Most wild mammals can serve as hosts both for tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and for the ticks themselves. Among these, wild boars, due to their large body size, habitat and life span, show high exposure to ticks and TBPs. These species are now one of the widest-ranging mammals in the world, as well as the most widespread suid. Despite the fact that certain local populations have been decimated by African swine fever (ASF), wild boars are still considered overabundant in most parts of the world, including Europe. Altogether, their long-life expectancy, large home ranges including migration, feeding and social behaviors, wide distribution, overabundance and increased chances of interactions with livestock or humans make them suitable sentinel species for general health threats, such as antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, pollution and ASF geographical distribution, as well as for the distribution and abundance of hard ticks and also for certain TBPs, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of rickettsial agents in wild boars from two counties in Romania. Among 203 blood samples of wild boars (Sus scrofa ssp. attila) collected during 3 (2019–2022) hunting seasons (September–February), 15 were found positive for tick-borne pathogen DNA. Six wild boars were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA presence and nine for Rickettsia spp. The identified rickettsial species were R. monacensis (six) and R. helvetica (three). No animal was positive either for Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp. or Babesia spp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. monacensis in European wild boars, thus adding the third species from the SFG Rickettsia, in the epidemiology of which this wild species may have a role as a reservoir host.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of pyrethroid-based insecticides against Gasterophilus spp. egg-laying activity and to establish the seasonality patterns in the specific climatic area of Transylvania, Romania. To fulfil the aims of the study, a total of 40 horses were treated every 4 weeks and inspected every 2 weeks between 11 May and 6 November (Pilo et al. Parasitol Res 114:1693–1702, 2024). Through this period, eggs were found between 24 June and 2 November. The eggs were found on 34 out of 40 horses (prevalence = 85%, CI 95% = 73.43–96.56%). Overall, a total of 50,029 Gasterophilus spp. eggs were counted during this study, and all were morphologically identified as G. intestinalis. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in prevalence and intensity between treated and control horses (p > 0.05). The number of laid eggs varied significantly across body regions (p < 0.05). The risk factors associated with increased egg-laying activity were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with dark-color coats, outside husbandry regime, and the month of exposure. No significant differences in egg numbers and prevalence were found across gender or age groups (p > 0.05). The applied statistical tests were as follows: the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test, the Friedman test, Wilcoxon test corrected by the Bonferroni method, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. These results highlight gasterophilosis as an important parasite in horses. In conclusion, we recommend that, in order maintain a low prevalence of Gasterophilus spp., treatment should include the use of larvicidal drugs and the mechanical removal of the eggs.