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Background: The bovine lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus negatively impacts bovine health and leads to substantial economic losses. Lungworm infections can be difficult to manage due to the unpredictable and severe nature of clinical outbreaks. Despite the widespread use of macrocyclic lactones (MLs) in grazing cattle in the UK, there have been no confirmed reports of resistant lungworms to date, with only one case of anthelmintic‐resistant (ML) lungworm confirmed worldwide. Methods: Lungworm Baermann filtrations were conducted on first‐season grazing dairy calves as part of a wider study investigating anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes in Scotland using the faecal egg count reduction test. Results: Clinical signs and significant numbers of lungworm larvae in faeces were observed after treatment with either ivermectin or moxidectin. Limitations: There are no established guidelines for the diagnosis of resistant lungworms in the field. Currently, resistance can only be diagnosed after a controlled efficacy test has been conducted. This limits the conclusions that can be drawn; however, they are highly suggestive of resistance. Conclusion: This short report describes the inefficacy of ivermectin and moxidectin against D. viviparus and is highly suggestive of ML resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facilitation skills are key to the effective use of practice development strategies. Students on a masters degree in practice development and innovation undertake a module on facilitation skills that incorporates the use of a creative writing piece to explore facilitation. The aim of this article is to critically reflect on the use of creative writing within an assignment from the lecturer’s perspective. Critical reflection: The Rolfe et al. (2001) model of reflection will be used to structure the reflections, considering the questions ‘What?’, ‘So what?’ and ‘Now what?’. This will form the basis of a discussion of concerns about the assessment method, students’ thoughts, relationship to practice development and evidence of effectiveness of the strategy. Examples of creative writing from the students will be used to demonstrate the diversity of the approach. Ethics: All students have given permission for their work to be included. Discussion: Using creative writing can be freeing for students as they can use their voice to explore a topic. For the lecturer, courage is needed to facilitate this expression but it is rewarding as it links to the principles of practice development to embed new ways of working. Important within the process is the need to give students ‘permission’ to use a non-traditional style of writing; lecturers may benefit from practising the technique themselves to feel comfortable with the creative writing strategy. Conclusion: Creative writing offered an opportunity to explore facilitation in different ways and relate it to different aspects of real and imagined life. This paper shows that creative writing can be used successfully by students to engage in novel ways of thinking. However, future actions identify the importance of guidance regarding relevance to academia and ensuring the lecturer is familiar with the aim and techniques of the process when using it for masters-level assessment. Implications for practice: • Creative writing may empower students to change their approach to practice development • Lecturers need effective ways to facilitate this process • Facilitative questioning offers a novel way to challenge and support students’ ideas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Novel drugs are required for the elimination of infections caused by filarial worms, as most commonly used drugs largely target the microfilariae or first stage larvae of these infections. Previous studies, conducted in vitro, have shown that inhibition of Hsp90 kills adult Brugia pahangi. As numerous small molecule inhibitors of Hsp90 have been developed for use in cancer chemotherapy, we tested the activity of several novel Hsp90 inhibitors in a fluorescence polarization assay and against microfilariae and adult worms of Brugia in vitro. The results from all three assays correlated reasonably well and one particular compound, NVP-AUY922, was shown to be particularly active, inhibiting Mf output from female worms at concentrations as low as 5.0 nanomolar after 6 days exposure to drug. NVP-AUY922 was also active on adult worms after a short 24 h exposure to drug. Based on these in vitro data, NVP-AUY922 was tested in vivo in a mouse model and was shown to significantly reduce the recovery of both adult worms and microfilariae. These studies provide proof of principle that the repurposing of currently available Hsp90 inhibitors may have potential for the development of novel agents with macrofilaricidal properties.