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Helminth composition and burden data for dairy cows have not been reported for >40 years for Germany and even less information is available for Austria. In the context of two recent studies, helminth parasitism was studied in 32 cows (23 from six farms in Bavaria and Tyrol; 9 from one farm in Saxony) from pasture-based dairy farms necropsied during the housing period. Helminths were enumerated and identified based on morphological characters (all helminths but rumen flukes) or molecular techniques (rumen flukes). Thirteen species of gastrointestinal nematodes and two species each of liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum) and rumen flukes (Calicophoron daubneyi, Paramphistomum leydeni) were recorded; no lungworms were recovered from any cow. Early fourth-stage (inhibited) larval Ostertagia species nematodes (210 to 140,600) were recovered from all cows, 31 each had adult Ostertagia ostertagi/Ostertagia lyrata (40 to 2020) and Trichostrongylus axei (10 to 53,400), 23 Oesophagostomum radiatum (1 to 242) and 20 Cooperia punctata (10 to 3330). Other nematodes present in descending order of prevalence were: Cooperia oncophora/Cooperia surnabada, Ostertagia leptospicularis/Ostertagia kolchida, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Bunostomum phlebotomum, Chabertia ovina, Nematodirus helvetianus, Trichostrongylus longispicularis, Haemonchus contortus and Aonchotheca bilobata. The cows from Bavaria and Tyrol harbored more total gastrointestinal nematodes than that from Saxony (geometric mean adult plus inhibited larval nematodes, 6510 vs. 2051, respectively). However, in both cohorts of cows abomasal nematodes accounted for ∼97% of the total nematode burden with inhibited larval Ostertagia species nematodes contributing over 70% of the total gastrointestinal nematode burden and ∼ 96% of the Ostertagia species burden. Approximately 44%, 37% and 19% of the cows harbored <5000, 5000 to 10,000 or > 10,000 total gastrointestinal nematodes, respectively. Fecal nematode egg and coproculture nematode larval counts significantly correlated with the cows' total adult nematode burden (r s  = 0.354, p < 0.05, and r s  = 0.608, p < 0.001, respectively). Although the magnitude of nematode burden to exert production effects on dairy cows is not well defined and may vary relative to several factors including nutritional supplementation, the level of mixed parasitism found in this investigation supports consideration of grazing dairy cows in helminth control measures, especially at the time of housing in autumn., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: The Protein Screener 55 + (Pro55 + ) is a brief food questionnaire to screen older community-dwelling adults for low protein intake. The result is the predicted probability of protein intake <1.0 g/kg adjusted body weight (aBW)/d ranging from 0-1. For purposes of cross-cultural validation, we translated the Pro55+ into German and tested its discriminative accuracy in detecting low protein intake of older community-dwelling people in Germany., Subjects/methods: After translation and pilot-testing, the Pro55+ and the reference standard (3-day dietary record) were completed by 144 participants (81.6 ± 3.9 years, 61.8% female). Discriminative properties were tested by receiver operating characteristic curves and by calculating sensitivity and specificity for different cut-offs of predicted probability (>0.3/>0.5/>0.7) using <1.0 or <0.8 g/kg aBW/d to define low protein intake., Results: Protein intake was <1.0 g/kg aBW/d in 39.6% of the sample and <0.8 g/kg aBW/d in 17.4%. Area under the curve was 62.0% (95%CI 52.6-71.5) and 68.8% (58.1-79.4), respectively. Specificity was 82-90% using probability cut-offs of 0.5 and 0.7 for both protein thresholds. Sensitivity was poor for protein threshold of 1.0 g/kg aBW/d regardless of the used probability cut-offs. For protein threshold of <0.8 g/kg aBW/d, sensitivity was 88.0% (71.8-96.9) using a probability cut-off of 0.09., Conclusion: The overall discriminative accuracy of the German Pro55+ to identify older community-dwelling people with low protein intake was poor. However, applying different probability cut-offs allows increasing specificity and sensitivity for 0.8 g/kg aBW/d to levels justifying the use for certain purposes e.g. excluding individuals with adequate protein intake. Further validation is needed., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Bovine parafilariosis is an emerging fly-borne disease in central Europe, characterized by seasonal occurrence of hemorrhagic exudations ('bleeding spots') from the end of winter to end of summer. In two cases from Germany reported here, one animal of a small herd in Bavaria and 20 animals on a farm in Baden-Württemberg presented bleeding spots from late March and late April 2020, respectively. Exudate samples from both cases were positive for larvated Parafilaria eggs. Examination of the skin and trimmed tissue after slaughter of the animal from Bavaria resulted in the collection of 11 nematodes (two males, eight females, one specimen in fragments). The animal's carcass presented typical yellow-greenish areas and bloody spots on the subcutaneous tissue of the flesh side of the skin. The nematodes were microscopically determined as Parafilaria bovicola. Basic morphometric measurements of two (one intact) male and six female nematodes are within the ranges of published data; length (male/female) 28.8/48.0-64.5 mm; width, 397.6 μm/430.7-527.6 μm; distance of cervical papillae to anterior end, 177.6/248.9-337.4; left spiculum/right spiculum (male), 365.3-379.4/149.5-180.3 μm; gubernaculum 45.0-48.1 μm; distance of vulva to anterior end (female), 37.3-66.0 mm. In order to gain information on P. bovicola in its vector, 91 cattle-visiting Musca autumnalis flies were collected from the affected animal in Bavaria (36 flies) and from co-pastured animals (55 flies) for PCR analysis and sequencing. A total of 14 flies were PCR-positive for filarial DNA, and sequencing of a fragment of the cox1 gene resulted in identification of P. bovicola (n = 10) and Thelazia gulosa (n = 5). This report presents further cases of bovine parafilariosis in Germany, provides morphometric data on male and female P. bovicola nematodes retrieved from cattle and identified DNA of P. bovicola and T.gulosa in M. autumnalis flies collected at a site of occurrence of bovine parafilariosis., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Associated with the spreading in (north)western direction of Fascioloides magna from its historic endemic area in Bohemia with its cervid hosts, unusual noticeable hepatic lesions (black-colored tissue, hemorrhage) were observed in deer harvested in hunting grounds and one deer farm located in the Upper Palatinate Forest close to the border to the Czech Republic, initially in the years of 2007 and 2009, respectively. Confirmation of the suspected diagnosis of F. magna infection in October 2011 prompted investigations on the occurrence of "fascioloidosis" among wild ungulates in that locality. From October 2011 to January 2014, livers from 89 cervids and two wild boars were examined for flukes. Thirty-seven livers (40.6%) harbored F. magna: 17 of 21 red deer, nine of 24 sika deer, six of eight fallow deer, four of 36 roe deer, one of two wild boars. Fluke burdens ranged from 2 up to 151 in red deer, from 2 up to 37 in fallow deer, and from 1 up to 7 in sika deer and in roe deer; one fluke was recovered from the liver of one wild boar. No other parasites were recovered from the livers. The rate of recovery of F. magna differed significantly (p < 0.001) among the species of deer (red deer, 81.0%; sika deer, 37.5%; fallow deer, 75.0%; roe deer, 11.1%) and between the age groups (< 1 year: 22.2%, 1 to 2 years: 26.0%, and > 2 years: 70.0%, respectively). There was no association (p > 0.1) between the rate of recovery of F. magna and the sex of the combined 80 deer of ≥ 1 year of age (male: 41.8% and female: 31.4%). The occurrence of F. magna in the wild ungulates in the Upper Palatinate Forest area in northeastern Bavaria is of epidemiological importance for the further spreading of the parasite into Germany with migrating deer.

Background: Meta-analysis of observational studies concluded that soft drinks may increase the risk of depression, while high consumption of coffee and tea may reduce the risk. Objectives were to explore the associations between the consumption of soft drinks, coffee or tea and: (1) a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and (2) the severity of depressive symptoms clusters (mood, cognitive and somatic/vegetative symptoms)., Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis based on baseline and 12-month-follow-up data collected from four countries participating in the European MooDFOOD prevention trial. In total, 941 overweight adults with subsyndromal depressive symptoms aged 18 to 75 years were analyzed. History of MDD, depressive symptoms and beverages intake were assessed., Results: Sugar-sweetened soft drinks were positively related to MDD history rates whereas soft drinks with non-nutritive sweeteners were inversely related for the high vs. low categories of intake. Longitudinal analysis showed no significant associations between beverages and mood, cognitive and somatic/vegetative clusters., Conclusion: Our findings point toward a relationship between soft drinks and past MDD diagnoses depending on how they are sweetened while we found no association with coffee and tea. No significant effects were found between any studied beverages and the depressive symptoms clusters in a sample of overweight adults.

This paper reports on endoparasite infections diagnosed in 2012 by standard coproscopical techniques and coproantigen Giardia ELISA in 165 dogs used for sheep herding in 36 farms in central Germany. The overall prevalence of dogs with evidence of endoparasite infections was 27.3% (95% CI 20.6-34.7). The most frequently identified faecal forms were those of ascarids (Toxocara, 6.7%; Toxascaris 3.6%), hookworms (5.5%) and taeniid cestodes (4.2%), followed by those of Trichuris whipworms (3.0%), Capillaria aerophila (1.8%), Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma lungworms (1.2% each) and Cystoisospora canis coccidians (0.6%). Molecular identification demonstrated the seven dogs shedding taeniid eggs positive for Taenia (T.) species tapeworms (five, T. hydatigena; one, T. ovis; one Taenia sp.). Screening of the faeces with the coproantigen ELISA revealed Giardia specific antigen in 5.5% of the samples. The majority of the dogs had evidence of single endoparasite infections (22.4%) while evidence for infection with two or three parasites concurrently was found in six (3.6%) and two (1.2%) of the dogs, respectively. Dogs ≤ 1 year (n = 19) were parasitized more frequently (p < 0.05) with overall gastrointestinal parasites (63.2% vs. 20.5%), ascarids (36.8% vs. 6.8%) and Giardia spp. (21.1% vs. 3.4%) than older dogs (n = 146). Dogs which had been wormed within six months of examination tested less frequently positive for gastrointestinal helminths compared to dogs not wormed (11.1% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.0567). In addition, ear swabs taken from 43 sheep dogs in 2012 were examined, and Otodectes cynotis mites were extracted from one dog. Identification of ectoparasites collected by full body search and combing from 113 sheep dogs in the years 2011 to 2013 revealed infestation of fleas and ticks (each up to five specimens per dog) on 13 and 108 dogs, respectively, with nine dogs carrying both fleas and ticks. Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ctenocephalides (C) canis, C. felis and Pulex irritans fleas were identified from one, three, two and eleven dogs, respectively. Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes (I.) hexagonus and I. ricinus ticks were isolated from 16, eight and 95 dogs, respectively.

The 12th Stock Conference addressed body composition and related functions in two extreme situations, obesity and cancer cachexia. The concept of 'functional body composition' integrates body components into regulatory systems relating the mass of organs and tissues to corresponding in vivo functions and metabolic processes. This concept adds to an understanding of organ/tissue mass and function in the context of metabolic adaptations to weight change and disease. During weight gain and loss, there are associated changes in individual body components while the relationships between organ and tissue mass are fixed. Thus an understanding of body weight regulation involves an examination of the relationships between organs and tissues rather than individual organ and tissue masses only. The between organ/tissue mass relationships are associated with and explained by crosstalks between organs and tissues mediated by cytokines, hormones and metabolites that are coupled with changes in body weight, composition and function as observed in obesity and cancer cachexia. In addition to established roles in intermediary metabolism, cell function and inflammation, organ-tissue crosstalk mediators are determinants of body composition and its change with weight gain and loss. The 12th Stock Conference supported Michael Stocks' concept of gaining new insights by integrating research ideas from obesity and cancer cachexia. The conference presentations provide an in-depth understanding of body composition and metabolism., (© 2014 The Authors. obesity reviews © 2014 World Obesity.)

Prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites were studied through a longitudinal survey in 400 horses over a 17-month period in an abattoir in Germany. Three hundred and ten horses (77.5 %) were demonstrated harbouring endoparasites either by direct recovery of parasites from the digestive tract and/or in terms of faecal egg counts (strongyles). The following parasites were found (percentage prevalence, range of counts): Gasterophilus intestinalis larvae (2.25 %, 1-154), Gasterophilus nasalis larvae (0.25 %, 44), Trichostrongylus axei (11.0 %, 1-3,620), Habronema majus (8.0 %; 1-422), Habronema muscae (26.5 %, 1-3,563), Habronema spp. fourth-stage larvae (5.5 %; 1-1,365), Parascaris equorum (total prevalence 11.3 %; adults 8.8 %, 1-178; fourth-stage larvae 2.5 %, 5-2,320), Anoplocephala perfoliata (28.5 %, 1-2,013) and Paranoplocephala mamillana (1.0 %, 1-11). Strongyle eggs (≥10 eggs per gram of faeces) were recorded in 60.8 % of the horses (10-6,450 eggs per gram of faeces).Prevalences of infection with T. axei, P. equorum and strongyles did not show a correlation to specific seasons. In contrast, a significant variation among seasons of collection was shown for the infection rates of Habronema spp. (p < 0.05) and A. perfoliata (p < 0.001). Seasonal prevalence of Habronema spp. infection was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in summer (39.0 %), autumn (34.8 %) and winter (36.5 %) than in spring (18.7 %), and A. perfoliata were significantly (p < 0.001) more often recorded during autumn (36.1 %) and winter (36.5 %) than in spring (17.3 %) and summer (15.9 %). Prevalences of T. axei, Habronema spp., strongyles and A. perfoliata in male and female horses were almost alike, but ascarids were significantly (p = 0.025) more often recorded in male than in female horses.

The clinical heterogeneity of Parkinson's disease (PD) may point at the existence of subtypes. Because subtypes likely reflect distinct underlying etiologies, their identification may facilitate future genetic and pharmacotherapeutic studies. Aim of this study was to identify subtypes by a data-driven approach applied to a broad spectrum of motor and nonmotor features of PD. Data of motor and nonmotor PD symptoms were collected in 802 patients in two different European prevalent cohorts. A model-based cluster analysis was conducted on baseline data of 344 patients of a Dutch cohort (PROPARK). Reproducibility of these results was tested in data of the second annual assessment of the same cohort and validated in an independent Spanish cohort (ELEP) of 357 patients. The subtypes were subsequently characterized on clinical and demographic variables. Four similar PD subtypes were identified in two different populations and are largely characterized by differences in the severity of nondopaminergic features and motor complications: Subtype 1 was mildly affected in all domains, Subtype 2 was predominantly characterized by severe motor complications, Subtype 3 was affected mainly on nondopaminergic domains without prominent motor complications, while Subtype 4 was severely affected on all domains. The subtypes had largely similar mean disease durations (nonsignificant differences between three clusters) but showed considerable differences with respect to their association with demographic and clinical variables. In prevalent disease, PD subtypes are largely characterized by the severity of nondopaminergic features and motor complications and likely reflect complex interactions between disease mechanisms, treatment, aging, and gender., (Copyright © 2010 Movement Disorder Society.)

Fifteen Holstein-Friesian bulls which grazed together for one season (April to November) in Schleswig-Holstein were necropsied after housing for 2 to 6 weeks. The approximately 12-month old bulls weighed 378 to 491 kg at slaughter and did not receive any anthelmintic on pasture. The most prevalent species of the gastrointestinal tract was Ostertagia ostertagi (prevalence; geometric mean worm count; minimum-maximum) (100%; 1,355; 130-4,590) followed by Cooperia (C.) oncophora (86.7%; 343; 20-14,800), Oesophagostomum (Oe.) radiatum (86.7%; 3.7; 1-42), Trichostrongylus axei (80%; 65; 50-910), C. punctata (73.3%; 14.8; 10-140), Trichuris (T.) discolor (73.3%; 4.8; 1-108) and Skrjabinagia lyrata (60%; 8.5; 18-260) which were recorded in more than half of the animals. Less frequently, C. surnabada (46.7%; 18; 10-4025), T. skrjabini (33.3%; 0.7; 2-14), Nematodirus helvetianus (13.3%; 0.5; 20-30), Spiculopteragia böhmi (6.7%; 0.2; [26]), Capillaria bovis (6.7%; 0.2; [10]) and Oe. venulosum (6.7%; 0.2; [9]) were recovered. Inhibited fourth-stage larvae of the Ostertagiinae were recovered from the abomasal mucosae of all bulls (100%; 13,159; 5,800-56,950). The abomasum harboured the highest worm burden followed by the small intestine and large intestine (geometric means): 15,565, 461 and 10 nematodes, respectively. Inhibited fourth-stage larvae amounted to 90% of the abomasal Ostertagiinae. Dictyocaulus viviparus was recorded in 73.3% of the animals with a geometric mean count of 12.8 (1-822 per animal).

The species of flea infesting pets and hedgehogs in Germany were investigated through a survey of small animal practitioners throughout the country who were asked to collect specimens at their veterinary practices. A total of 625 veterinarians/veterinary practices responded and provided 2445 intact anti identifiable flea specimens. These fleas originated from 294 dogs (795 fleas), 334 cats (1152 fleas), 76 hedgehogs (481 fleas), five domestic rabbits (10 fleas), one golden hamster (four fleas) and one ferret (three fleas). Dogs were found to be infested with Archaeopsylla erinacei, Chaetopsylla globiceps, Ctenocephalides canis, Ctenocephalides felis, Hystrichopsylla talpae, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, Paraceras melis and Pulex irritans. From cats, Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ceratophyllus gallinae, Ceratophyllus garei, Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenophthalmus assimilis, Hystrichopsylla talpae, Monopsyllus sciurorum, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, Spilopsyllus cuniculi and Typhloceras poppei were collected. In both dogs and cats the most prevalent species were Ctenocephalides felis (78.9% and 91.6%, respectively) and Archaeopsylla erinacei (21.1% and 12.6%, respectively) followed by Ctenocephalides canis in dogs (5.8%) and Hystrichopsylla talpae in cats (1.2%). The fleas isolated from rabbits were Ctenocephalides felis, Hystrichopsylla talpae and Spilopsyllus cuniculi. Nosopsyllus fasciatus and Ctenocephalides felis were recovered from the golden hamster and the ferret, respectively. The hedgehogs were found to be infested with Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ceratophyllus gallinae and Ctenocephalides felis.

The helminth fauna of the gastrointestinal tract of 25 and the respiratory organs and the livers of 6 German goats was qualitatively and quantitatively examined. One trematode species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), 2 species of cestodes (Moniezia expansa and metacestodes of Taenia hydatigena) and 28 species of nematodes (24 in the gastrointestinal tract and 4 in the lungs) were recorded. Two goats were infested with Oestrus ovis larvae. The most prevalent species were Ostertagia circumcincta and Chabertia ovina (84% each), Ostertagia trifurcata and Oesophagostomum venulosum (76% each), Ostertagia pinnata and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (64% each), Trichuris ovis (60%) and Skrjabinema ovis and Trichuris globulosa (56% each). The highest mean worm counts were seen in goats infected with Skjabinema ovis (4003), Ostertagia circumcincta (2501), Trichostrongylus axei (1825), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (1578) and Nematodirus battus (1050). Totally, the goats did harbour more nematodes in the abomasum (3734) than in the small intestine (1707) or the large intestine (2343). The lungs were parasitized by Cystocaulus ocreatus, Muellerius capillaris, Neostrongylus linearis and Protostrongylus rufescens.

The endoparasite fauna of 59 slaughtered sheep (30 lambs, 29 ewes) from the Swabian Alb, Germany, was examined. One species of trematodes, 3 species of cestodes, 29 species of nematodes (23 species of gastro-intestinal and 6 species of lung nematodes), 1 species of arthropodes and 1 species of protozoa were recorded. All animals were infected with Dicrocoelium dentriticum as well as gastro-intestinal and lung nematodes, 45.8% with Moniezia spp., 15.3% with Cysticercus tenuicollis, 55.9% with Oestrus ovis and 11.9% with Sarcocystis gigantea. The most important gastro-intestinal nematodes were Ostertagia circumcincta and Cooperia curticei, which were recorded in all sheep, Ostertagia trifurcata and Chabertia ovine (98.3% each), Oesophagostumum venulosum (96.6%), Nematodirus filicollis (81.4% each), Ostertagia pinnata (78.0%), Trichuris ovis and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (76.3% each). The ewes harboured more abomasal and small intestinal nematodes (1819 and 3702) than the lambs (695 and 1730), which haboured more large intestinal nematodes (177) than those (56). The most often recorded lungworms were Cystocaulus ocreatus (74.6%) and Muellerius capillaris (72.9%), followed by Neostrongylus linearis (57.6%), Dictyocaulus filaria (50.8%), Protostrongylus brevispiculum (37.3%) and Protostrongylus rufescens (28.8%). The ewes carried higher lungworm burdens than the lambs.

The distribution of Chabertia (Ch.) ovina, Oesophagostomum (O.) venulosum and Trichuris spp. within the large intestine of naturally infected sheep in the dependence of worm counts and the presence of nematodes of other species or genera was evaluated. The large intestine was divided into 4 sections. More than 75% of Ch. ovina were found within the disk-like section of the colon independently from worm count and presence of nematodes of other species. O. venulosum and Trichuris spp. preferred the caecum and the first section of the colon up to the beginning of the disk-like section. In both, the share of worms recovered from the first section of the colon did increase with higher worm counts. The simultaneous presence of O. venulosum and Trichuris spp. had a significantly negative influence on the share of Trichuris spp. isolated from the caecum.

The relationship between the faecal egg count and the worm burden of the gastrointestinal tract of sheep was examined. Close relationships were found in strongyles, Trichostrongylidae (other than Nematodirus spp.), Nematodirus spp., Strongyloides papillosus, Chabertiidae and Trichuris spp.. Due to high percentage of false negative diagnosis from faecal examination, this relationship was in Nematodirus spp. and Trichuris spp. not as close as in the other nematodes. However, the results support the high diagnostic value of quantitative faecal examinations in sheep.

The helminth fauna of 136 slaughtered sheep (99 lambs < 1 year, and 37 sheep > or = 1 year) from Upper Bavaria, Germany, was examined. In all 2 species of trematodes, 3 species of cestodes and 24 species of nematodes were found. All the animals harboured gastrointestinal nematodes, 9 of them liver flukes, 33 Moniezia spp., 19 Cysticercus tenuicollis, and one sheep Setaria sp. Lungworms were not seen. The most prevalent species were Cooperia curticei (74.3%), Trichuris ovis (69.1%), Ostertagia circumcincta (68.4%), Oesophagostomum venulosum (63.2%) and Chabertia ovina (61.8%). The highest mean wormburden was seen in Cooperia curticei (12471) followed by Trichostrongylus axei (1856), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (1752), Nematodirus filicollis (1551) and Nematodirus battus (1238). In both lambs and older sheep the small intestine harboured the highest wormburden followed by abomasum and large intestine. The total nematode counts were much higher in lambs than in older sheep. The lambs harboured more intestinal nematodes than older sheep but fewer abomasal worms.