 5564 flies collected, 90.8% were P . variegata , 9.1% were P . oldenbergi , 0.05% were P . semivirgo , and one specimen was P . okadai . Only P . variegata scored molecularly infected with T . callipeada throughout the 3-year sampling period (1.8%). Phortica oldenbergi , observed consistently during the entire sampling period, exhibited a marked preference for fruit traps, contrasting with the lachryphagous activity of P . variegata . Analysis of environmental drivers of P . oldenbergi and P . variegata population dynamics indicated temperature, wind speed, and pressure as significant factors. In addition, Wolbachia pipientis endosymbiont was detected in P . oldenbergi and P . okadai . Conclusions For the first time, this study analysed several ecological aspects of Phortica species coexisting in a T . callipeada endemic area, highlighting different behaviors in the same environment and their vectorial role. Notably, this is also the first report of the presence of P . oldenbergi in Italy and P . okadai in Europe, underscoring the importance of extensive sampling for detecting potential vectors and alien species with direct implications for vector-borne disease epidemiology. Graphical Abstract

Background Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease of significant veterinary importance in dogs. It is caused by Babesia canis in Europe, where it is transmitted by Dermacentor reticulatus ticks. Methods A blinded, randomized, good clinical practice (GCP) and negative control experimental study was conducted to verify the efficacy of NexGard Spectra® in reducing the transmission of B. canis by D. reticulatus to dogs. NexGard Spectra® (IVP) is an oral product for dogs combining afoxolaner, an acaricide/insecticide compound from the isoxazoline class, and milbemycin oxime, a nematicide compound from the macrocyclic lactone class. Three groups of eight dogs were used; one group orally treated on day 0 with the IVP at the minimum recommended dose and two untreated control groups. On day 1, dogs from the treated group and from control group 1 were infested with 50 D. reticulatus adult ticks of 50/50 sex ratio infected with B. canis at a 23% infection rate. On day 28, dogs from the treated group and from control group 2 were infested similarly to those on day 1. Ticks were removed 6 days after each infestation. Results Seven to nine days after each infestation, all untreated control dogs displayed clinical signs of canine babesiosis, i.e., lethargy, and/or dark urine, and/or > 39.5 °C rectal temperature. Blood was collected for microscopical blood smear examination, and for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The blood smears from all untreated control dogs were positive for Babesia and all the PCR analyses were positive for B. canis. The control dogs were rescue treated. All control dogs were confirmed positive for B. canis by IFA on day 21 (control group 1) and on day 42 (control group 2). None of the IVP-treated dogs expressed any clinical sign of canine babesiosis following each of the two infestations of days 1 and 28 and until day 56. Blood was collected for IFA and PCR analyses from the treated dogs on days 21, 28, 42, and 56, and all results were negative. Conclusions In this study, the antiparasitic treatment prevented the transmission of B. canis to dogs following induced infestations. Graphical Abstract