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Filarioid nematodes, which are vector-borne parasites of cosmopolitan distribution, of dogs are medically important. They are represented by species in which microfilariae were found to be circulating in the bloodstream (e.g., Dirofilaria sp., Acanthocheilonema sp., and Brugia sp.) or skin-dwelling (e.g., Cercopithifilaria sp. and Onchocerca sp.). Those species whose microfilariae are detected in blood have been extensively studied, especially Dirofilaria immitis, due to their clinical importance. In recent decades, there has been an increased interest by the scientific community in filarioid nematodes whose microfilariae are detected in the skin because of the zoonotic aspect of Onchocerca lupi. In the United States (US), although D. immitis has been considered the main filarioid infecting dogs, the intense animal movement and global canine filarioid diversity may indicate that the likely presence of cutaneous filarioid nematodes is more common than previously expected. Hence, a question remains: Are these canine filarioid nematodes emerging, neglected, or simply underdiagnosed in the US? In this review, we provide an overview of pertinent information that briefly summarizes the biology of the different canine filarioid nematode species, clinical signs associated with infections, and currently available diagnostic tools using molecular and microscopy-based methods and highlight knowledge gaps where research and surveillance efforts remain necessary. The data herein presented serve as an alert to the scientific community about the importance of filarioid nematodes infecting dogs other than D. immitis. Additionally, the zoonotic potential of several filarioid species reinforces the necessity of a proper diagnosis and the need for broader surveillance to understand their diversity and distribution, to highlight the potential introduction of certain species, and mitigate their establishment in the country and new animal and human cases.

Species of Ixodiphagus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are parasitoid wasps whose immature forms develop inside ixodid and argasid ticks (Acari: Ixodida). Following oviposition by adult female wasps into the idiosoma of ticks, larvae hatch and start feeding on their internal contents, eventually emerging as adult wasps from the body of the dead ticks. Species of Ixodiphagus have been reported as parasitoids of 21 species of ticks distributed across 7 genera. There are at least ten species described in the genus, with Ixodiphagus hookeri being the most studied as an agent for biological control of ticks. Although attempts of tick control by means of this parasitoid largely failed, in a small-scale study 150,000 specimens of I. hookeri were released over a 1-year period in a pasture where a small cattle population was kept, resulting in an overall reduction in the number of Amblyomma variegatum ticks per animal. This review discusses current scientific information about Ixodiphagus spp., focusing on the role of this parasitoid in the control of ticks. The interactions between these wasps and the ticks’ population are also discussed, focusing on the many biological and logistical challenges, with limitations of this control method for reducing tick populations under natural conditions.

Abstract Sixty-two fecal samples of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) living in eight conservation units (CUs) across the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil, were assessed for the presence of eggs of liver flukes via sedimentation. Fasciola hepatica eggs were found in 37.1% (23/62) of the samples. Positive samples were found in six CUs (75%), three CUs located in the southern region of the state and three others in the metropolitan region of the capital city of Vitória. Identification of Fasciola hepatica eggs collected from capybara fecal samples were based on morphology, and confirmed using molecular methods. Our results suggest that capybaras may serve as a wild reservoir host for F. hepatica, possibly contributing to the epidemiology and geographic range expansion of this zoonotic parasite across its vast range of distribution in South America.

Platynosomum illiciens (Braun, 1901) Kossack, 1910, é o mais importante trematódeo encontrado em gatos. Para o seu diagnóstico é necessá- rio observar a presença de ovos nas fezes, contudo, isto é considerado pouco sensível, sendo necessário a utilização de outras ferramentas complementares que sirvam como apoio no diagnóstico desta parasitose e de suas alterações hepáticas. Para tanto, a radiologia e ultrassom foram utilizados para a avaliação das alterações associadas à presença de P. illiciens que auxiliem no diagnóstico da platinosomiasis. Oito gatos positivos para essa parasitose foram submetidos às técnicas associadas ao diagnóstico por imagens. Ao exame radiológico, observou-se que cinco dos animais tiveram aumento do fígado, um deles estava com fígado normal e em dois deles, os limites hepáticos não foram observados com auxilio dos Raios-X. Na ultrassonografia, em seis dos animais observou-se hepatomegalia e alteração mais acentuada em somente um deles. Todos os animais tiveram os vasos hepáticos normais e, em relação aos ductos biliares, apenas dois animais apresentaram este parâmetro aumentado. Além disso, a presença do parasito pode ser evidenciada em um animal que caiu durante a realização da ecografia. Entre os resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que o estudo radiológico apenas serviu para avaliar o tamanho do fígado de maneira restrita. A ultrassonografia foi considerada com uma boa ferramenta de diagnóstico, avaliando com clareza o volume, o parênquima hepático, a configuração e, o diâmetro das vias biliares, vesícula biliar e os vasos sanguíneos hepáticos.

No presente trabalho, foram avaliadas, comparativamente, duas formulações comerciais tópicas, contendo 10% de fipronil, para o controle da pulga Ctenocephalides felis felis em gatos. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratório de Quimioterapia Experimental em Parasitologia Veterinária do Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Foram empregados 18 gatos, sem raça definida, divididos em três grupos de seis. Um grupo permaneceu sem tratamento (controle), e os demais foram medicados com uma formulação referência do mercado veterinário ou com uma nova formulação em teste. Os animais tratados receberam 0,5 mL do produto ao longo da região dorso-cervical e foram infestados nos dias - 2, +5, +12, +19, +26 e +33. A primeira avaliação foi realizada quatro dias após a primeira infestação e, as demais, 48 horas após cada infestação, por meio do comb test. Ambas as formulações testadas foram eficazes até o dia +35 após o tratamento, não havendo diferenças entre seus níveis de eficácia ao longo do período experimental. A nova formulação, contendo fipronil a 10%, apresentou a eficácia desejada no controle de C. f. felis em gatos.The goal of the present study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of two topical formulations containing 10% fipronil on the control of Ctenocephalides felis felis on cats. The trial was performed at the Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy in Veterinary Parasitology from the Department of Animal Parasitology of the Institute of Veterinary of the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Eighteen mixed-breed cats were divided in three groups of six animals each. One group remained without treatment (control). The other groups received as treatment the two topical formulations, a commercial reference and the novel one, both containing 10% fipronil. Treated animals received 0.5 mL of product along their cervical region. Cats were infested on days - 2, +5, +12, +19, +26 and +33. Evaluations were made using the "comb test". The first one was undertaken 4 days after the initial infestation (day +2), and others 48 hours after following infestations (days +7, +14, +21, +28 and + 35). Both tested formulations had satisfactory efficacy until day + 35. No differences were observed comparing the efficacy levels between both formulations troughout the experimental period. The novel topical 10% fipronil formulation presented desirable efficacy on the control of C. f. felis on cats.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência de dietas merídicas compostas por sangue de diferentes espécies animais sobre a emergência de adultos da pulga Ctenocephalides felis felis. Foram utilizadas seis dietas artificiais contendo areia e sangue desidratado de cão, boi, coelho e galinha, acrescidas ou não com farelo de trigo. Foram realizadas seis repetições contendo dez ovos de C. f. felis para cada dieta. Após 25 dias de incubação, os ovos foram quantificados e avaliados quanto à emergência de adultos. O número de pulgas emergidas para dietas com sangue de boi, cão, coelho e galinha, com areia e farelo de trigo, foi de aproximadamente oito pulgas. Para as dietas contendo apenas sangue de boi ou de cão e areia, essa emergência foi de aproximadamente uma pulga para ambas. Conclui-se que a origem do sangue empregado na elaboração da dieta não interfere significativamente no percentual de emergência de adultos de C. f. felis. Portanto, pode-se optar pela espécie animal disponível para o preparo da dieta artificial, aliada à suplementação com farelo de trigo, para suprir uma eventual perda nutricional decorrente da desidratação do sangue.The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of meridic diets composed by blood from different animal species upon the adult emergence of Ctenocephalides felis felis fleas. Six artificial diets containing dried blood of cattle (standard), dogs, rabbit and chicken, combined with sand or sand/wheat bran were prepared. For each diet six samples containing ten C. f. felis eggs were evaluated. After 25 days of incubation, samples were assessed for adult emergence. The number of emerge fleas for diets composed by bovine, canine, rabbit and chicken combined with sand/wheat bran was aproximally eight fleas. Diets composed by bovine and canine combined with sand, this emergence was aproximally one flea, for both. It can be concluded that the blood origin do not alter significantly C. f. felis adult emergence rate. Therefore, blood from any available animal species can be used for artificial diet formulation, combined with wheat bran in order to supply any nutritional losses occurred during blood dehydration.

Canine otoacariasis, or otodectic mange, is a common parasitic disorder of dogs' ear canals caused by the mite Otodectes cynotis. Infestation can be detected through diverse protocols of varying sensitivity. We evaluated the use of video otoscopy in comparison with conventional otoscopy and cerumen examination under a microscope for diagnosingO. cynotis in dogs. Thirty-five dogs were evaluated bilaterally for the presence of ear mites, using a veterinary otoscope (Gowlands®), a video otoscope (Welch Allyn®) and the gold-standard technique of examination of swab-collected cerumen under a microscope. Each ear was considered to represent one sample, and 69 ears were examined, since one dog presented with one completely stenotic ear canal. Ear mites were diagnosed in 59.42% (41/69) through video otoscopy. The same 41 infested ear canals were detected by means of cerumen examination under a microscope, whereas conventional otoscopy was able to diagnose mites in only 39.13% (27/69). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Video otoscopy proved to be superior to conventional otoscopy, and equivalent to the gold standard for detection of O. cynotis in canine ear canals, and should be recommended for controlled trials on drug efficacy for treatment of canine otoacariasis.