Despite the successes achieved in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in companion animals, the issue of developing and implementing innovative, highly effective antiparasitic agents in veterinary practice is still relevant today. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of modern antiparasitic collars for dogs and cats in the prevention and treatment of ectoparasitic infections. The antiparasitic agents used in the experiments were ‘Flea and tick collar Comfort for cats’, ‘Antiparasitic collar TM Healthy Pet, Oberig’, ‘Flea and tick collar Comfort for dogs’, and ‘Antiparasitic collar TM Compliment, Oberig’. The active ingredient in the collars tested is diazinon. The experimental studies were conducted under current methodological recommendations and practical guidelines. The study of shelter pets and stray animals revealed their infestation with lice, fleas, and parasitic ticks of varying intensity. Experimentally, a high insecticidal effect of the products ‘Flea and tick collar Comfort for cats’ and ‘Antiparasitic collar TM Healthy Pet, Oberig’ was established, ‘Flea and tick collar Comfort for dogs’, ‘Antiparasitic collar TM Compliment, Oberig’ against fleas (Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis), chewing lice (Felicola subrostratus), sucking lice (Linognathus setosus), ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor spp., Rhipicephalus spp.) The effectiveness of the drugs is 100%. It has been experimentally proven that the studied collars with the active ingredient diazinon can be used for preventive and therapeutic purposes for companion animals in case of infestation with fleas, chewing lice, sucking lice, and ticks

Zoophilic Diptera plays a leading role in the epizootic foci formation of many infectious and parasitic diseases and directly affects the quality of livestock products. The current study aimed to analyze the number and species composition of parasitic Diptera in industrial, farm, and homestead agrobiocenoses of large and small cattle, pig, and poultry farms in Eastern Ukraine. The research involved entomological collection during the peak activity daylight hours in early May, July, and early September 2021-2022 per farm. A total of 360 entomological collections were made, and 4310 zoophilous flies were examined. In livestock farms of five districts of the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, 28 species of zoophilic flies were registered, among which Musca domestica, Muscina stabulans, Stomoxys calcitrans, Lucilia sericata, Protophormia terraenovae, and Drosophila species were dominant species. The analysis revealed that cattle biocenoses hosted 27 fly species, pigs had 8 species, and poultry and small cattle each had 7 species. The study indicated an increase in the population of Musca autumnalis, the main species in the pastures, near livestock premises during the summer. Stomoxys calcitrans was also recorded in livestock agrobiocenoses. The species Musca domestica, Musca autumnalis, and Stomoxys calcitrans account for 78.8% to 88.3% of the entire complex of zoophilous flies. The two species of Ortellia caesarion (shiny dung beetle) and Ortellia cornicina (green dung beetle), known for their role as manure mineralizers and deemed non-threatening to animals, were completely absent during the research period. The findings indicated the species of Eristalis tenax in agrobiocenoses in 2021. Therefore, it can be concluded that zoophilic flies are physical irritants to animals and potential carriers of many infectious diseases, especially diseases caused by unicellular organisms.

For the control of animal ectoparasites, a large number of prophylactic and therapeutic agents with different active ingredients and routes of administration have been proposed. The persistence of ectoparasitic infections in domestic animals has led to the search for more effective drugs and innovative forms of their production. The aim of the study was to establish and experimentally confirm the efficacy of innovative ectoparasiticidal sprays for dogs and cats for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes in parasitic infections. The antiparasitic agents used in the experiments were ‘PROFILINE Spray’, ‘INSECTOSTOP Spray’, and ‘Barrier-Super Insecticidal Spray’. In accordance with the tasks set, the research was carried out using visual and microscopic methods in accordance with existing practical guidelines and current methodological recommendations. In the study of ectoparasite collections, ixodid ticks (Ixodes ricinus), dog fleas (Ctenocephalus canis), and cat fleas (Ctenocephalus felis) were found. It was shown that the knockdown effect in all ticks began with a state of disorientation, the ticks began to move chaotically 6 hours after exposure to the experimental agents, and after 12 hours there was a complete knockdown of all experimental ixodid ticks and fleas. The high efficacy of ‘PROFILINE Spray’, ‘INSECTOSTOP Spray’, and ‘Barrier-Super Insecticidal Spray’ against fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.), lice (Trichodectes canis, Felicola subrostratus), lice (Linognathus setosus), and ixodid ticks (Ixodes spp.) was experimentally proven. The efficacy of the products is 100% within 60 days of application to animals. According to the results of the studies, it was found that the investigated veterinary sprays can be used for the prevention and treatment of pets with fleas, lice, and ixodid ticks

A total of 38 species of mosquitoes of the Culicidae family of two subfamilies Anophelinae and Culicinae belonging to 6 genera, were identified on the territory of Kharkiv Region from 2009 to 2019. Dirofilaria larvae were found in 932 insects, which was 4.46 % of the surveyed mosquitoes. The prevalence of the infection of female mosquitoes by dirofilaria was 4.46 ± 0.24 %, while the mean intensity of dirofilariae was 5.4 ± 2.1. Infection of mosquitoes with dirofilariae is currently detected in 11 districts of Kharkiv Region and the city of Kharkiv. The infection rate of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes was 3.83 ± 0.63 %, of the genus Culex — 0.75 ± 0.34 %, of the genus Anopheles — 0.12 ± 0.39 %, whereas females of the genera Culiseta, Coquillettidia, and Uranotaenia were uninfected. It was found that in Kharkiv Region there were 2 types of canine dirofilariae — Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856) and Dirofilaria repens (Railliet & Henry, 1911), with a predominance of Dirofilaria repens. For the period from 2009 to 2019, we examined 378 blood samples from dogs (190 males and 188 females) aged from 8 months to 13 years with suspected dirofilariasis. According to the results of the studies, 140 samples were positive, the prevalence of infection by the larvae of Dirofilaria spp. in blood samples from dogs with suspected dirofilariasis was 37.03 ± 0.12 %, while infection with Dirofilaria immitis was 2.86 ± 0.45 %, and Dirofilaria repens — 97.35 ± 0.24 %. The number of positive samples from mongrel dogs was 42 (30 %). It was found that cats are more often amicrofilariaemic than dogs.

An important problem in veterinary medicine is still the control of parasitic diseases of farm and domestic animals. The market of antiparasitic drugs is widely represented by anthelmintics based on albendozole, both imported and domestic, but data on the effectiveness of these drugs are currently insufficient. The aim of the research was to determine in the comparative aspect the effectiveness of the use of antiparasitic drugs in different forms with the content of albendazole in different species of animals. In the previous stage of the studies the experimental animals were diagnosed with invasions. The most common infections in cattle were dictyocaulosis and fasciolosis; Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cooperia oncophora, Oesophagostomum radiatum were not detected. No causative agent of Dictyocaulus vivaparus infection was detected in horses. The most common infection in dogs and cats was toxacariasis, and in mink the most common was infection wih Uncinaria spp. Along with this, no Taenia solium and Diphyllobothrium latum eggs were detected in dogs, and Opisthorchis felineus, Taenia solium, Diphyllobothrium latum were not detected in cats. After the use of preparative forms of albendazole in sick animals for 2–5 days, the presence of dead sexually mature nematodes and helminth eggs were noted in the feces of animals. The efficacy of albendazole drugs regarding helminthiasis in farm and domestic animals was 100%

Despite the success achieved in the control of parasitic animal diseases, there are still some issues that need to be scientifically sound. The issue of prevention and treatment of animals affected by ectoparasites is especially relevant. The study aimed to establish and experimentally confirm the effectiveness of innovative ectoparasiticides for dogs and cats for prevention and therapy in parasitic infections. Innovative antiparasitic drugs with the main active ingredient imidacloprid were used in the experiments: ‘MegaStop for dogs’ (drops for external use, spot application), ‘Golden Defence for dogs spot-on’, ‘MegaStop for cats’ (drops for external use, spot application), ‘Golden Defence for cats spot-on’. Following the objectives of the study, we used visual and microscopic methods in accordance with existing practical manuals and current guidelines. According to the results of the research, a stable infection of experimental dogs with fleas was established at the mean intensity of 7.5 ± 2.0 parasite individuals per 10 cm² of animal skin, and otodectosis, sarcoptosis, and notoedrosis were diagnosed separately in some animals. Experimental cats were diagnosed with otodectosis, notoedrosis, sarcoptosis, demodicosis by clinical signs. Parasitism of fleas on the animal bodies was detected, and in one animal heartworm disease was diagnosed. The mean intensity of flea infection in cats ranged from 8 to 12 parasite individuals per 10 cm2 of skin, and the mean intensity of mite infection was 2–3 mites in the field of view of the microscope. High activity of ‘MegaStop for dogs’, ‘Golden Defence for dogs spot-on’, ‘MegaStop for cats’, ‘Golden Defence for cats spot-on’ as agents with a broad spectrum of action against fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.), acariform mites (Otodectes cynotis, Notoedres cati, Sarcoptes sapis), mites of the genus Demodex; heartworm (effective against L3 and L4 larvae of Dirofilaria immitis) has been established

The pollution rate of environment by pathogens of invasive diseases and contamination of manure, soil, water, and other objects by them are constantly changing depending on the prevalence and intensity of invasion among farm animals. Prevention and control of invasive animal diseases are essential to prevent their spread, as well as to obtain high-quality sanitary products for livestock production. The preservation of pathogens in the environment depends on the intensity of exposure to natural and artificial factors and their resistance to chemicals that are used for disinfection. A large number of disinfectants, both domestic and foreign, have been proposed for disinfection, but they are not always effective under industrial conditions for conducting forced or preventive disinfestation. The introduction of disinfectants into practice is impossible without a preliminary laboratory assessment of their disinvasive properties. The aim of our work was to study the disinvasive properties of a new aldehyde disinfectant on the test models of Ascaris suum eggs. The studies were carried out in the Laboratory of Veterinary Sanitation and Parasitology of the National Scientific Center ‘Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine’ in accordance with the methodological recommendations ‘Methods to Identify and Evaluate Safety Parameters and Quality of Disinfectants, Detergent-Disinfectants Used During Production, Storage, Transportation and Sale of Products of Animal Origin’ (2010). As a result of the studies, it was found that the aldehyde disinfectant exhibits disinvasive properties to the test culture of Ascaris suum eggs when applied at a concentration of 4.0% at room temperature (18–20 ± 0.5°C) and exposure of 3 h. The disinfectant can be used for preventive and forced disinvasions of animal holding facilities and other veterinary control facilities

The development of new import-substituting highly effective and environmentally friendly complex antiparasitic drugs and their implementation in a scientifically grounded system of measures to combat the causative agents of the main invasive diseases of farm animals and poultry remains an urgent task of veterinary medicine. Based on the results of studies of anthelmintic and antiprotozoal action of agents on exogenous forms of parasites, an experimental form of a complex antiparasitic agent "Tinidafen" was created and investigated. An experimental sample in the form of a powder was created on the basis of two active substances – tinidazole and fenbendazole with the addition of excipients (talc, starch). It has been established that the LD50 of "Tinidafen" for white rats with a single dose is 2564.36±349.13 mg/kg. The therapeutic dose of "Tinidafen" for rabbits is 7.5 g per 10 kg of live body weight. The extensefectevity of "Tinidafen" is 99.5% for helminths and 98.7% for eimeria. After administered orally of the agent, helminth eggs in the feces of infested animals were not registered from day 3, and the release of eimeria oocysts was observed until day 5 of the experiment.

The development of animal husbandry, the increase in milk and meat production largely depend on the timely and high-quality implementation of integrated veterinary and sanitary measures. One of the reserves to increase the profitability of animal husbandry is the prevention of diseases of invasive etiology, including entomoses, and the protection of animals from blood-sucking dipterians. Entomoses of farm animals are widespread in Ukraine and cause significant economic damage to livestock farming. It has been established that in sick animals milk, meat and wool productivity, breeding qualities are reduced, weakened young animals are born, which are susceptible to various diseases of infectious and not infectious etiology. The environment affects the characteristics of morphology, physiology, ecology, the behavior of blood-sucking insects. Mass outbreaks of their reproduction cause significant losses to the national economy, contribute to the spread of vector-borne diseases. The study of the role of insects in the transmission of pathogens of vector-borne infections is an important area of modern research. The toxic effect of saliva is one of the aspects of the harmful effects of blood-sucking dipterians on humans and animals. With a high number of attacks by bloodsuckers, intoxication can be of serious importance and manifest itself both in external signs in the form of inflammatory processes on the skin, and in a change in physiological parameters (body temperature, blood balance). In livestock and anthropogenic biocenoses, there is a need for a number of veterinary and sanitary measures to protect animals from the negative effects of parasitic dipterians. The prospect of further research is to improve the existing schemes of veterinary and sanitary measures at livestock enterprises, taking into account modern domestic developments

Entomoses of farm animals are widespread in the territory of Ukraine and cause significant economic losses to animal husbandry. It is established that the sick animals have reduced milk, meat and wool productivity, breeding qualities; weakened young animals, which are easily exposed to various diseases of infectious and non-infectious etiology, are born. Among all modern methods and means for artificial reduction of the number of insects, the most effective is the chemical method. To protect animals from midges the most cost-effective is the spraying of animals with insecticides and repellents. The analysis of the presented literature data allows us to say that sufficiently large range of effective preparations of both domestic and foreign production is presented on the market of disinsection agents. However, it has been reported that resistance to insects has formed for most of them, some of the products are highly toxic to warm-blooded animals, and also they are quite expensive and their use is economically unjustified. Great scientific and practical importance has the development of modern methods of combating the causative agents of farm animal entomoses based on strict regulations for treatment-and-prophylactic means, which make it possible to reduce the number of parasites to an economically intangible level, prevent environmental pollution by pesticides, and obtain safe animal products of high sanitary quality. The insecticide market has a fairly large range of efficient products, both domestic and foreign, but most of them do not meet modern challenges and advanced livestock technologies. At the present stage of the disinfectology development, the search for new compositions of chemical compounds for disinsection in animal husbandry to combat harmful insects is promising

Національний науковий центр «Інститут експериментальної і клінічної ветеринарної медицини

One of the problems in growing and keeping poultry, both in industrial and farm and kitchen garden environments is ectoparasites, which are responsible for lowering the productivity of poultry and causing economic losses. The study of the prevalence and diagnosis of bird ectoparasites on poultry farms with different maintenance technologies is important for the further development of integrated methods for combating them. Our research was conducted during 2006–2017 in 16 regions of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In total, 38 poultry farms specializing in egg production with poultry kept in battery cages, 18 poultry houses specializing in egg production with poultry kept on the floor and more than 150 farm and kitchen garden poultry houses for keeping chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl and pigeons were examined. We found that, both with battery cages and when poultry are kept on the floor in poultry farms, the most common ectoparasites are chicken mites (Dermanyssus gallinae), which causes the disease of dermanyssiosis. It was determined that the extensivity of the invasion was, on average, from 56% to 80%. Also, in the chickens and turkeys, mallophages (Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus), which cause mallophagoses, were detected, and the extensivity of the invasion ranged from 27% to 45%. In farms and kitchen gardens where chickens, guinea fowl and quails were kept, the number of chicken mites in 1 g substrate was more than a thousand live mites, in dovecotes chicken mites were found in 50% to 100% of nests. In chickens and turkeys, besides the chicken mite, bird lice were found. In chickens, extensivity of invasion of M. gallinae, M. stramineus, Lipeurus variabilis, ranged from 15% to 22%, in turkeys, extensivity of invasion of M. gallinae and M. stramineus ranged from 16% to 25%. The scaly leg mite (Knemidocoptes mutans), which causes the disease knemidocoptiasis ("lame leg"), was detected in incubating hens over the age of two years, the extensivity of the invasion ranged from 5% to 7%. It was established that in poultry farms, both in battery cages and when the birds were kept on the floor, the main ectoparasite in chickens, guinea fowl and quail is red chicken mite (D. gallinae), and on poultry farms and kitchen gardens in addition to the chicken mite, three types of bird lice (M. gallinae, M. stramineus, L. variabilis) and K. mutans were found.