Relation of genetic phylogeny and geographical distance of tick-borne encephalitis virus in central Europe.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most important arboviral agent causing disease of the central nervous system in central Europe. In this study, 61 TBEV E gene sequences derived from 48 isolates from the Czech Republic, and four isolates and nine TBEV strains detected in ticks from Germany, covering more than half a century from 1954 to 2009, were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic and Bayesian phylodynamic analysis to determine the phylogeography of TBEV in central Europe. The general Eurasian continental east-to-west pattern of the spread of TBEV was confirmed at the regional level but is interlaced with spreading that arises because of local geography and anthropogenic influence.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus in Clethrionomys glareolus in the Czech Republic.

A total of 474 specimens from 157 rodents caught at the military training area of Boletice in the south of the Czech Republic from May to November 1999 were screened for TBEV by nested PCR. TBEV-specific RNA was amplified from lung, kidney, and spleen derived from one Clethrionomys glareolus in the first RT-PCR round. Sequence analysis revealed a 100% identity to the TBEV strain Neudoerfl.

Identification of genetic evidence for dobrava virus spillover in rodents by nested reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and TaqMan RT-PCR.

A survey of 158 rodents caught in the Czech Republic identified Dobrava virus sequences closely related to that of the Dobrava virus type strain in Apodemus sylvaticus and Mus musculus rodents. The identity of A. sylvaticus was unequivocally confirmed by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis.

[Antigens for the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis using the ELISA technique].

From the brains of suckling mice infected with the virus of tickborne encephalitis, strain Hypr, the authors concentrated by precipitation with polyethylene glycol - 6000 and purified by differential ultracentrifuging on a linear saccharose gradient the virion antigen KEV-II for assessment of specific human antibodies, using the indirect ELISA technique. The antigen was characterized as to haemagglutination activity, electrophoretic properties, immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody against external layer gpE and enzyme immune analysis to assess the relative ratio of gpE in the diagnostic antigen. Using the technique of indirect ELISA with antigen KEV-II, the authors examined in 1988 and 1989 sera of 631 patients with a specificity of estimations of 99.

Protection against European isolates of tick-borne encephalitis virus after vaccination with a new tick-borne encephalitis vaccine.

A highly purified, inactivated tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus particle vaccine has been developed. In this study we report on the efficacy of this new vaccine to protect against TBE virus isolates from different geographical areas of Europe and the Asian part of the USSR.

Humoral immunity against tick-borne encephalitis virus following manifest disease and active immunization.

Humoral immunity against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in patients with a well-documented history of naturally acquired tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) was compared with immunity resulting from vaccination in a carefully controlled immunization programme. The vaccination study was performed with a highly purified, inactivated virus particle vaccine and the immune response was followed by tracing the course of IgG antibody formation in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a neutralization assay. It was shown that this TBE vaccine induced a strong immune response.

Isolation of TBE virus from the tick Ixodes hexagonus.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus was isolated from a sample of Ixodes hexagonus ticks collected from the hair of the western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) which had been captured on the edge of a new housing estate in Ceské Budĕjovice at the end of September 1986. This was the first isolation of TBE virus from this vector, supporting the previous experimental results. The virus was identified in immunofluorescent and plaquereduction neutralization tests.

Rapid serological diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis by means of enzyme immunoassay.

A system of IgM-capture EIA made up from Czechoslovak immunopreparations (SEVAC) was developed for a rapid serological diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The method was tested on clinical material. The total IgM antibody titres were detected using pig antiserum and the selection of specific IgM antibodies was made with TBE antigen with following indirect way of detection.

Adiaspiromycosis in Tasmanian wombats?

The finding of small spherules in the lungs of two species of wombats from Tasmania is described. An histological examination of lung tissue caused adiaspiromycosis to be suspected and the etiological agent was thought to Chrysosporium parvum.

[The effect of technological and zoo-hygienic factors on the occurrence of helminths in different strains of pigs].

Seven helminth species were found in 14 different pig stocks in the South Bohemian region. These were: Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Trichocephalus suis, Hyostrongylus rubidus, Strongyloides ransomi, Capillaria sp. and Metastrongylus sp.

[The dynamics of important helminths in pig husbandry].

The growth and seasonal dynamics of three helminth species (Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum dentatum, and Trichocephalus suis) were studied on a modern pig-fattening farm of the PM-016-AGP type. The study of the dynamics of the incidence of the eggs of these helminth species demonstrated that large swine roundworm (Ascaris suum) had favourable conditions for further development at average daily temperatures above 12 degrees C. In winter when the average daily temperatures were lower than 10 degrees C, the occurrence rate of the eggs of the mentioned helminth species in pig excrements was significantly lower than in the other year seasons.

[Monitoring the helmintological situation in a large-scale reproduction of pigs].

In 1976 to 1978, the occurrence of helminths in a large reproduction herd of pigs was studied in different age categories of the animals kept. Six helminth species were found in 30.7% of the sows: Ascaris suum (6.

[Occurence of an outbreak of horse dermatophytosis caused by the fungus Trichophyton equinum].

There is a description of equine dermatophytosis enzootic, caused by the microscopic fungus Trichophyton equinum. The disease affected 32 horses, mostly young, all in the same herd (74.4%).

Adiaspiromycosis in Czechoslovakian mammals.

The examination of 46 mammalian species in Czechoslovakia revealed adiaspiromycosis caused by the Emmonsia crescens in 22 species of free living animals; E. parva was the etiological agent in 3 species. The disease was most frequently found in carnivores of the family Mustelidae.

Importance of free living mustelid carnivores in circulation of adiaspiromycosis.

The study of adiaspiromycosis in 8 species of free living mustelid carnivores (266 specimens) revealed the average intensity of infection to be 41.4%. The highest incidence rate was found in the exoanthropic species Putorius eversmanni (73.

Avirulence and decreased virulence in mutants of Emmonsia crescens, a causative agent of adiaspiromycosis.

Three mutants of Emmonsia crescens with altered morphology and pathogenicity for mice are described. The mutant M-1 is avirulent and does not form adiaspores of normal morphology on agar medium at 37 degree C. The mutants M-2 and M-12 have a considerably decreased virulence.

Adiaspiromycosis in large free living carnivores.

Adiaspiromycosis was identified in 6 animals in the examination of the lungs of 90 large carnivores. Emmonsia crescens (Chrysosporium parvum var. crescens) was demonstrated as the causative agent in 5 cases of disease-in the badger (Meles meles), the otter (Lutra lutra) and the fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Emmonsia parva as causal agent of adiaspiromycosis in a fox.

The authors report on adiaspiromycosis of a fox (Vulpes vulpes) caused by Emmonsia parva. Species diagnosis was made on the basis of dimensions of the fungus found in the lungs of the animal, the histopathological picture of tissue changes and the properties of the isolated culture. The identification of the fungus was also confirmed by experimental infection.

The role of polecats of the genus Putorius Cuvier, 1817 in natural foci of adiaspiromycosis.

Adiaspiromycosis provoked by the fungus Emmonsia crescens was diagnosed in two different species of polecats. In total, 76.2% of steppe polecats (Putorius eversmanni) and 35.