The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich microalgae, Aurantiochytrium limacinum (AURA), on a variety of health and productivity parameters in lactating cows. Twenty-four cows were blocked by parity and number of days in milk and then randomly assigned to a control (CON; n = 12) group with no algal supplementation, or a treatment group (AURA; n = 12) provided with 100 g AURA cow day or 16 g DHA cow day . A variety of health and productivity measurements were taken, and results indicated that supplementation had no negative effects on animal health in terms of somatic cell count, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, while body condition was marginally improved by algal supplementation. No differences were found for the various production parameters measured; however, a tendency towards increased milk production was observed for the AURA group during the final stage of the study (+4.5 kg cow day , day 78-84). The fatty acid profile of milk was improved by supplementation, with significantly lower saturated fatty acids, significantly higher omega-3 fatty acids and an improved omega-3/omega-6 ratio observed when compared to the control group. The amount of DHA in the milk of cows provided 105 g AURA head day was 4.7 mg/100 g milk with a peak transfer efficiency from feed to milk at day 49 of 8.3%. These results indicate that supplementation with 105 g AURA head day resulted in the successful enrichment of milk with DHA without negatively impacting the health or productivity of the animals.

Please cite this article as: Keegan, J.D., Holland, C.V., ontamination of the hair of owned dogs with the eggs of Toxocara spp., Veterinary Parasitology (2008Parasitology ( ), doi:10.1016Parasitology ( /j.vetpar.2010 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Abstract: 25Toxocara canis is one of the most common gastrointestinal helminthes of dogs. Humans can 26 become infected through ingestion of infective eggs, Infection often causes few symptoms but in 27 rare cases blindness can occur. It is generally accepted that human infection is caused as a result 28 of direct contact with contaminated soil. However, recently, the eggs of Toxocara spp. have been 29found in the hair of dogs, implicating them as a possible additional route of transmission. The 30 aim of this study was to assess the extent to which the hair of owned dogs was contaminated 31 with the eggs of Toxocara. Samples were taken from the head, neck, back and anus of 184 dogs. 32Eggs were recovered from the hair using a previously standardised detection method. Eggs were 33 found on the hair of 8.8% of the sampled dogs. None of the eggs found were embryonated. 34There was no significant difference found between the numbers or prevalence of eggs taken 35 from the head, neck, back and anus. Older dogs were significantly more likely to possess eggs on 36 their hair than those under one year of age. The low prevalence and the lack of potentially 37 infective embryonated eggs suggests that direct contact with well cared for owned dogs poses a 38 low risk of infection with T. canis.

The digenean trematode Alaria alata, an intestinal parasite of wild canids is widely distributed in Europe. The recent finding of the mesocercarial life cycle stage in the paratenic wild boar host suggests that it may potentially infect humans Mohl et al. (Parasitol Res 105:1-15, 2009). Over 500 foxes were examined during a wildlife survey for zoonotic diseases in 2009 and 2010. The prevalence of A. alata ranged from 21% to 26% in 2009 and 2010, and the intensity of infection varied, with the majority of foxes having between one and ten trematodes, but a small number of animals had parasitic burdens greater than 500. The location of foxes was geo-referenced and mapped using a geographic information system. The results of the spatial analysis suggest that A. alata may have a limited distribution being confined mainly to areas of pasture especially in the central plain and north Munster. Hot spot analysis indicated a clustering and that the level of parasitism was greatest in foxes from those areas where the prevalence of infection was highest.

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Toxocara spp. eggs require a period of time under appropriate environmental conditions to become infective to definitive and paratenic hosts. Temperature and humidity are important factors known to affect the levels of development in soil. We aimed to investigate whether the eggs of T. canis could embryonate in dog hair under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity and, if so, to what degree. No previous work had been carried out on embryonation in hair under controlled conditions. Soil samples exposed to the same conditions as the hair samples were considered a suitable comparison in order to investigate differing levels of development. Development at two temperatures (10°C and 20°C) and the addition of water to samples was investigated over a period of 8 weeks. Importantly, we demonstrated that unembryonated T. canis eggs are capable of development in hair under controlled conditions. The rate of development is lower than that observed in soil, but remains biologically significant in terms of the overall numbers of potentially infective embryonated eggs present. Temperature is responsible for the rate of embryonation while moisture is essential for encouraging development and maintaining egg viability in general. In light of these findings the transmission of Toxocara spp. as a result of direct contact with well-cared-for owned dogs seems unlikely, but should not be ignored.