In the genus Giardia (G.) intestinalis is the only species found in humans as well as in other mammals, including domestic and farm animals. Molecular characterisation of strains isolated from different hosts revealed the existence of seven major genotypic assemblages. Assemblage A and B isolates have been recovered from a broad range of hosts, including humans, livestock, cats, dogs, beavers and guinea pigs. Infection and subsequent cyst shedding contaminates the environment for all mammals, including humans. In this preliminary investigation we studied the prevalence of Giardia infection in kennel dogs from Hungary by microscopic examinations and using a G. intestinalis Agspecific coproantigen test. In order to investigate the genotypes of Giardia, a nested PCR specific for Giardia 18S-rDNA was introduced. All sequenced samples displayed the sequences described for Assemblage D and C dog-specific G. intestinalis strains. These results indicate, however, that dog giardiosis is highly prevalent in the studied geographical areas, but it doesn't present severe zoonotic potential. In the course of the study, the higher sensitivity of the coproantigen test compared to microscopy, and the significant decline in the infection rate with the increasing age of the dogs sampled was clearly pointed.

Two separated field studies were carried out in Hungary to assess Otodectes cynotis infestation and to evaluate the efficacy of 10 % imidacloprid and 1.0 % moxidectin spot-on for cats against ear mites in a cat shelter. Mite infestation was studied with direct, otoscopic examination of the external ear canals and with the presence or absence of live mites in samples taken with cotton-tipped swabs from both ears of each animal. Fifteen out of 100 cats selected randomly were found to be infested. Seven animals showed severe clinical signs of otitis externa consistent with O. cynotis infestation. These cats were restless, shaking their heads and scratching their ears. Alopecia, wounds caused by self-injuries and dermatitis were seen in and around the ears of the two cats having most severe clinical signs. The other infested cats did not show any clinical signs, only dark brown exudates ranging from moist and waxy to crumbly and flaky accumulated at the deeper part of the external ear canals.Ten cats were randomly assigned to the treatment group and five animals to the untreated control group. Each cat of the treated group was weighed and treated with the recommended dosage of 10 % imidacloprid and 1.0% moxidectin spot-on on day 0. Only those three cats were found to be infested with live ear mites on day 9, which had showed the most severe clinical signs of otitis externa before treatment. The black-brown cerumen or scab was drier in their ear canals than nine days earlier. Some live and dead mites were found only by microscopic examination of aural debris. The efficacy of 10 % imidacloprid and 1.0% moxidectin against O. cynotis was 100 % on days 16 and 30. Direct and otoscopic examinations of both ears of treated animals could not reveal mite movement. A very small amount of S35 dry material was found in the ear canals of the formerly most affected cats. No or some dried up mites occurred in samples taken with cotton-tipped swabs from all cats which had no clinical signs of otoacariosis. The external ear canals of untreated cats continued to contain large amounts of dark brown, waxy cerumen and their ear swab samples contained live ear mites until the end of study.

In most Hungarian dairy farms clinical coccidiosis of calves had been misdiagnosed because of the lack of information on the presence of Eimeria sp. in local animals, causing inestimable animal health problems and economical losses. For this reason the first countrywide study on coccidiosis of calves was carried out in 86 dairy farms. Faecal samples were collected from 743 calves aged between two and four months old in 2005 and 2006. The number of animals enrolled per farm ranged between two and ten. During the qualitative ovoscopy, 100 oocysts per sample were examined for species identification. Eimeria oocysts were found in 245 (33 %) samples. Of the seven species identified, the most prominent species were E. auburnensis (19.6 %), E. ellipsoidalis (15.9 %) and E. bovis (14.9 %). Eimeria zuernii, E. cylindrica, E. pellita or E. subsphaerica oocysts were found in less than 20 samples each. Multiple infections with two or more species occurred in 83 (33.9%) calves. The oocysts of at least one of the two pathogenic species, E. bovis and/or E. zurnii, were found on every farm studied, which infected 118 (48.2 %) animals, however, clinical coccidiosis was not observed. Coccidia of Eimeria were present in 74 (86.0 %) out of 86 farms, occurring countrywide, where the number of Eimeria sp. ranged between one and six. Based on these preliminary results the authors emphasise that veterinarians and cattle owners should be familiar with clinical signs and the potential implications of cattle coccidiosis. Management procedures and application of anti-coccidial compound are needed for minimising the impact of coccidiosis.