Intestinal nematodes affecting dogs, i.e. roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, have a relevant health-risk impact for animals and, for most of them, for human beings. Both dogs and humans are typically infected by ingesting infective stages, (i.e. larvated eggs or larvae) present in the environment. The existence of a high rate of soil and grass contamination with infective parasitic elements has been demonstrated worldwide in leisure, recreational, public and urban areas, i.e. parks, green areas, bicycle paths, city squares, playgrounds, sandpits, beaches. This review discusses the epidemiological and sanitary importance of faecal pollution with canine intestinal parasites in urban environments and the integrated approaches useful to minimize the risk of infection in different settings.

The results indicate that single and/or multiple drug resistance in equine cyathostomins is present in the three countries, is widespread particularly for FBZ and/or PYR and in one UK yard multiple resistance present was detected to FBZ, PYR and IVM. Macrocylic lactones proved to be the most effective drugs, with some evidence of resistance to IVM and highest activity of MOX, despite a single case of reduced efficacy in Germany. These data call for the development and implementation, among practitioners, owners and managers, of further plans to reduce the expansion of the anthelmintic resistant populations and to use those anthelmintics that remain effective in a manner that preserves their efficacy as long as possible.

Parasitic nematodes affecting the respiratory system of felids are spreading in endemic regions and emerging in previously free areas and/or hosts. This is particularly the case of the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which can cause respiratory signs in cats all over the world. Additionally, Troglostrongylus brevior has been recently found in domestic cats from Ibiza Island in Spain and Southern Italy. The present paper describes the first mixed infection by these lungworms in kittens belonging to the same litter. Two ∼10-11 weeks old kittens were found infected by A. abstrusus and T. brevior at a copromicroscopical examination. The identity of larvae shed by faeces were confirmed with an already validated PCR specific for A. abstrusus and a novel DNA-based assay specific for T. brevior. One kitten showed severe respiratory signs and died despite an anthelmintic treatment, while the other had a subclinical infection and recovered after a parasiticide administration with milbemycin oxime. New insights into epidemiology, biology, clinical aspects and control of these parasitoses are discussed.

Anthelmintic resistance has been increasingly reported in cattle worldwide over the last decade, although reports from Europe are more limited. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of injectable formulations of ivermectin and moxidectin at 0.2 mg per kg bodyweight against naturally acquired gastro-intestinal nematodes in cattle. A total of 753 animals on 40 farms were enrolled in Germany (12 farms), the UK (10 farms), Italy (10 farms), and France (8 farms). Animals were selected based on pre-treatment faecal egg counts and were allocated to one of the two treatment groups. Each treatment group consisted of between 7 and 10 animals. A post-treatment faecal egg count was performed 14 days (±2 days) after treatment. The observed percentage reduction was calculated for each treatment group based on the arithmetic mean faecal egg count before and after treatment. The resistance status was evaluated based on the reduction in arithmetic mean faecal egg count and both the lower and upper 95% confidence limits. A decreased efficacy was observed in half or more of the farms in Germany, France and the UK. For moxidectin, resistance was confirmed on 3 farms in France, and on 1 farm in Germany and the UK. For ivermectin, resistance was confirmed on 3 farms in the UK, and on 1 farm in Germany and France. The remaining farms with decreased efficacy were classified as having an inconclusive resistance status based on the available data. After treatment Cooperia spp. larvae were most frequently identified, though Ostertagia ostertagi was also found, in particular within the UK and Germany. The present study reports lower than expected efficacy for ivermectin and moxidectin (based on the reduction in egg excretion after treatment) on European cattle farms, with confirmed anthelmintic resistance on 12.5% of the farms.

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