Herbal products such as essential oils may play a promising role in the treatment of infections caused by gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro potential of 11 essential oils (EOs) and one binary combination of isolated EO compounds, as well as the in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of two EO formulations. Four GIN genera were identified in the coproculture examination: Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Teladorsagia and Chabertia. The in vitro egg hatch test (EHT) was performed at six different concentrations (50, 12.5, 3.125, 0.781, 0.195 and 0.049 mg/mL) for each EO, whereas in the in vivo faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), each EO sample was diluted in sunflower oil and orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg to the different group of animals. In the EHT, the EOs of Origanum vulgare, Foeniculum vulgare, Satureja montana, Satureja hortensis and two types of Thymus vulgaris were the most effective. The dominant compounds of these EOs were carvacrol, thymol, anethol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene, indicating their importance for the anthelmintic activity. In the FECRT, both T. vulgaris EO type 1 and linalool:estragole combination show an anthelmintic potential with a mean effect on FECR of approximately 25%. The results suggest the possible role of tested EOs as anthelmintic agents in sheep farms, although further in vivo tests are needed.

The past decades of clinical practice in poultry farming are character-ized by inadequate control of one of the most important poultry ectopara-site, the red poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae). Therefore, the program for control of D. gallinae based exclusively ona physical mechanisms of action of acaricides has been developed in Serbia since 2012. By the beginning of 2017, a synergistic relationship between paraffi n and silicone oils was observed by our team, and its effi ciency in preventing the red poultry mite from respiring was examined. For laboratory examination the Petri dish and tin-box methods were used. Direct, full 1-minute exposure of adult mites to the recommended (15 and 20%) or even much lower concentration of the formulation resulted in 100% mortality aft er 24 hours. Subsequent 1-hour exposure (24 hours aft er application onto treated non-absorbent surface of adult mite) resulted in 100% mortality with the same concentrations. The long term eff ect depends on the surface quality. The concentrations of 15 and 20% provide 100% long-term eff ect aft er a 1-hour exposure period, and remains fully eff ective over the following 4-month period. In the following months (8 months), the formulation continues to work with a slightly lesser, however, still signifi cant eff ect. The formulation is most eff ective on a plastic surface, where the full eff ect is achieved with signifi cantly lower concentrations. The formulation has no eff ect on eggs; however, aft er the short development cycle is completed in the egg (2-6 days) and exit from the shell, the larva is immediately exposed to the eff ects of the formulation and eliminated. High effi ciency of the paraffi n and silicone oils formulation, which has been established in laboratory conditions, justifi es its use to the purpose of D. gallinae control in cages and equipment before fl ock settle-ment as well as in transport cages aft er cleaning and disinfection.

No abstract

The development of anthelmintic resistance in sheep gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) requires novel strategies for the sustainable control of these parasites. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of the Origanum vulgare (L.) essential oil (EO) against sheep GINs and to evaluate the possibility of its use in control practice. The in vitro egg hatch test was conducted at eight different concentrations (50, 12.5, 3.125, 0.781, 0.195, 0.049, 0.025, and 0.0125 mg/mL) of the tested EO. For the in vivo fecal egg count reduction test, the EO of O. vulgare was administrated orally at a mean single dose of 150 mg/kg to sheep from two farms in Southern Italy, whereby potential toxic effects to the hosts were also evaluated. In the egg hatch test, the inhibition of egg hatchability varied from 71.3% to 93.7%, depending on the concentration used. The high anthelmintic potential was confirmed in the fecal egg count reduction test with an average reduction of nematode eggs in feces of 43.2% and 60.1% on days 7 and 14 after treatment, respectively. In addition, no toxic effects were noticed during the clinical examination of sheep or by observing blood count and liver or kidney function test results. The obtained results suggest the strong activity of the O. vulgare EO against sheep GINs, probably due to a high percentage of carvacrol (76.21%), whereby it can be considered safe for sheep at the dose tested in vivo. Therefore, it is suitable for use in veterinary practice as a part of an integrated strategy for the control of sheep GINs.

The aim of our study was to determine whether and to what extent certain species of helminths and protozoa are present in the wild boar population living in hunting grounds in Vojvodina. For this purpose, 52 faecal samples of hunted wild boars (aged 6 months to 2 years) were examined. Examination of the faeces was performed using classical coproscopic laboratory methods. The following parasite species were identified: Metastrongylus spp. Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Physocephalus sexalatus, Strongyloides ransomi, Oesophagostomum sp. / Globocephalus sp., Hyostrongylus rubidus, Gnathostoma hispidum, Eimeria deblecki and Eimeria suis. The obtained results from this study indicated that wild boars are a potential reservoir of a variety of endoparasites, thus endangering the surrounding ecosystem.