Parasitological transitions: selected outcomes from the XXXII Congress of the Italian Society for Parasitology.

Founded in 1959, the Italian Society of Parasitology (SoIPa) includes nearly 200 researchers and professionals in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, epidemiology and environmental sciences. The diversity of its members, in a historical and continuous collaboration with other international scientific societies, embodies a broad and multidisciplinary field such as parasitology. Since 1959, SoIPa has organized a biennial congress, covering all aspects of general parasitology with participants from all over Italy, Europe and beyond, involved in a dynamic and multi-faceted scientific framework of contributions and symposia. The present Special Issue (SI) contains 6 review papers and 1 research article, focussed on emerging topics presented and discussed during some of the symposia organized within the XXXII SoIPa Congress, held in Naples from 27th June to 30th June 2022. These review papers reflect several emerging subjects (i.e. 'Italian network on Neglected Tropical Diseases', 'Wildlife parasites and citizen science', 'Comparing approaches to parasitological issues', 'Unusual perspectives on the role of parasites') with the aim to explore the new role that parasitologists can play in the future society, working together to promote dialogue on science-informed decisions to support the so-called 'twin green and digital transition'.

Control of gastrointestinal helminths in small ruminants to prevent anthelmintic resistance: the Italian experience.

Helminth infections are ubiquitous in grazing ruminants and cause significant costs due to production losses. Moreover, anthelmintic resistance (AR) in parasites is now widespread throughout Europe and poses a major threat to the sustainability of modern ruminant livestock farming. Epidemiological data on the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes, cestodes and liver- and rumen-flukes in Italian small ruminants are outdated and fragmentary. However, anthelmintics are commonly used to control these infections and often without prior diagnosis. Compared to other European countries, few reports of AR in small ruminants against levamisole, ivermectin and benzimidazoles have been published in Italy, but recent studies suggest that this phenomenon is spreading. Increased and integrated research efforts in developing innovative approaches to control helminth infections and AR are needed and must be tailored to the peculiarities of each context in order to be effectively implemented. This manuscript provides an overview on helminth prevalence and distribution, sustainable treatment strategies and integrated control approaches in small ruminants in Italy. The implementation of targeted treatments and targeted selective treatments is discussed based on different parameters, such as fecal egg count, degree of anaemia (FAMACHA© method), milk production and body condition score. In addition, several Italian studies have also investigated the implementation of alternative strategies such as the use of different natural bioactive compounds or genetic selection for resistance and resilience to helminth infections. These concrete solutions for helminth management in small ruminant farms in the country are reported and discussed, representing a valid example for other Mediterranean countries.

Wild ungulates as sentinels of flaviviruses and tick-borne zoonotic pathogen circulation: an Italian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Vector-borne zoonotic diseases are a concerning issue in Europe. Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) have been reported in several countries with a large impact on public health; other emerging pathogens, such as Rickettsiales, and mosquito-borne flaviviruses have been increasingly reported. All these pathogens are linked to wild ungulates playing roles as tick feeders, spreaders, and sentinels for pathogen circulation. This study evaluated the prevalence of TBEV, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Coxiella spp. by biomolecular screening of blood samples and ticks collected from wild ungulates. Ungulates were also screened by ELISA and virus neutralization tests for flaviviral antibody detection. RESULTS: A total of 274 blood samples were collected from several wild ungulate species, as well as 406 Ixodes ricinus, which were feeding on them. Blood samples tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. (1.1%; 0-2.3%) and Rickettsia spp. (1.1%; 0-2.3%) and showed an overall flaviviral seroprevalence of 30.6% (22.1-39.2%): 26.1% (17.9-34.3%) for TBEV, 3.6% (0.1-7.1%) for Usutu virus and 0.9% (0-2.7%) for West Nile virus. Ticks were pooled when possible and yielded 331 tick samples that tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. (8.8%; 5.8-11.8%), Rickettsia spp. (26.6%; 21.8-31.2%) and Neoehrlichia mikurensis (1.2%; 0-2.4%). TBEV and Coxiella spp. were not detected in either blood or tick samples. CONCLUSIONS: This research highlighted a high prevalence of several tick-borne zoonotic pathogens and high seroprevalence for flaviviruses in both hilly and alpine areas. For the first time, an alpine chamois tested positive for anti-TBEV antibodies. Ungulate species are of particular interest due to their sentinel role in flavivirus circulation and their indirect role in tick-borne diseases and maintenance as Ixodes feeders and spreaders.

Pearl formation associated with gymnophallid metacercariae in Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Northwestern Adriatic coast: Preliminary observations.

Gymnophallids of the genus Parvatrema are small trematodes infecting waterbirds in their adult stage. Several species of clams and mussels have been found to act as first and second intermediate hosts, in which the trematode larval stages induce the formation of pearls. In this study, a wild population of Mytilus galloprovincialis was sampled along the Northwestern coast of the Adriatic Sea to evaluate the origin and extent of visible pearls. Parasitological investigations, including morphological and molecular analyses, and histopathology were carried out on a representative sample of mussels (n = 158) from June to September 2021. The overall prevalence of infection reached 75.3 %, and the intensity of infection ranged from a few trematodes to thousands per mussel, mostly occurring in the mantle and surrounded by variable numbers of conchiolin layers. Morphological studies allowed classification of the metacercariae as belonging to the genus Parvatrema, and the pairwise comparison of the obtained sequences, encompassing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, revealed a genetic similarity (96.8 %) to Parvatrema duboisi. However, the phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the independent clustering of the obtained ITS sequences compared to other available Parvatrema species. For the relevant commercial impact that pearl formation may have on farmed mussels, ecological and epidemiological aspects of this infection would deserve further investigation in the area.

Molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in hard ticks collected from wild animals in Benin, West Africa.

Tick and tick-borne pathogens constitute a growing veterinary and public health concern around the world. Ticks are considered natural reservoirs for tick-borne related pathogens and are equally responsible for the spread of infections in animals as well as humans. In this study, the presence of Rickettsia, Bartonella, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum was investigated in hard ticks collected from reptiles, birds, and wild mammalian animals. The sample collection was carried out between December 2020 and September 2021. Adult ticks (male and female) were collected from wild animals in six districts of southern Benin. Molecular analysis was used to verify the presence of pathogens in all the ticks collected from wild animals. A total of 504 ticks were collected and grouped into 115 different tick pools. The PCR analysis detected 19 out of 115 tick pools which turn out positive for Rickettsia spp. and 9/115 tick pools positive for Bartonella spp., while Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was not detected in any tick. Several of the tick species collected from our studied reptiles/wild mammalian animals could be potential sources of zoonotic pathogens when subjected to further investigation. Therefore, stringent attention should be established for tick infestation of reptiles/wild mammalian animals in order to put in place proper control and prevention measures for tick-borne diseases in the wild, which could serve as reservoirs in the infestation of domestic animals/humans in the event of any possible contact.

Epidemiological study on calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in dairy farms in Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 on calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in dairy farms in Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia with the objectives of determining the incidence of calf diarrhea and calf coccidiosis from diarrheic calves, assessing the major risk factors associated with calf diarrhea and coccidiosis and identifying the existing Eimeria species. A total of 237 calves, 86 calves from 52 smallholder dairy farms and 151 calves from 8 large dairy farms, were used for this study. Fresh fecal samples were collected from 86 diarrheic calves for identification of Eimeria species. RESULTS: Overall incidences of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis found in this study were 33.5 and 20.1%, respectively. In total, 19 potential risk factors were investigated for their association with calf diarrhea and coccidiosis from diarrheic calves using Cox regression. Age of calf (HR = 2.057, P = .002), body condition (HR = 1.802, P < .001), house condition (HR = 2.072, P = .004) and age at first colostrum feeding time (HR = 2.107, P = .002) were found significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the risk of diarrhea by multivariate Cox regression. Among the risk factors tested, age (HR = 13.36, P < .001) and sex of calves (HR = 3.500, P = .020) were found significantly (P < 0.05) associated with coccidiosis by multivariate Cox regression. A total of nine Eimeria species were identified. E. bovis (28.6%), E. zuernii (19.0%) and E. auburnensis (14.3%) were the most common Eimeria species encountered. CONCLUSION: The incidence of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis was high in the dairy herds in North West Ethiopia. Therefore, sound dairy calf management practices are needed to mitigate risk factors for calf diarrhea and coccidiosis with a view to reducing the incidence of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in Ethiopian dairy farms.

Epidemiology of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) ulcerous gastritis in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).

Sulcascaris sulcata Rudolphi 1819 is a gastric nematode parasite of sea turtles. Here, we report the occurrence and describe for the first time the pathological changes caused by S. sulcata in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Tyrrhenian coast and northern Adriatic coast of Italy. Prevalence of infection was significantly higher in loggerhead sea turtles from the Adriatic Sea. Both prevalence and abundance of infection showed an increasing trend along with host age classes from both geographical localities. Nevertheless, while many small loggerhead sea turtles were found infected from the Adriatic Sea, only bigger individuals were infected from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The most common gross pathological change was a mucous gastritis with focal to multifocal raised ulcerous lesions roundish to irregular in shape ranging from 1 to over 20 cm in length, and cream-yellowish to greenish in color. The severity grade of gastritis increased with higher number of S. sulcata individuals. Microscopic pathological changes ranged from atrophic gastritis with heterophilic infiltration in the lamina propria to the destruction of the mucosal and sub-mucosal surfaces and necrosis. Results here obtained demonstrate that S. sulcata may cause ulcerous gastritis in both samples of loggerhead sea turtles studied from the Mediterranean Sea. Observed differences in S. sulcata infection among the different host age classes and between the two studied basins are likely linked to the differences of regional habitat and intermediate prey host availability.

Correction to: Epidemiology of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) ulcerous gastritis in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).

The original version of this article contained a mistake in the value of Bar in figure 3 caption. It should be Bar = 200 µm instead of Bar = 500 µm.

Molecular detection of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in canine faecal samples contaminating public areas in Northern Italy.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are common intestinal pathogens of humans and animals. Dogs may be infected by zoonotic isolates of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. that, consequently, have high interest under public health perspective. This study estimated the occurrence of these protozoa in canine faeces polluting public areas of Padua municipality (Northern Italy), towards a potential evaluation of health risks for dogs and humans. A total of 705 canine stools was collected in green (n = 270) and urban (n = 435) areas and processed by duplex real-time PCR and real-time PCR SYBR® Green I for the detection of both protozoa. Positive samples were submitted to specific nested PCRs (i.e. ß-giardin/SSU-rRNA genes for Giardia; SSU-rRNA gene for Cryptosporidium) to obtain detailed information on the isolates retrieved.Giardia and Cryptosporidium prevalence were 28.9% and 1.7%, respectively. Twenty-one Giardia-positive samples were successfully identified as dog-specific assemblages C and D, and 1 as the human-specific assemblage B. One isolate was identified as Cryptosporidium canis, while the other 11 were confirmed to belong to the Cryptosporidium parvum species complex. Contrariwise to the Cryptosporidium low prevalence, the wide distribution of Giardia suggests a high risk of infection for dogs attending public areas. Although data indicate a limited risk for human health, it is necessary to improve general education to reduce canine faecal pollution towards a widespread awareness of health risks.

Evaluation of Alternative Methods for Testing the Bioefficacy of Household Ambient Insecticide Products Against Aedes albopictus.

Ambient insecticides are receiving increasing attention in many developed countries because of their value in reducing mosquito nuisance. As required by the European Union Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012, these devices require appropriate testing of their efficacy, which is based on estimating the knockdown and mortality rates of free-flying (free) mosquitoes in a test room. However, evaluations using free mosquitoes present many complexities. The performances of 6 alternative methods with mosquitoes held in 2 different cage designs (steel wire and gauze/plastic) with and without an operating fan for air circulation were monitored in a test room through a closed-circuit television system and were compared with the currently recommended method using free mosquitoes. Results for caged mosquitoes without a fan showed a clearly delayed knockdown effect, whereas outcomes for caged mosquitoes with a fan recorded higher mortality at 24 h, compared to free mosquitoes. Among the 6 methods, cages made of gauze and plastic operating with fan wind speed at 2.5-2.8 m/sec was the only method without a significant difference in results for free mosquitoes, and therefore appears as the best alternative to assess knockdown by ambient insecticides accurately.

Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and rickettsial pathogens in ixodid ticks infesting cattle and sheep in western Oromia, Ethiopia.

Although ticks are widely distributed in all agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia, information on tick-borne pathogens is scarce. This study was conducted to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia spp. in Rhipicephalus evertsi and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus collected from cattle and sheep at Bako, western Oromia, Ethiopia, using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia ruminantium and Ehrlichia spp. were detected in Rh. decoloratus, whereas only A. ovis was detected in Rh. evertsi. Both tick species were found to harbor DNA belonging to Rickettsia spp., and Rickettsia africae. Our findings highlight the risk of infection of animals and humans with these zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in Ethiopia.

Copromicroscopic and molecular investigations on intestinal parasites in kenneled dogs.

Intestinal parasites are common in dogs worldwide, and their importance has recently increased for a renewed awareness on the public health relevance that some of them have. In this study, the prevalence of helminths and protozoa was evaluated by microscopy in 318 canine faecal samples collected from eight rescue shelters in the North-eastern Italy; 285 of them were also submitted to the molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. isolates. An analysis was performed to evaluate the prevalence rates in relation to canine individual data, shelter provenance and anthelmintic treatments. Overall, 52.5% (167/318) of faecal samples were positive for at least one parasite. Trichuris vulpis showed the highest overall prevalence rate (29.2%), followed by G. duodenalis (15.1%), Toxocara canis (9.7%), ancylostomatids (8.2%) and Cystoisospora (5.7%). The prevalence of G. duodenalis, evaluated by real-time PCR, was 57.9% (165/285), and 79 isolates were characterized by nested PCR on the ß-giardin gene. The assemblages found were mainly the host-specific genotypes C and D, while only one assemblage was identified as the human-specific genotype B1. Isolates of Cryptosporidium spp., recorded in 3/285 (1.1%) stool samples, were Cryptosporidium parvum based on the characterization of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene. Although the results describe a relatively limited risk of dog-originating zoonoses, there is the need to improve the quality of shelter practices towards better health managements for safe pet-adoption campaigns and a minimization of the environmental faecal pollution with canine intestinal parasites.

Molecular detection of piroplasms in ixodid ticks infesting cattle and sheep in western Oromia, Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, ticks and tick-borne diseases are widely distributed and contribute to important economic losses. Several studies investigated the prevalence and species composition of ticks infesting ruminants; however, data on tick-borne pathogens are still scarce. During the study period from October 2010 to April 2011, a total of 1,246 adult ticks and 264 nymphs were collected from 267 cattle and 45 sheep in Bako District, western Oromia, Ethiopia. The study showed infestation of 228/267 (85.4 %) cattle and 35/45 (77.8 %) sheep with adult ticks. Overall, eight tick species, belonging to three genera (Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma), were identified and Amblyomma cohaerens (n = 577), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (n = 290), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (n = 287), and Amblyomma variegatum (n = 85) were the more prevalent species. A statistically significant host preference in A. cohaerens for cattle and R. evertsi evertsi for sheep was noticed. Molecular detection of piroplasms, performed only for adult ticks of two species of the genus Rhipicephalus (R. evertsi evertsi and R. decoloratus), revealed an overall prevalence of 4 % (8/202) Theileria buffeli/sergenti/orientalis, 0.5 % (1/202) Theileria velifera, and 2 % (4/202) Theileria ovis. The study showed that tick infestation prevalence is considerably high in both cattle and sheep of the area, but with a low intensity of tick burden and a moderate circulation of mildly pathogenic piroplasm species.

Survey of ectoparasites affecting dog and cat populations living in sympatry in Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ectoparasites of dogs and cats are implicated to be responsible for life-threatening anaemia, allergic dermatitis and pruritic and non-pruritic skin disorders. In Ethiopia, few studies have been conducted on the arthropods of dogs and cats. OBJECTIVES: In order to shed light on some of these aspects, a survey was conducted to investigate the presence of ectoparasites in dogs and cats living in sympatry in the urban and rural areas of Gamo Zone, Ethiopia. METHODS: A total of 297 dogs and 110 cats were examined for ectoparasites, and questionnaires were employed to obtain information concerning owner's knowledge about arthropods and vector-borne diseases (VBDs). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ticks, fleas and lice in dogs was 36.7%, 69.7% and 4.7%, respectively. Similarly, on cats, an overall prevalence of 2.7% ticks and 21.8% fleas was recorded. On dogs, fleas (Ctenocephalides felis 69.4%, Echidnophaga gallinacea 1.3%, Ctenocephalides canis 1.0% and Pulex irritans 0.3%), ticks (Amblyomma variegatum 22.9%, Rhipicephalus sanguineus 14.1%, Haemaphysalis leachi 8.8%, Rhipicephalus praetextatus 4.0% and Rhipicephalus pulchellus 3.4%) and lice (Heterodoxus spiniger 4.0% and Trichodectes canis 0.7%) were identified. Likewise, on cats, fleas (C. felis [15.5%] and E. gallinacea [7.3%]) and ticks (H. leachi [2.7%]) were identified. The abundance of C. felis was significantly higher (p < 0.001) on dogs, whereas in cats, the abundance of E. gallinacea was significantly higher (p = 0.002) than the other ectoparasites. On dogs, a significantly higher prevalence of Rh. sanguineus was recorded in urban areas (<0.001) and on dogs which live in indoor environments (p = 0.003) than on dogs which live in other environments. On the other hand, the prevalence of A. variegatum in rural areas and midland agroecology was significantly higher (p < 0.001). The prevalence of H. leachi was significantly higher in midland (p < 0.001) and on adult dogs (p = 0.001). Overall, fleas were more prevalent in rural (p = 0.029) than in urban areas, and female dogs were with higher infestation than the male (p = 0.047) dogs; C. felis was prevalent in female (p = 0.038) dogs than males. Overall, 88.3% owners in the study area had no knowledge about ectoparasites and VBDs of dogs and cats. Majority of the owners (64.8%) attest that they had never visited veterinary clinics. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the data presented in the present study provide additional knowledge on the importance of ectoparasites of dogs and cats and are believed to contribute in awareness creation and strengthening of veterinary services of dogs and cats of the study area.

Faecal egg count reduction test in goats: Zooming in on the genus level.

The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is the most widely used method to assess treatment efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Information on genera composition of the GIN community is not available with this test and it is commonly obtained by identifying cultured third-stage larvae (L3) or through molecular assays in the post-treatment survey, but results provided are usually only qualitative or semi-quantitative. The updated WAAVP guidelines now recommend assessing anthelmintic efficacy for each GIN genus/species separately (genus-specific FECRT), but this approach is poorly employed in Europe and in goats especially. For this reason, four FECRT trials were conducted using oxfendazole and eprinomectin in two Italian goat farms. Samples were processed individually using the McMaster technique and then pooled to create two samples from faeces of 5 animals each. Pooled samples were analysed using the McMaster and cultured for seven days at 26°C to obtain L3s. The genus-specific FECRT was based on larval identification, integrating coproculture and FEC results. Larvae were identified as Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Teladorsagia, Oesophagostomum / Chabertia and Bunostomum. Molecular assays (a multiplex real-time PCR and two end-point PCRs) were also implemented on pooled samples to support the morphological identification. The Spearmann Rho test confirmed a high correlation between the two approaches (Rho = 0.941 and Rho = 0.914 respectively for Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus, the two most common genera). Both oxfendazole and eprinomectin were effective in one farm, while none in the other farm (FECR = 75.9% and 73.3% respectively). In the second farm, the genus-specific FECRT highlighted a different response to treatment among genera: oxfendazole lacked efficacy against both Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus spp., eprinomectin only against Haemonchus, while all other genera were susceptible to both drugs. This study brings new attention on the importance of adopting a genus-specific approach to identify and quantify differences in susceptibility to anthelmintics among genera in goats, providing support for FECRT interpretation, anthelmintic resistance evaluation and evidence-based GIN control.

Comparing pooled and individual samples for estimation of gastrointestinal strongyles burden and treatment efficacy in small ruminants.

Monitoring endoparasite burden (FEC) and treatment efficacy (FECR) is a key element of sustainable parasite control. However, the costs of the analysis often discourage their implementation by farmers and veterinary practitioners. Pooling samples is considered to be a good alternative to reduce time and monetary costs, but limited data are available on the use of pooled samples in small ruminants, especially for goats. In this study, data collected over the years in sheep and goat farms were analyzed, and results obtained from individual and pooled analysis were compared for the purposes of FEC and FECR assessment. A total of 801 individual and 134 pooled samples (composed of 3-12 individual samples) were included. For FECR testing, 2 pools of 5 samples each were created per trial and the same animals were sampled at day 0 (D0 - treatment day) and 14 days after (D14). Samples were analyzed by McMaster technique (limit of detection 20 EPG). Results from pooled and individual FEC were not significantly different (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) and correlation (Spearman's rank test) was high for all sub-categories, although agreement (Lin's concordance correlation) was often classified as poor. Results were not influenced by the pool size (<6 or ≥6). Interpretation of treatment efficacy between the two methods was comparable for all sheep trials, while it differed for goats in 4 out of 10 trials. Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated a non significant difference between pooled and individual FECR. However, correlation and agreement between FECR were considerably better for sheep compared to goats, for which they were very limited, despite the correlation between FEC at D0 and D14 was always high. According to our results, pooled FECR can be a good option but the absence of 95 %CI represents a major drawbacks in the interpretation of results. Further studies on the topic for goats are needed.

Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Cattle in Three Districts in Central Ethiopia.

Parasitic diseases are a major impediment to livestock production worldwide. However, knowledge about the epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasites in many low-income countries is still limited. An epidemiological survey on these parasites in traditionally reared cattle was performed in central Ethiopia (West Shewa Zone), from September 2019 to November 2021. Overall, 691 samples were analyzed qualitatively (flotation technique) and quantitatively (McMaster technique) to detect helminth eggs and Eimeria oocysts. Furthermore, coprocultures were conducted on pooled samples to identify the genera of gastrointestinal strongyles (GIS). The difference in prevalence according to agroecology, season, age, sex and body condition score (BCS) was investigated using univariable tests and through a multivariable logistic regression analysis, whereas abundance values were interpreted using a descriptive approach. The highest prevalence values were observed for GIS (50.2%) and Eimeria spp. (36.0%), whereas Moniezia spp. (16.3%), Strongyloides spp. (5.1%) and Schistosoma spp. (4.2%) showed lower values. Trichuris spp. and Toxocara vitulorum were sporadically found. A coproculture revealed that Haemonchus spp. (34.6%), Trichostrongylus spp. (25.9%) and Bunostomum spp. (19.1%) were the most frequent genera of GIS. A poor BCS was strongly associated with the occurrence of GIS, while seasonal variations were detected for Eimeria spp., GIS, Moniezia spp. and Schistosoma spp., with a higher prevalence and burden during the rainy season, and agroecology also strongly influenced different parasitic taxa. This present study increases the knowledge about the epidemiological features of gastrointestinal parasites in the context of a low-income country, suggesting a more tailored approach for their control. The use of a BCS as an indicator for the selective treatment of highly infested animals is supported by our findings, introducing a possible way to prevent anthelmintic resistance in areas where basic diagnostic services are rarely used by farmers.

Epidemiology and identification of Eimeria species affecting poultry in East Gojjam Zone, North West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Despite the expansion of modernized poultry farming in Ethiopia, the presence of high prevalence of Eimeria species is the bottleneck in the sector causing high morbidity and mortality rate in poultry. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and identify Eimeria species and investigate the major risk factors. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to April 2020 in East Gojjam Zone, North West Ethiopia. A total of 384 chickens were used. Both floatation and McMaster coprological techniques were employed. Univariate and multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio for the associated risk factors. Analysis of variance was used to analyse differences in Eimeria oocyst counts among the groups. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of Eimeria species in poultry from the study area was 26.5%. Age (OR = 0.25, p = 0.001), management system (OR = 12.44, p = 0.001) and production system (OR = 0.37, p = 0.001) were found significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the risk of Eimeria species in poultry. The mean Eimeria oocyst count was significantly different by age and management system (F = 6.526, p = 0.002), (F = 5.369, p = 0.005), respectively. The mean Eimeria oocyst count was significantly greater in 6-12 weeks (p = 0.004) and <6 weeks of age (p = 0.025). A total of 6 Eimeria species were identified. Eimeria tenella (46.07%), Eimeria necatrix (24.5%) and Eimeria acervulina (8.82%) were the most common Eimeria species encountered. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Eimeria species was higher in poultry in North West Ethiopia. Therefore, tailor-made intervention is required to mitigate risk factors and reduce the prevalence of Eimeria species in poultry from the study area.

Epidemiological Survey on Tick-Borne Pathogens with Zoonotic Potential in Dog Populations of Southern Ethiopia.

Dogs are known to host several tick-borne pathogens with zoonotic potential; however, scant information is available on the epidemiology of these pathogens in low-income tropical countries and in particular in sub-Saharan Africa. With the aim of investigating a wide range of tick-borne pathogens (i.e., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Erhlichia spp., Borrelia spp., Hepatozoon spp. and Babesia spp.), 273 blood samples were collected from dogs in selected districts of Ethiopia and analyzed by real-time and/or end-point PCR. The results of the study showed that Hepatozoon canis was the most prevalent pathogen (53.8%), followed by Anaplasma phagocythophilum (7.0%), Babesia canis rossi (3.3%), Ehrlichia canis (2.6%) and Anaplasma platys (2.2%). Furthermore, five samples tested positive for Borrelia spp., identified as Borrelia afzelii (n = 3) and Borrelia burgdorferi (n = 2), and two samples for Rickettsia spp., identified as Rickettsia conorii (n = 1) and Rickettsia monacensis (n = 1). The finding of Anaplasma phagocythophilum and different species of the genera Borrelia and Rickettsia with zoonotic potential was unexpected and alarming, and calls for further investigation on the roles of dogs and on the tick, species acting as vector in this specific context. Other pathogens (Hepatozoon canis, Babaesia canis rossi, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis) are already known to have an important impact on the dogs' health but have minor zoonotic potential as they were rarely or never reported in humans. Dogs from rural areas were found to be at higher risk for different pathogens, probably due to the presence of other wild canids in the same environment. The findings of the present study contribute to a better knowledge of the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens, which is relevant to human and animal health.

Corrigendum: Comparing copromicroscopy to intestinal scraping to monitor red fox intestinal helminths with zoonotic and veterinary importance.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1085996.].