Prevalence of Francisella tularensis in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks collected in adjacent areas of the Czech and Austrian Republics.

A total of 1098 host-seeking adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were examined in an active enzootic focus (floodplain meadow and forest ecosystem) of tularemia along the lower reaches of the Thaya (Dyje) river in South Moravia (Czech Republic) and adjacent Austria during the spring of 1996. Twenty-five isolates of Francisella tularensis were recovered (i.e.

Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus).

Cloacal examination of 41 juvenile black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) by cultivation demonstrated Campylobacter jejuni in 26 (63%) and Salmonella typhimurium in 21 (51%) of them. All the bird samples were collected in a breeding colony near the town Hodonin, South Moravia, Czech Republic in 1996. Twenty six Campylobacter isolates were tested for antibiotic and drug sensitivity: all were resistant to at least three agents (Penicillin, Tetracyclin and Sulfomethoxazol-trimethoprim) while all were sensitive to Augmentan, Cefotaxim, Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, Nitrofurantoin and Cephazidine.

Salmonella phage types distribution in the Czech Republic in 1991-1994.

The Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium phage types in the Czech Republic during the monitored period 1991-1994 are described. The total number of 2318 strains were examined. From 652 Salmonella typhimurium strains 24 various phage types were identified.

Salmonellae in gulls and other free-living birds in the Czech Republic.

Cloacal swabs, collected from 756 wild synanthropic and exoanthropic birds of 57 species in the Czech Republic, yielded 32 strains of Salmonella typhimurium [phage types (PT) 141, 104 and 41], six isolates of S. enteritidis (PT 8, 4 and 6e), and one each of S. panama and S.