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Intestinal helminth management in horses has both clinical and epidemiologic relevance, in additional association with anthelmintic resistance. The Swiss Army employs military owned riding horses and privately owned pack horses, which are brought together for service periods up to 12 weeks. We compared husbandry conditions and intestinal helminth management of both groups via questionnaire and analysed faecal samples of 53 riding horses and 130 pack horses using combined sedimentation/flotation, the McMaster method and larval cultures. Riding horses only had cyathostomin infections (prevalence: 60,4 %), while pack horses harboured cyathostomins (71,5 %), Parascaris sp. (6,9 %) and Strongylus vulgaris (1,5 %). Regression models combining faecal sample results with questionnaire data unveiled correlations of husbandry practices with parasite frequencies identifying risk and protective factors. Pasture management, hygiene and deworming practices were highly variable for pack horses, while for riding horses there was an overall concept. This included a selective deworming strategy with faecal egg counts (FECs) of strongyles prior to deworming, applying a threshold of 200 eggs per gram of faeces (epg). Anthelmintic treatments based on FECs, weekly faeces removal on pastures (pastures), the use of macrocyclic lactones and deworming horses regularly were identified as protective factors regarding the 200 epg threshold for strongyle eggs. Accordingly, the mean epg for strongyle eggs between the groups (111 and 539 in riding and pack horses, respectively) was significantly different (p0,001). Overall, intestinal helminth management in pack -horses showed room for improvement regarding pasture hygiene, the used anthelmintics and the frequency of deworming, from which all Swiss Army horses would benefit, as they share pastures during their -service, therefore entailing the risk of parasite transmission.Das Management intestinaler Helminthen bei Pferden hat sowohl klinische als auch epidemiologische Relevanz, ebenso im Zusammenhang mit Anthelminthika-­Resistenz. Die Schweizer Armee setzt Armee-eigene Reitpferde und privat gehaltene Trainpferde ein, welche für Diensteinsätze von bis zu 12 Wochen zusammengebracht werden. Wir haben die Haltungsbedingungen und das intestinale Helminthen-Management beider Gruppen mittels Fragebogen verglichen und haben Kotproben von 53 Reitpferden und 130 Tragpferden mittels kombiniertem Sedimentations-/Flotationsverfahren, McMaster Methode und Larvenkulturen analysiert. Die Reitpferde zeigten lediglich Befall mit kleinen Strongyliden (Prävalenz: 60,4 %), während die Trag­pferde kleine Strongyliden (71,5 %), Parascaris sp. (6,9 %) und Strongylus vulgaris (1,5 %) beherbergten. Regres­sionsmodelle, in welchen Kotproben-Befunde mit den Fragebogendaten kombiniert wurden, zeigten Zusammenhänge zwischen Haltungspraktiken und der Häufigkeit bestimmter Parasiten und führten zur ­Iden­tifizierung von Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren. Weidemanagement, Hygiene und Entwurmungspraktiken variierten stark für die Tragpferde, während für die Reitpferde ein einheitliches Konzept vorhanden war. Dieses beinhaltete eine selektive Entwurmungsstra­tegie mit quantitativen Kotuntersuchungen auf Strongy­liden vor Entwurmung (Schwellenwert von 200 Eiern pro Gramm Kot, EpG). Entwurmungen basierend auf quantitativen Kotuntersuchungen, die wöchentliche Beseitigung von Kot auf der Weide, die Verabreichung von makrozyklischen Laktonen und eine regelmässige Entwurmung der ­Pferde erwiesen sich als Schutzfaktoren bezüglich des Schwellenwertes von 200 EpG für Strongyliden. Dementsprechend waren die durchschnittlichen Strongyliden-Eizahlen zwischen den zwei Gruppen (111 bei den Reitpferden und 539 bei den Tragpferden) signifikant unterschiedlich (p0,001). Insgesamt wies das Endoparasitenmanagement bei den Tragpferden Verbesserungspotential auf bezüglich Weidehygiene, verwendeten Anthelminthika und Entwurmungsfrequenz. Hiervon würden alle Armeepferde profitieren, da sie während ihres Dienstes die Weiden teilen und somit das Risiko einer Parasiten-Übertragung besteht.La gestion des helminthes intestinaux chez les chevaux présente une importance clinique et épidémiologique, en association avec la résistance aux anthelminthiques. L’armée suisse emploie des chevaux de selle militaires et des chevaux de bât privés qui sont réunis pour des périodes de service allant jusqu’à 12 semaines. Nous avons comparé la détention animale et la gestion des helminthes intestinaux des deux groupes par le biais d’un questionnaire et analysé les échantillons fécaux de 53 chevaux de selle et 130 chevaux de bât en utilisant la sédimentation/flottation combinée, la méthode McMaster et les cultures larvaires. Les chevaux de selle ne présentaient que des infections à cyathostomes (prévalence: 60,4 %), tandis que les chevaux de bât hébergeaient des cyathostomes (71,5 %), Parascaris sp. (6,9 %) et Strongylus vulgaris (1,5 %). Des modèles de régression combinant les résultats des échantillons fécaux et les données du questionnaire ont révélé des corrélations entre les pratiques de détention animale et la fréquence des parasites, identifiant les facteurs de risque et de protection. La gestion des pâturages, l’hygiène et les pratiques en matière de vermifugation étaient très variables pour les chevaux de bât, tandis que pour les chevaux de selle, il existait un concept unitaire. Ceci comprenait stratégie de vermifugation sélective avec comptage des œufs fécaux (CEF) de strongles avant la vermifugation, en appliquant un seuil de 200 œufs par gramme de fèces (opg). Les traitements anthelminthiques basés sur les CEF, l’enlèvement hebdomadaire des crottins sur le pâturage, l’utilisation de lactones macrocycliques et la vermifugation régulière des chevaux ont été identifiés comme des facteurs de protection concernant le seuil de 200 opg pour les œufs de strongles. En conséquence, l’iog moyen pour les œufs de strongles entre les groupes (111 et 539 chez les chevaux de selle et de bât, respectivement) était significativement différent (p0,001). Globalement, la gestion des helminthes intestinaux chez les chevaux de bât a montré qu’il est possible d’améliorer l’hygiène des pâturages, le choix des anthelminthiques et la fréquence des vermifuges, ce dont tous les chevaux de l’armée suisse bénéficieraient, car ils partagent les pâturages pendant leur service, ce qui entraîne un risque de transmission des parasites.La gestione degli elminti intestinali nei cavalli ha una rilevanza sia clinica che epidemiologica, in associazione alla resistenza agli antielmintici. L’esercito svizzero impiega cavalli da equitazione di proprietà dell’esercito e cavalli da soma di proprietà privata, che vengono riuniti per periodi di servizio fino a 12 settimane. Abbiamo confrontato le condizioni d'allevamento e la gestione degli elminti intestinali di entrambi i gruppi tramite un questionario e abbiamo analizzato campioni fecali di 53 cavalli da equitazione e 130 cavalli da soma utilizzando la sedimentazione/flottazione combinata, il ­metodo McMaster e le colture larvali. I cavalli da equitazione avevano solo infezioni da cyathostomi (prevalenza: 60,4 %), mentre i cavalli da soma ospitavano cyathostomi (71,5 %), Parascaris sp. (6,9 %) e Strongylus vulgaris (1,5 %). I modelli di regressione che combinano i risultati dei campioni fecali con i dati del questionario hanno rivelato correlazioni tra le pratiche di allevamento animale e la frequenza dei parassiti, identificando fattori di rischio e di protezione. La gestione del pascolo, l’igiene e le pratiche di sverminazione sono risultate molto variabili tra i cavalli da soma, mentre per i cavalli da equitazione vi è stato un approccio più uniforme. Questo includeva una strategia di sverminazione selettiva con conta delle uova fecali (CEF) degli strongili prima della sverminazione, applicando una soglia di 200 uova per grammo di feci (upg). I trattamenti antielmintici basati sulle CEF, la rimozione settimanale delle feci sul pascolo, l’uso di lattoni macrociclici e la sverminazione regolare dei cavalli sono stati identificati come fattori protettivi rispetto alla soglia di 200 upg per le uova di strongili. Di conseguenza, l’upg medio per le uova di strongili tra i gruppi (111 e 539 nei cavalli da equitazione e da soma, rispettivamente) era significativamente diverso (p0,001). Nel complesso, lo studio ha mostrato che la gestione degli elminti intestinali nei cavalli da soma ha un potenziale di miglioramento per quanto riguarda l’igiene del pascolo, gli antielmintici utilizzati e la frequenza della sverminazione, di cui beneficerebbero tutti i cavalli dell’esercito svizzero, in quanto condividono i pascoli durante il loro servizio, comportando quindi il rischio di trasmissione dei parassiti.

Background The lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infects wild and domestic feline species worldwide and is considered a primary respiratory parasite of cats. Definitive diagnosis is based on identification of first stage larvae (L1s) released in faeces approximately 5 to 6 weeks after infection. More recently, serology has been shown to be a diagnostic alternative for A. abstrusus infection in cats. The present study was aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of serological antibody detection compared to faecal examination for A. abstrusus infection in a population of cats with known infection status from endemic areas in Italy and to identify factors (larval scores, age, co-infections with other helminths) that may influence test sensitivity and specificity. Methods All cats resulting positive in the Baermann technique (n=78) were tested with the A. abstrusus ELISA An additional 90 serum samples from cats living in three geographical areas with infection prevalence greater than 10%, but that resulted negative in Baermann, were also tested. Results Among 78 cats copromicroscopically positive for L1s of A. abstrusus (Group 1), 29 (37.2%) were seropositive in ELISA. Of the 90 cats from Group 2 (cats living in three geographical areas in Italy with A. abstrusus prevalence greater than 10%, but negative in Baermann examination), 11 (12.2%) were positive in ELISA. The overall seroprevalence was 23.8%. There was no statistical difference either between average optical density (OD) values of cats excreting >100 L1s vs. cats excreting P value = 0.3247) or comparing the OD values with age of infected cats. Few Baermann-negative cats positive for Toxocara cati or hookworms were seropositive, supporting lack of cross reactivity to these nematodes. Conclusions Results from the present study suggest that relying solely on faecal examination may underestimate prevalence of A. abstrusus infection in cats and that field surveys based on antibody detection is useful for establishing true prevalence of infected and/or exposed animals.

Metastrongylus sp. is a lungworm with worldwide distribution in wild boars and other suids. In Switzerland, two wild boar populations are geographically divided by the Alps. We investigated 84 wild boars, 52 from north and 32 from south of the Alps, different in sex and age (juveniles, subadults, adults), shot between September and December 2018. The lungs were macroscopically examined and dissected for the detection of Metastrongylus specimens. Additionally, faecal samples were obtained from 55 animals and analysed by sedimentation/flotation and the mini-FLOTAC® method. Overall, 12′774 Metastrongylus sp. specimens were isolated: prevalence was 77.4% and mean burden 196.5 (range: 1–2589), with no significant differences between north (80.8%, 218.0) and south (71.9%, 157.4) nor between sexes and age groups. Macroscopically, dense nodular lesions associated with Metastrongylus sp. were present in 19 out of 65 (33.9%) positive lungs. Five Metastrongylus sp. were detected: M. pudendotectus (67.9%), M. salmi (63.1%), M. confusus (56%), M. apri (44%) and M. asymmetricus (17.9%), with a significant difference (p = 0.012) between north (32.7%) and south (62.5%) for M. apri. The lungworm population was female biased. The number of Metastrongylus sp. eggs in faecal samples did not correlate with worm burdens. Furthermore, the following endoparasites were detected: Isospora suis/Eimeria sp. (74.5%), Strongyloides suis (27.3%%), Trichuris suis (20.0%), Hyostrongylus rubidus/Oesophagostomum sp. (18.2%), Globocephalus sp. (9.1%), Capillaria sp. (7.3%), Ascaris suum (3.6%), Giardia sp. (3.6%) and Balantidium coli (1.8%), with significant differences for S. suis (north 36.1% > south 10.5%) and Globocephalus sp. (only south, 26.3%). Although geographically separated, both Swiss wild boar populations share similar parasite spectra, while also showing some regional idiosyncrasies partially explained by ecological and climatic factors. Despite their clinical relevance being unknown, accurate knowledge concerning the distribution of endoparasites in the wildlife reservoir is relevant to better understand risk factors for the domestic pig population., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • 12′774 Metastrongylus sp. were isolated from wild boars north and south of the Alps. • Metastrongylus prevalence was 77.4%, mean burden 196.5, five species were detected. • No significant differences between wild boar sexes and age groups. • Overall, similar parasite spectra with regional idiosyncrasies were identified. • Known parasite occurrence is relevant to evaluate risk factors for domestic pigs.

Human studies show that in addition to skin barrier and immune cell dysfunction, both the cutaneous and the gut microbiota can influence the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. There is currently no data on the gut-skin axis in allergic canines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the bacterial diversity and composition of the gut microbiome in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). Stool samples from adult beagle dogs (n = 3) with spontaneous AD and a healthy control group (n = 4) were collected at Days 0 and 30. After the first sampling, allergic dogs were orally dosed on a daily basis with oclacitinib for 30 days, and then re-sampled. Sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform and the data were analyzed using QIIME2. The atopic dogs had a significantly lower gut microbiota alpha-diversity than healthy dogs (p = 0.033). In healthy dogs, a higher abundance of the families Lachnospiraceae (p = 0.0006), Anaerovoracaceae (p = 0.006) and Oscillospiraceae (p = 0.021) and genera Lachnospira (p = 0.022), Ruminococcustorques group (p = 0.0001), Fusobacterium (p = 0.022) and Fecalibacterium (p = 0.045) was seen, when compared to allergic dogs. The abundance of Conchiformibius (p = 0.01), Catenibacterium spp. (p = 0.007), Ruminococcus gnavus group (p = 0.0574) and Megamonas (p = 0.0102) were higher in allergic dogs. The differences in alpha-diversity and on the compositional level remained the same after 1 month, adding to the robustness of the data. Additionally, we could also show that a 4-week treatment course with oclacitinib was not associated with changes in the gut microbiota diversity and composition in atopic dogs. This study suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota diversity and composition may be associated with canine AD. Large-scale studies preferably associated to a multi-omics approach and interventions targeting the gut microbiota are needed to confirm these results.