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Simple Summary: The spread of helminths resistant to the most common classes of anthelmintic drugs in sheep and the presence of drug residues in the environment has prompted research to find sustainable alternative solutions for gastrointestinal nematodes control. This study reports the results of in vivo studies on the efficacy of an aqueous Punica granatum-based macerate, used in southern Italy for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. The anthelmintic efficacy was evaluated in parallel in sheep infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, using, as a positive control, the treatment with Ivermectin and Albendazole. The results of the study show a good anthelmintic efficacy, suggesting the use of this ethnoveterinary macerate as an alternative and sustainable therapeutical remedy for the helminthiasis control in the sheep. Parasites, in particular, gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) represent one of the main burdens affecting small ruminant farming and pose a serious threat to their health, welfare, productivity, and reproduction. The correct management of animals and the correct use of anthelmintic drugs are the pillars of the GIN control programs for small ruminants. However, globally due to the indiscriminate use of synthetic anthelmintics, there is a significant increase in anthelmintic resistance phenomena to one or more classes of drugs. Even if such a problem never represented a serious threat in southern Italy because of the favourable environmental conditions and because of the good farm management, the phenomenon is actually showing a steep increasing trend and requires alternative treatment measures and constant monitoring. The use of phytotherapies is considered a valuable alternative approach for GIN control in small ruminants and could help with reducing the amount of synthetic drugs used and the forthcoming anthelmintic resistance. From this perspective, the Calabria territory offers a wide number of plants with anthelmintic efficacy that could be helpful for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) macerate compared to the treatment with Ivermectin and Albendazole in sheep naturally infected with GINs. The pomegranate macerate derives from the ethnoveterinary knowledge of the Calabria region, Southern Italy. The anthelmintic efficacy was evaluated according to the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRt) using the FLOTAC techniques in two sheep farms in Southern Italy. The FECR was calculated from individual samples using the formula FECR = 100 × (1 − [T2/C2]). The treatment with Albendazole in the first farm showed an efficacy of 99.8% after 14 days and 94.8% after 21 days, while the treatment with Ivermectin in the second farm showed an efficacy of 99.9% after 14 days and 96.5% after 21 days of treatment. The pomegranate macerate, in both farms, showed a value of efficacy of around 50% from day 7 to day 21 after the treatment. Previous studies highlighted the presence of gallic acid as the main component in the pomegranate macerate, and its efficacy in nematode control has been as well previously demonstrated in other plant extracts. This in vivo study demonstrated the unequivocal efficacy of plant macerate in easily reducing 50% of the number of GIN eggs in sheep faeces. These results, obtained without the use of synthetic anthelmintics, indicate the use of green veterinary pharmacology as a sustainable alternative to the use of synthetic drugs to reduce the increase in drug resistance phenomena and the environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aquaculture is an important source of animal protein. However, in recent years, with an intensification of farming, the risk of infectious diseases is increasing, especially the diseases caused by monogeneans, resulting in huge economic losses to aquaculture. Currently, the prevention and control of monogenean in fish mainly rely on some chemical drugs, such as formaldehyde, rotenone, and praziquantel. However, prolonged and frequent use of these chemicals leads to the occurrence of drug resistance, some adverse environmental impacts, and even contamination of fish products with drug residues. Therefore, it is urgent to develop efficient and environment-friendly drugs for the control of monogeneans in aquaculture. Natural plant-derived medicines are one of the alternative options. Therefore, in this study, anthelmintic efficacy of various essential oils was evaluated. The results indicated that palmarosa oil and curcuma oil showed potent anthelmintic activity against monogenean, and curcuma oil also had an anesthetic effect on monogenean. Moreover, these two essential oils displayed a high safety for fish. Therefore, palmarosa oil and curcuma oil could be viable alternatives for the prevention and control of monogenean infection in aquaculture. Monogeneans are a serious threat to the development of aquaculture due to the severe economic losses they cause. The prevention and treatment of this disease are increasingly difficult because of the environmental and health concerns caused by the use of chemical anthelmintics and the emergence of drug resistance. It is thus necessary to search for effective alternatives for the treatment of monogenean infections. In the current study, anthelmintic efficacy of 16 selected essential oils (EOs) was investigated using the goldfish (Carassius auratus)–Gyrodactylus kobayashii model. The screening experiment indicated that palmarosa oil and curcuma oil had satisfactory anthelmintic activity against G. kobayashii with EC100 values of 10 and 12 mg/L after 24-h exposure, respectively. The in vivo and in vitro assays indicated anthelmintic efficacy of palmarosa oil against G. kobayashii was in a time and dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, curcuma oil showed an anesthetic effect on G. kobayashii, and its anthelmintic activity was dose-dependent rather than time-dependent in the concentration range tested in this study. Additionally, the 24-h LC50 (50% lethal concentration) against goldfish of these two EOs was 8.19-fold and 5.54-fold higher than their corresponding EC50 (50% effective concentration) against G. kobayashii, respectively. Moreover, exposure to these two EOs at 100% effective concentration against G. kobayashii had no serious physiological and histopathological influence on goldfish. These results demonstrated a high safety for goldfish of these two EOs. Overall, palmarosa oil and curcuma oil could be potential candidates for the treatment of G. kobayashii infections in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Parasitic worms are a major threat to the health and production of sheep and goats worldwide, particularly because many worms have become resistant to commonly applied drugs. This problem is well known around the world, but the situation is currently not well studied in Germany. This study was therefore performed to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments against infection with gastrointestinal nematodes. Faecal samples from animal groups were examined before and after treatment, the worm eggs in the feaces were counted, and the reduction in egg excretion following treatment was calculated. Eggs of Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm) were stained to differentiate them from other gastrointestinal nematodes. Treatments were chosen and carried out by farmers together with their local veterinarian. Additional information was collected by questionnaires to check if the treatments were performed correctly. Reduced effectiveness was observed for all available drugs, but some showed better treatment success than others. The barber's pole worm frequently survived treatments by most products. The high percentage of treatment failures is highly concerning, and it is necessary to develop and/or apply alternative methods of worm control to prevent the deterioration of this situation. Widespread anthelmintic resistance is a concern for small ruminant health and production worldwide. The current situation regarding anthelmintic efficacy is, however, not very well studied in Germany. Thus, a nationwide field study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of 253 treatments performed in 223 small ruminant flocks by faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) using pooled samples and a modified McMaster method. The percentage of Haemonchus contortus and non-Haemonchus eggs was determined by fluorescence microscopy following peanut agglutinin–fluorescein isothiocyanate staining. Treatments were chosen and performed by farmers together with their local veterinarian, and potentially confounding factors for FECRT results were addressed as far as possible by rigorous inclusion criteria. Reduced effectiveness was observed for treatments with all examined anthelmintic classes, but treatments with benzimidazoles and moxidectin showed significantly poorer results than monepantel, a closantel and mebendazole combination, and levamisole. Low case numbers precluded reliable assessment of avermectins. Unsuccessful treatments were frequently associated with the survival of H. contortus, but this was also observed for non-Haemonchus genera. The results are highly concerning, and sustainable approaches to parasite control are urgently needed to prevent further deterioration of this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mules and donkeys are often treated as horses from a therapeutic point of view. This approach could be dangerous due to species differences in drug pharmacokinetics which could reflect on the drug effectiveness. Ivermectin is a commonly used anthelmintic compound due to the broad spectrum of activity. The improper use of ivermectin (i.e., dosage, route of administration) could cause a lack of parasite control and contribute to development of drug resistance. Studies on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of antiparasitic molecules in mules are limited, although these drugs are crucial for the welfare of these equines. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ivermectin administered to mules at the same dosage (200 µg/kg body weight) and route licensed for horses. Results show that administering ivermectin orally, at the same dosage of horses, has a pharmacokinetic intermediate behavior between horses and donkeys. This study demonstrates that ivermectin oral paste at horse dosage is effective and safe for the treatment of cyathostomins in mules. Ivermectin (IVM) is an anthelmintic compound commonly used off-label in mules due to its broad-spectrum of activity. Despite the general use of IVM in mules with the same dose and route of administration licensed for horses, significant pharmacokinetic differences might exist between horses and mules, as already observed for donkeys. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and anthelmintic efficacy of an oral paste of IVM in mules naturally infected with cyathostomins. Fifteen adult mules with fecal egg counts (FEC) ≥ 200 eggs per gram (EPG), with exclusive presence of cyathostomins, were included in the study. All mules were orally treated with IVM according to the manufacturer's recommended horse dosage (200 µg/kg body weight). FECs were performed before (day-10 and day-3) and after treatment at days 14 and 28 by using a modified McMaster method. The FEC reduction (FECR%) was also calculated. Blood samples were collected from five animals at various times between 0.5 h up to 30 days post treatment to determine pharmacokinetic parameters. The maximum IVM serum concentration (Cmax) was 42.31 ± 10.20 ng/mL and was achieved at 16.80 ± 9.96 h post-treatment (Tmax), area under the curve (AUC) was 135.56 ± 43.71 ng × day/mL. FECR% remained high (>95%) until the 28th day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]