Free-ranging hens are at risk of infection by parasites characterized by certain stages that develop in the soil until attaining the infective phase. To analyze the usefulness of a biological control strategy of helminths affecting pasturing hens, fecal samples containing eggs of the helminths Ascaridia galli and Capillaria spp. were collected and then homogenized with an electric mixer. A total of 64 small areas were established by placing wooden frames (15 × 40 × 30 cm) on the ground and then adding approximately 100 g of a fecal mixture (per area). Four batches of 16 areas were considered: G1, sprayed with 2 × 10⁶ spores of the parasitophagous fungus Mucor circinelloides (day 0) at 0.5 L/m² (=600 mL/area); G2, sprayed with spores twice (every two weeks); G3, sprayed four times (every week); and Control, sprayed weekly with water. After a four-week period, the egg viability reduced for ascarids and capillarids (26% and 27%, respectively) in the control group; 64% and 79% in G1; 71% and 82% in G2; and 79% and 80% in G3. It was concluded that spraying with fungal spores provides a very useful tool for preventing infection by helminths on free-range poultry.

The global market size of animal parasiticides was valued at USD 12.9 billion in 2024. Animal deworming only results in temporary cures with little to no preventive effects; therefore, a strategy that combines animal deworming with prevention is essential in improving the control of helminths. The effectiveness of co-administrating curative and preventive agents and their compatibility were considered based on the parasitophagous fungus Mucor circinelloides, which was developed in edible agar–agar (red seaweed)-carrying dewormers. Accordingly, Petri dishes were prepared with either a biopolymer alone (control, G-C) or with the anthelmintic piperazine (550, 1102, 2210, and 5500 mg/plate) or levamisole (37.5, 75, 150, and 300 mg/plate) and were used to culture the fungus Mucor circinelloides. Strong fungal growth and high numbers of spores were observed in the presence of the anthelmintics. No differences were measured between the control plates and those containing parasiticide drugs. Similar mycelial growth patterns and sporogenesis rates were recorded for different amounts of each anthelmintic. In conclusion, this novel formulation based on biopolymers containing anthelmintics and enriched with the parasitophagous fungus represents a highly promising tool to consider for jointly deworming animals and minimizing the risks of helminth infection. Further studies are in progress to confirm these in vitro results.

Diptera-borne diseases pose a major threat to global health, and their distribution is constantly changing due to climate change, globalization, and environmental changes. To improve the knowledge of dipteran species and their distribution in equine facilities, CDC-UV and oviposition traps were placed, and the dipping technique was performed in 16 equestrian centers of Northwest (NW) Spain (Galicia and Castilla y León Autonomous Communities) between July and November 2023. A questionnaire was distributed among the horse owners to obtain additional information. Four genera of culicids, Culex (51.8%), Culiseta (38.6%), Anopheles (8.4%), and Aedes/Ochlerotatus (1.2%) were identified in the equestrian centers. Culex pipiens s.l. was the most prevalent and well-distributed species (93.8% of the centers), whereas Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and An. claviger/petragnani, the anopheline species, were the most frequent (37.5% and 31.2%, respectively). The Culiseta genus was found in approximately 81.2% of the equine facilities. All genera were collected at medium and high altitudes and in Csb (warm-summer Mediterranean climate) areas. Equestrian centers from NW Spain albeit a variety of culicids with high vectorial capacity, together with an ideal environment for their breeding, the presence of vectors and hosts (humans and animals). This potential problem for global health enhances the need for entomological surveillance.

Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844, is a competent vector of the Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and other zoonotic pathogens, typically associated with warmer Mediterranean environments. Between 2019 and 2024, as part of the activities of the Galician Vector Surveillance Network (ReGaViVec), a passive surveillance program was carried out in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, involving regional Healthcare centers, livestock farms, equestrian facilities, Wildlife Rescue Centers, Veterinary clinics and private individuals. A total of 63 adult specimens were morphologically identified as H. marginatum , collected from humans (60.3%), free‐range ungulates (35%), dogs (3.2%) and the environment (1.6%). The annual distribution ranged from 1.6% of the total in 2019 to 57.1% in 2024. Seasonal activity peaked in spring (54%), declined slightly in summer (44%) and was absent in winter. Most specimens (82.5%) came from areas under a Mediterranean climate and warm summers, and 66% were collected at locations less than 15 km from where the first specimen was found. Human infestations were primarily associated with agricultural activities (47.6%) and recreational walking in wooded areas (42.9%). Regarding human anatomical distribution, the most frequent attachment sites were the trunk (34.2%) and the lower extremities (21.1%). The continuing detection of H. marginatum ticks in the study area, along with changes in their spatial distribution over a 6‐year period, highlights the need to implement surveillance protocols based on a ‘One Health’ approach to monitor the potential establishment of this vector in NW Spain, as well as the risk of some pathogens associated with it.