A reverse vaccinology approach identified novel recombinant tick proteins with protective efficacy against Rhipicephalus microplus infestation.

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, causes significant economic losses to the cattle industry. Tick control is predominately achieved via pesticide applications. However, alternative control methods such as vaccines are needed due to the tick's capacity to quickly develop pesticide resistance and to combat tick-borne diseases.

Acaricide resistance status of livestock ticks from East and West Africa and in vivo efficacy of acaricides to control them.

Through a collaborative effort across six Sub-Saharan African countries, using recognized international assessment techniques, 23 stocks of three tick species (Rhipicephalus microplus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum) of economic importance for rural small holder farming communities from East and West Africa were collected from cattle, and evaluated in in vitro larval packet tests (LPT). The results demonstrated medium to high resistance to chlorfenvinphos and amitraz across species. Rhipicephalus microplus demonstrated high level alpha-cypermethrin and cypermethrin resistance.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus field isolates from South Africa and Brazil.

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most successful ticks infesting cattle around the world. This highly-invasive species transmits cattle parasites that cause cattle fever leading to a high socio-economic burden. Tick eradication programs have often failed, due to the development of acaricide resistance.

Control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Africa through improved diagnosis and utilisation of data on acaricide resistance.

A meeting, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and organised by Clinglobal, was held at The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 19th - to 21st October 2022. The meeting assembled a unique group of experts on tick control in Africa. Academia, international agencies (FAO and ILRI), the private Animal Health sector and government veterinary services were represented.

Identification of anti-horn fly vaccine antigen candidates using a reverse vaccinology approach.

Background: The horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans, causes significant production losses to the cattle industry. Horn fly control relies on insecticides; however, alternative control methods such as vaccines are needed due to the fly's capacity to quickly develop resistance to insecticides, and the pressure for eco-friendly options.

Methods: We used a reverse vaccinology approach comprising three vaccine prediction and 11 annotation tools to evaluate and rank 79,542 translated open reading frames (ORFs) from the horn fly's transcriptome, and selected 10 transcript ORFs as vaccine candidates for expression in Pichia pastoris.

Feline leukemia virus in owned cats in Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus associated with fatal disease in cats with infection in its progressive form. Although there are numerous reports on the occurrence of FeLV in the feline population worldwide, there is a paucity of data in Asia. In this study, we assessed the circulation of FeLV by ELISA and nested PCR in cats from different countries in Southeast Asia (i.

First record of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats in Greece.

Feline hepatozoonosis is an emerging disease of domestic and wild felids though there is limited knowledge of this infection, e.g. regarding geographical distribution and parasite species involved.

Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks and fleas collected from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia.

Background: Ticks and fleas are considered amongst the most important arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary concern due to their ability to transmit pathogens to a range of animal species including dogs, cats and humans. By sharing a common environment with humans, companion animal-associated parasitic arthropods may potentially transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). This study aimed to molecularly detect pathogens from ticks and fleas from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia.

Toxoplasma gondii in beef consumed in France: regional variation in seroprevalence and parasite isolation.

In France, the consumption of cattle and sheep meat appears to be a risk factor for infection of pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii. Several nation-wide surveys in France have investigated the prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and pig meat, but little is known at present about the prevalence of the parasite in beef.

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: Pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications.

The present study investigated the presence of endo- and ecto-parasites, and vector-borne pathogens, in dogs from four islands of Greece. A total of 200 (123 owned and 77 sheltered) dogs were examined with different microscopic, serological and molecular methods. Of the examined dogs, 130 (65%) were positive for one or more parasites and/or vector-borne pathogens.

Endosymbionts carried by ticks feeding on dogs in Spain.

Studies on tick microbial communities historically focused on tick-borne pathogens. However, there is an increasing interest in capturing relationships among non-pathogenic endosymbionts and exploring their relevance for tick biology. The present study included a total of 1600 adult ticks collected from domestic dogs in 4 different biogeographical regions of Spain.

Prevention of canine ocular thelaziosis (Thelazia callipaeda) with a combination of milbemycin oxime and afoxolaner (Nexgard Spectra) in endemic areas in France and Spain.

In the past decade, canine thelaziosis due to Thelazia callipaeda has been diagnosed in an increasing number of European countries, with endemic areas being identified. A multi-center field trial was conducted in endemic areas in France and Spain to evaluate the efficacy of monthly administrations of the oral milbemycin oxime/afoxolaner combination (NexGard Spectra) for the prevention of T. callipaeda infection in at-risk dogs.

Efficacy of two formulations of afoxolaner (NexGard® and NexGard Spectra®) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs, in veterinary dermatology referral centers in Europe.

Background: A multi-centre field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of afoxolaner based chewables (NexGard® or NexGard Spectra®) for the treatment of generalised demodicosis caused by Demodex canis in dogs under field conditions in France, Italy and Poland.

Methods: Client-owned dogs, diagnosed positive for Demodex mites by pre-treatment skin scrapings and presenting clinical signs of generalised demodicosis were included. Dogs were orally treated with afoxolaner three times at monthly intervals.

Six-month field efficacy and safety of the combined treatment of dogs with Frontline Tri-Act® and NexGard Spectra®.

Background: Safety and efficacy of the combined monthly use of spot-on fipronil 6.76% w/v / permethrin 50.48% w/v (Frontline Tri-Act®) and chewable tablets of afoxolaner 1.

Questionnaire-based survey on distribution of canine ocular thelaziosis in southwestern France.

The distribution of Thelazia callipaeda, commonly known as "oriental eyeworm'', has been considered for a long time to be confined to the former soviet Republics and Asia where the nematode causes infections in domestic and wild carnivores, rabbits and sometimes humans. However, since 2000, thelaziosis has been diagnosed in dogs and sometimes in cats from a growing number of European countries, including France. In 2006, a survey demonstrated that many autochthonous cases of canine thelaziosis were present in the department of Dordogne (southwestern France) in three hyperenzootic counties where strawberry production was predominant.

Assessment of the insecticidal activity of afoxolaner against Aedes aegypti in dogs treated with NexGard.

Twelve healthy dogs were studied in this parallel group, blinded, randomised, and negative controlled efficacy study. On Day -1, the 12 dogs included were ranked within sex in descending order of individual pre-treatment (Day -5) fed mosquito counts and randomly allocated by blocks of two dogs to the untreated control group or the afoxolaner-treated group. NexGard (Merial, now part of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health) was administered orally on Day 0 in accordance with the European label instructions.

Zoonotic intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in Italian shelter and kennel dogs.

This study investigated the presence of zoonotic parasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs housed in kennels and shelters from four sites of Italy. A total of 150 adoptable dogs was examined with different microscopic, serological and molecular methods. Overall 129 dogs (86%) were positive for one or more parasites and/or pathogens transmitted by ectoparasites.

Lungworms and gastrointestinal parasites of domestic cats: a European perspective.

With the exception of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, feline lungworms have been poorly studied. Information on their distribution is patchy and mostly limited to case reports. In this study, the occurrence of feline lungworms and co-infecting gastrointestinal parasites has been investigated in 12 European countries (i.

Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece.

This survey investigated the distribution of various intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in four regions of Greece. A total number of one hundred and fifty cats living in three Islands (Crete, Mykonos and Skopelos) and in Athens municipality was established as a realistic aim to be accomplished in the study areas. All cats were examined with different microscopic, serological and molecular assays aiming at evaluating the occurrence of intestinal parasites, and exposure to or presence of vector-borne infections.