First Documented Cases of Pearsonema Plica (syn. Capillaria Plica) Infections in Dogs from Western Slovakia.

Three clinical cases of dogs with Pearsonema plica infection were detected in the western part of Slovakia. All cases were detected within five months. Infections were confirmed after positive findings of capillarid eggs in the urine sediment in following breeds. The eight years old Jack Russell Terrier, one year old Italian Greyhound, and eleven years old Yorkshire terrier were examined and treated. In one case, the infection was found accidentally in clinically healthy dog. Two other patients had nonspecific clinical signs such as apathy, inappetence, vomiting, polydipsia and frequent urination. This paper describes three individual cases, including the case history, clinical signs, examinations, and therapies. All data were obtained by attending veterinarian as well as by dog owners.

First detection and genotyping of human-associated microsporidia in wild waterfowl of Slovakia.

A total of 47 avian faecal samples of wild waterfowl (great cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo, great crested grebe - Podiceps cristatus, white stork - Ciconia ciconia) trapped in the eastern Slovakia were screened for the presence of human pathogenic microsporidia by microscopy and real-time SYBR Green PCR method using species primers and sequenced. Microscopic analysis showed presence in 32 samples (29 cormorants, 3 dippers). Microsporidial DNA (Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I) was identified in 19 faeces samples (40.4%) namely cormorants in 17 out of 40, one dipper of 5 and a stork out of 2. The present work describes three new host species of the bird population in microsporidium Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I which confirms the theory of low specificity of this species.

Possibilities of long-term protection against blood-sucking insects and ticks.

Insecticidal and repellent properties and residual action of permethrin and deltamethrin and two commercial preparations Peripel 55 and Permanone were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. The tests were conducted on ticks, mosquitoes and houseflies. Permethrin in concentrations of 0.036-2.276 mg.m-2 caused 90-100% mortality and deltamethrin in concentrations of 0.012-0.75 mg.m-2 induced 78-100% mortality in ticks after 24 hrs exposure (Table 1). Good repellent properties of the preparation Peripel 55 were confirmed in experiments on mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (Table 2 and Fig. 1). Experiments confirmed good residual effects (Fig. 3 and 4) of the preparations tested. Peripel 55 retained 100% effectiveness up to 4 months and following two washings. The preparation Permanone exhibited 100% effectiveness for 1 month and a decrease in effectiveness to 52% after the first washing. In the period from June to September, the repellent properties of Permanone were observed in a group of 17 forestry women workers in a field trial. The index of repellency ranged from 57 to 80 (average 71) in June and July and from 40 to 100 (average 74) in August and September. The difference in the number of ticks that clung to the workers in the experimental group who had their clothes treated with the preparation tested was significant in comparison with the control group at p < 0.1, 0.05 and 0.01.

[Survival of microscopic filamentous fungi under various temperature conditions]. / Prezívanie mikroskopických vláknitých húb za rôznych teplotnýchpodmienok.

Time required for devitalization of Mucor fragillis, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium glabrum and Aspergillus niger germs at temperatures of 22, 37, 60 degrees C was determined under laboratory conditions. All of the tested strains withstood the temperature 22 degrees C during the period of 42 days in Sabouraud agar. At the temperature of 37 degrees C devitalization appeared in the following order: F. moniliforme 14 days, P. glabrum 21 days, M. fragillis 28 days, A. niger 35 days. Temperature of 60 degrees C devitalized all tested strains of micromycetes within 5 hours. F. moniliforme appeared to be the most susceptible among 4 tested strains while M. fragillis was the less susceptible.

[Effectiveness of azamethiphos-based insecticides against the housefly (Musca domestica L.)]. / Ucinnost insekticídnych nástrah na báze azamethiphosu proti muche domácej (Musca domestica L.).

The insecticidal baits Muscalik-AZA (dust formulation) and Snip (granulated formulation) contained the active ingredient azamethiphos--1% and special fly attractant Z-9-tricosen--0.2%. Toxicity of these baits was monitored in 4 wild resistant strains of M. domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) which were marked according to the locality of collection as J, KP, NC and NL and in 1 sensitive strain WHO/SRS. KT90 in resistant strains was in the range from 1.5 to 6.5 hrs at testing of Muscalik-AZA. The efficiency of Muscalik-AZA was manifested with 100% knock-down effect in all tested strains with exception of KP strain after 24 hrs. During the experiments with Snip the greater range of knock-down time for 90% of tested strain was observed. KT90 was in the range from 5 hrs to > 24 hrs. After 24 hrs a range between 83-97% of knock-down effect was found in all tested strains. In field conditions of the weaned piglets rearing, the efficiency of Muscalik-AZA in flies highly resistant to azamethiphos was in the range from 14 to 21.9% during 28 days. Efficiency of Muscalik-AZA in the the range between 80-91.7% was determined in the delivery room for sows in flies with low resistance to azamethiphos. The biological efficiency of Snip to flies with moderate resistance to azamethiphos was determined in the area of veterinary ambulance. The mean efficiency of Snip was 92.2% during the 28 days of test.

[Inhibition of growth of microscopic fungi with organic acids]. / Inhibícia rastu niektorých mikroskopických húb vybranými organickými kyselinami.

Fungicidal effects of five selected organic acids (lactic, acetic, formic, oxalic, and propionic) in concentrations 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ml/l on nine selected species of moulds were tested. Lactic and oxalic acids did not prove the satisfactory fungicidal activity in any of the chosen concentrations. The antifungal effect of the other three acids, manifested by the growth inhibition of the tested moulds is shown in Tab. I and it can be expressed by sequence: propionic acid, formic acid, and acetic acid. These acids also had effects only in concentrations 20 ml/l and 50 ml/l. Propionic acid in concentration 20 ml/l inhibited the growth of five moulds (Penicillium glabrum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium moniliforme, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium sphaerospermum). In testing of concentration 50 ml/l, the lower fungicidal ability was ascertained only in growth suppression of Aspergillus flavus. The fungicidal activity of formic acid was registered in concentration 20 ml/l in two cases and in concentration 50 ml/l in six cases. Acetic acid inhibited the growth in concentration 50 ml/l only in two cases. Tab. II shows the percentual evaluation of propionic acid and formic acid with regard to their inhibition abilities. The fungicidal efficiency of propionic acid resulting from the experiment is 88.9%.