Intestinal parasites in segregated minority communities of Slovakia: results from a cross-sectional survey in children.

In Slovakia, the Roma population forms the second-largest ethnic minority. A large part of the Roma is semi-nomadic or lives in segregated settlements with poor living standards and limited access to health facilities. More than 40 years ago, a cross-sectional survey revealed a high prevalence of parasitic infections. There is a paucity of recent data, and hence, we designed a study to investigate the current status of intestinal parasitic infections in this population. Overall, 259 children aged 7 months to 18 years from 32 different segregated settlements provided faecal samples for microscopic examination using a sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin concentration and the Paraprep L technique. Almost 40% of the samples yielded a positive result, with Ascaris lumbricoides (27.4%) and Giardia intestinalis (9.3%) being the most frequent helminth and intestinal protozoa species, respectively. Many children younger than 2 years were found to be infected, which suggests that community transmission is important. In view of our findings, there is a pressing need for targeted action to improve the health status of this neglected population.

First report on parasites of European beavers in the Slovak Republic.

European beaver (Castor fiber L. 1758) is the biggest rodent living in Europe. It is a semi-aquatic animal known for building dams and burrows. European beaver is a potential host for a wide range of parasites and other infectious diseases. In Slovakia, there is an increasing number of beavers but the data about their parasitic fauna are missing. Our work is the first documentation about the beaver's parasitofauna in Slovakia. In a 1-year study, we collected and examined 19 beaver fecal samples from the vicinity of beaver burrows inhabiting three particular localities at the Danube, Topla, and Laborec rivers in Slovakia. In these fecal samples, 4 different species of intestinal endoparasites were detected as follows: oocysts of Cryptosporidium, cysts of Giardia, eggs of Stichorchis subtriquetrus, and eggs and larvae of Travassosius rufus. Parasites were confirmed only in samples collected at river Topla. Based on our results, we can conclude that European beaver can be an important source of parasitic contamination of surface waters especially in the localities shared by people.

First report on Giardia duodenalis assemblage F in Slovakian children living in poor environmental conditions.

BACKGROUND: Giardiasis is one of the most common gastrointestinal infections of humans and animals attributable to complex of eight morphologically identical genetic assemblages, further divided into sub-assemblages. Disease is common for a wide range of hosts and genetic characterization is needed for better understanding of multifaceted epidemiology for this protozoan parasite. The aim of this study was to identify genetic heterogeneity in assemblages and sub-assemblages of Giardiaduodenalis circulating among the children population living in deprived socioeconomic conditions. METHODS: A total of 333 stool samples from children in eastern Slovakia were collected during the period of 2015-2016 and analysed by molecular methods. Molecular characterization of G. duodenalis was performed by sequence analysis of triose phosphate isomerase gene (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh). RESULTS: G. duodenalis DNA was detected in 21 samples (6.3%), out of which 14 isolates (66.7%) belonged to assemblage B, 4 isolates (19.0%) to sub-assemblage AII and 3 isolates (14.3%) corresponded to assemblage F. As regards the determination of sub-assemblages of assemblage B, 4 isolates were characterized as sub-assemblage BIII and 6 isolates as sub-assemblage BIV. CONCLUSION: This study is the first finding of cat specific assemblage F in man not only in Slovakia, but also in Europe. The absence of molecular data about G. duodenalis in companion animals in Slovakia establishes a strong need for further investigation for potential sources of giardiasis and understanding the epidemiology will help to improve the preventive strategies in eradication of infection in this population.