Multispecific resistance of sheep trichostrongylids in Austria.

Anthelmintic overuse and failure to implement methods preventing the development and spread of anthelmintic resistance (AR) have led to an alarming increase of resistant ovine trichostrongylids worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the routine anthelmintic treatment strategy was effective, to obtain insights into the frequency of AR in trichostrongylids of sheep in Austria, and to determine the presence of different trichostrongylid genera. On 30 sheep farms, the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed with the Mini-FLOTAC technique in two consecutive studies. In study 1, only fenbendazole and moxidectin were tested, while different compounds and products were used in study 2. Overall, 33 treatment groups were formed: 11 groups were treated with benzimidazoles (fenbendazole and albendazole), 2 groups with avermectins (ivermectin, doramectin), 18 groups with moxidectin, and two groups with monepantel. Reduced efficacy was detected in 64%, 100%, 28% and 50% of these groups, respectively. The most frequently detected genus in larval cultures was Haemonchus, which had been barely detected in Austria previously, followed by Trichostrongylus. Multispecific resistance of trichostrongylids in Austria seems to be on the rise and H. contortus was detected unexpectedly frequently in comparison to previous studies. There is an urgent need to develop efficient communication strategies aimed at improving the engagement of farmers and veterinarians in sustainable parasite control.

TITLE: Résistance multispécifique des trichostrongylidés des ovins en Autriche. ABSTRACT: La surutilisation des anthelminthiques et l'échec de la mise en œuvre de méthodes empêchant le développement et la propagation de la résistance aux anthelminthiques (RA) ont conduit à une augmentation alarmante des trichostrongylidés ovins résistants dans le monde. Le but de nos études était de déterminer si la stratégie de traitement anthelminthique de routine était efficace, d'avoir un aperçu de la fréquence de la RA chez les trichostrongylidés des moutons en Autriche et de déterminer la présence de différents genres de trichostrongylidés. Dans 30 élevages ovins, le test de réduction du nombre d'œufs fécaux (FECRT) a été réalisé avec la technique Mini-FLOTAC dans deux études consécutives. Dans l'étude 1, seuls le fenbendazole et la moxidectine ont été testés, tandis que différents composés et produits ont été utilisés dans l'étude 2. Au total, trente-trois groupes de traitement ont été formés, 11 groupes ont été traités avec des benzimidazoles (fenbendazole et albendazole), 2 groupes avec des avermectines (ivermectine, doramectine), 18 groupes avec la moxidectine et deux groupes avec le monepantel. Une efficacité réduite a été détectée dans 64 %, 100 %, 28 % et 50 % de ces groupes, respectivement. Le genre le plus fréquemment détecté dans les cultures larvaires était Haemonchus, qui avait été rarement détecté en Autriche auparavant, suivi de Trichostrongylus. La résistance multispécifique des trichostrongylidés en Autriche semble augmenter et H. contortus a été détecté fréquemment, de manière inattendue par rapport aux études précédentes. Il est urgent de développer des stratégies de communication efficaces visant à améliorer l'engagement des éleveurs et des vétérinaires dans le contrôle durable des parasites.

The personal experience of parenting a child with juvenile Huntington's disease: perceptions across Europe.

The study reported here presents a detailed description of what it is like to parent a child with juvenile Huntington's disease in families across four European countries. Its primary aim was to develop and extend findings from a previous UK study. The study recruited parents from four European countries: Holland, Italy, Poland and Sweden,. A secondary aim was to see the extent to which the findings from the UK study were repeated across Europe and the degree of commonality or divergence across the different countries. Fourteen parents who were the primary caregiver took part in a semistructured interview. These were analyzed using an established qualitative methodology, interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five analytic themes were derived from the analysis: the early signs of something wrong; parental understanding of juvenile Huntington's disease; living with the disease; other people's knowledge and understanding; and need for support. These are discussed in light of the considerable convergence between the experiences of families in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe.

Efficacy and safety of the dopaminergic stabilizer Pridopidine (ACR16) in patients with Huntington's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dopaminergic stabilizer pridopidine (ACR16) in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-week trial, patients with HD received pridopidine (50 mg/d, n = 28) or placebo (n = 30). The primary outcome measure was the change from baseline in weighted cognitive score, assessed by cognitive tests (Symbol Digit Modalities, verbal fluency, and Stroop tests). Secondary outcome measures included changes in the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, Reitan Trail-Making Test A, and Clinical Global Impression of Change. Safety assessments were also performed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between pridopidine and placebo in the change from baseline of the weighted cognitive score. However, secondary measures such as affective symptoms showed trends toward improvement, and there was significant improvement in voluntary motor symptoms compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Pridopidine was well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Pridopidine shows promise as a treatment for some of the symptoms of HD. In this small-scale study, the most notable effect was improvement in voluntary motor symptoms. Larger, longer-term trials are warranted.