Cellular and humoral peritoneal immunity to Mesocestoides vogae metacestode infection in mice.

Background: Here, Mesocestoides (M.) vogae infection in mice is proposed as a suitable experimental model for studying the immunity in the peritoneal cavity of mice.

Methods: To investigate the kinetics of immune parameters in M.

A Comparative Study of Different Immunoassays to Detect Specific Antibodies to Spp. in Human Sera.

Human echinococcosis, one of the most serious of parasitic zoonoses, is caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes of the genus . The study aimed to assess the reliability of the detection of specific antibodies to and s.l.

Co-administration of silymarin elevates the therapeutic effect of praziquantel through modulation of specific antibody profiles, Th1/Th2/Tregs cytokines and down-regulation of fibrogenesis in mice with Mesocestoides vogae (Cestoda) infection.

Silymarin (SIL) represents a natural mixture of polyphenols showing an array of health benefits. The present study, carried out on a model cestode infection induced by Mesocestoides vogae tetrathyridia in the ICR strain of mice, was aimed at investigating the impact of SIL as adjunct therapy on the activity of praziquantel (PZQ) in relation to parasite burden, immunity and liver fibrosis within 20 days post-therapy. In comparison with PZQ alone, co-administration of SIL and PZQ stimulated production of total IgG antibodies to somatic and excretory-secretory antigens of metacestodes and modified the expression patterns of immunogenic molecules in both antigenic preparations.

Seroprevalence of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in Invasive Non-native American Mink.

Invasive non-native species can become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and cause their spread during colonization, increasing the risk of zoonoses transmission to both wild hosts and humans. American mink (Neovison vison) are considered an important invasive mammal species responsible for carrying endoparasites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of feral American mink as a possible transmission vector of Echinococcus spp.

Endosonography-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration versus "Key-Hole Biopsy" in the diagnostics of upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors. A prospective randomized interventional study.

Background: The management and prognosis of subepithelial tumors (SETs) of the upper gastrointestinal tract depend on the correct preoperative evaluation, including tissue diagnosis in selected cases. Several methods providing deep tissue sampling for cytological and/or histological examinations have been described but their diagnostic yield and precise position in the diagnostic algorithm remain to be established. This prospective randomized study aims to compare the Endosonography-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA) to Key-Hole Biopsy (KHB) in cytological or histological diagnostics of upper gastrointestinal SETs.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in sheep, goats, and fallow deer farmed on the same area.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are coccidian parasites with a global distribution that cause reproductive failure and production losses in livestock. The seroprevalence of both parasite species in ruminants and Cervidae has been investigated worldwide and found to vary greatly. Studies carried out on mixed flocks with 3 ruminant species (sheep, goats, and fallow deer) living under the same conditions are excellent models for identifying any differences in the rate of infection with the 2 parasites between the animal species.

A Community-Based Study to Estimate the Seroprevalence of Trichinellosis and Echinococcosis in the Roma and Non-Roma Population of Slovakia.

Trichinellosis and cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are serious parasitic diseases transmissible between animals and humans. Moreover, alveolar echinococcosis is considered one of the most dangerous of human helminthoses. Roma communities are particularly numerous in Central and Eastern Europe.

First Toxoplasma gondii isolate from an aborted foetus of European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus L.).

The study was performed on a male European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus L.) foetus spontaneously aborted at the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy in the Białowieża Forest. Serum samples from the foetus and mother revealed the presence of antibodies against T.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in red foxes in Slovakia.

Sera or meat juices of 177 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) originated from the localities of a human-influenced landscape (Group 1) and 126 foxes from the protected mountain region (Group 2) of Slovakia, collected during 2010-2014 were tested for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using indirect ELISA and Neospora caninum by competitive ELISA. The tissue and uncoagulated blood samples were examined for the presence of the parasite's DNA. The total seropositivity to T.

Seroprevalence of Trichinella infections in domestic dogs from Slovakia.

Trichinellosis is constantly present in the sylvatic cycle in Slovakia, with several sporadic human outbreaks registered since the 1960s. The largest outbreak of trichinellosis occurred in 1998 and was related to the consumption of dog meat that had been added to smoked pork sausages. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Trichinella infection in domestic dogs in various regions of Slovakia.

Molecular screening for bacteria and protozoa in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) nesting in Slovakia, central Europe.

This study brings the data about the occurrence of bacterial and protozoan pathogens in 32 great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), representing approximately 20% of the population nesting in the surroundings of water basin Liptovská Mara (northern part of Central Slovakia). A survey revealed the presence of tick-borne bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum (6.25%) and parasitic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii (3.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) - reservoir host of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Slovakia.

In Central Europe the wild boar population is permanently growing and consequently Cf foodborne infections. In this study serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in wild boars was evaluated. Moreover, same samples were screened for the presence and genetic variability of tick-borne bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Human Trichinella infection outbreaks in Slovakia, 1980-2008.

Trichinellosis, a parasitic zoonosis with world-wide distribution, causes serious health problems in humans and is also of economic importance. In Slovakia the most frequent species is T. britovi, causing disease mainly in wild life species.

Immunodiagnostic approaches for the detection of human toxocarosis.

Human toxocarosis is an important zoonosis caused by larvae of Toxocara canis/cati. The objective was to evaluate the role of IgG anti-Toxocara antibody detection and the specific IgG avidity in diagnostics of human toxocarosis. Anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies and IgG avidity were evaluated by excretory-secretory (ES)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Neospora caninum - Associated Abortions in Slovak Dairy Farm.

Background: Neospora caninum is considered one of the major causes of repeated abortions in livestock. This study aimed to determine the seropositivity to N. caninum using indirect ELISA and the influence of the infection on the occurrence of abortions in selected dairy herd in Slovakia.

Seroprevalence of human Toxocara infections in the Roma and non-Roma populations of Eastern Slovakia: a cross-sectional study.

Socioeconomic conditions and health of the Roma population, the most numerous minority in Europe, are worse than that of the non-Roma population. Information about the occurrence of human toxocarosis and other parasitic diseases in the Roma population is scarce or completely missing. The aim of this study was to map the seroprevalence of toxocarosis in the population living in segregated Roma settlements and to compare the data with the occurrence of antibodies in the non-Roma population of Eastern Slovakia.

Evaluation of purified antigen fraction in the immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis.

Echinococcus granulosus antigen B fraction (AgB) was evaluated for its prognostic value in the serological follow-up of cystic echinococcosis (CE), compared to crude hydatid fluid (HF) as well as soluble somatic Echinococcus multilocularis antigen (Em). The sensitivity and specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were compared examining 177 sera from patients with different clinical courses and outcome of CE and with other parasitic infections. AgB-ELISA in comparison to confirmed cystic echinococcosis has 96.

Detection of antibodies to Neospora caninum in moose (Alces alces): the first report in Europe.

Neospora caninum Dubey, Carpenter, Speer, Topper et Uggla, 1988 is a protozoan parasite originally reported as a major cause of bovine abortions worldwide. It is documented that the parasite is widely spread among non-carnivorous cervids. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of N.

Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and tick-transmitted bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in one selected goat farm in Slovakia.

Parasitic diseases of livestock together with poor welfare conditions can negatively affect the health status and production of small ruminants. Protozoan parasites and tick-borne infectious agents are common threat of livestock including small ruminants mostly during the pasture season. Therefore the priority of the study was to analyse the circulation and presence of two protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum as well as tick-transmitted bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum in one selected goat farm in Eastern Slovakia.

Kinetics of anti-Neospora antibodies during the period of two consecutive pregnancies in chronically infected dairy cows.

The course of anti-Neospora antibody kinetics during two consecutive pregnancies has been evaluated in five chronically infected dairy cows. The blood samples of cows were collected monthly. Anti-Neospora antibodies in blood sera were detected by indirect ELISA (ID-VET, France).

Occurrence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected pigs.

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects a wide range of warm-blooded vertebrates. The data about the occurrence of toxoplasmosis in slaughter pigs in the Slovak Republic are still missing. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pigs from Slovakia during the period of 2006-2010 by ELISA and PCR methods.

First molecular detection of Neospora caninum in European brown bear (Ursus arctos).

Neospora caninum is an important intracellular protozoan parasite with an affinity to the central nervous system of many animals and a major causative agent of repeated abortions in cattle. In total, 45 muscle, liver, or spleen samples of brown bear sampled in different locations of Central Slovakia were examined by PCR. Genotyping of N.

Local residual neoplasia after endoscopic treatment of laterally spreading tumors during 15 months of follow-up.

Background: Among superficial neoplastic lesions of the colon and rectum, a laterally spreading tumor (LST) is a flat elevated type at least 10 mm in size. It can be treated by conventional endoscopic resection (CER). Nevertheless, local residual neoplasia (LRN) may occur during follow-up.

Small mammals: paratenic hosts for species of Toxocara in eastern Slovakia.

Toxocara spp., an aetiological agent of a serious helminthozoonosis, is a common roundworm of domestic and wild carnivores worldwide. The study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara in small mammals from different localities in eastern Slovakia.

Influence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection on reproduction and cellular immune response of mice.

The influence of secondary Echinococcus multilocularis infection on reproduction and cellular immune response of mice was studied in BALB/c mice infected with 2000 E. multilocularis protoscoleces. Of the total infected mothers, 11.