Publications by authors named "Sabina Fumacova Havlikova"

Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to test the exposure of domestic cats to various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, in Bratislava during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The results indicated a notable seroprevalence of antibodies, showing about 37.4% of cats had been exposed to the studied pathogen, with a small difference between owned and shelter cats.
  • The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 2.7% of the samples suggests a risk of transmission to humans, indicating that the virus may circulate among both owned and shelter cat populations in Slovakia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sensitive and accurate RT-qPCR tests are the primary diagnostic tools to identify SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. While many SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR tests are available, there are significant differences in test sensitivity, workflow (e.g.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes serious the neurological disease, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). TBEV can be transmitted to humans by ticks as well as by the alimentary route, which is mediated through the consumption of raw milk products from infected ruminants such as sheep, goats, and cows. The alimentary route of TBEV was recognized in the early 1950s and many important experimental studies were performed shortly thereafter.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV; family Flaviviridae) is the most medically important tick-borne virus in Europe and Asia. Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus ticks are considered to be the main vector ticks of TBEV in nature due to their specific ecological associations with the vertebrate hosts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hematophagous arthropods are responsible for the transmission of a variety of pathogens that cause disease in humans and animals. Ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex are vectors for some of the most frequently occurring human tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The search for vaccines against these diseases is ongoing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens but diverse commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. A molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens and endosymbionts was carried out in Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis questing ticks collected in Slovakia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF