Investigation of canine parvovirus occurrence in cats with clinical signs of feline panleukopenia in Slovakia - pilot study.

Introduction: Feline panleukopenia is a contagious viral disease caused by the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). A closely related pathogen is canine parvovirus (CPV), and amino acid substitutions in this virus allow it to acquire a feline host range. In feline hosts, the disease induced by CPV manifests with similar symptoms to those caused by FPV or milder ones, leading to its underdiagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of CPV type 2 (CPV-2) in cats with clinical symptoms of panleukopenia and to assess the use of commercial CPV antigen tests for the clinical diagnosis of FPV. Material and Methods: Samples from 59 cats from central Slovakia were included in the study. Rectal swabs were collected and clinically tested for parvovirus infection using a commercial antigen test. Antigen-positive samples were confirmed by PCR targeting the viral VP2 gene. The sequences of the PCR products were established with the Sanger method. Results: Of 59 samples, 23 were revealed to be positive for parvovirus infection by both antigen and PCR test (38.9%). Analysis with the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLASTn application showed 99.78-100% pairwise identity with FPV. The mortality rate of parvovirus-infected cats included in this study was 8.69% (2/23). Conclusion: Although feline disease with CPV-2 was not confirmed, the CPV antigen test was able to detect FPV infection.

Herpesvirus diseases of domestic animals and game species in the Slovak Republic.

Herpesviruses are DNA viruses that cause serious latent infections in humans and animals. These pathogens significantly influence the animal health and economy of animal husbandry. The reduction of production parameters, abortions, birth of weak individuals and by costs associated with the elimination and monitoring of herpesvirus diseases are among the most serious harms caused by herpesviruses. In our review we focused mainly on herpesvirus diseases in pigs and cattle (Aujeszky's disease, bovine infectious pustular vulvovaginitis and balanoposthitis, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis) and herpesvirus diseases in red deer, dogs, and carps. In the past, these herpesvirus diseases have caused considerable economic losses in livestock. At present, several of these diseases are eliminated in the Slovak territory. Currently, a continuous monitoring is carried out not only in populations of domestic animals, but also in wild animals, which are the main reservoirs of the mentioned herpesviruses. Keywords: herpesvirus; Aujeszky's disease; animals; fish; eradication; Slovak Republic.

Retrospective review and current knowledge on the occurrence of West Nile virus in mosquito vectors, reservoirs and hosts in Slovakia (Central Europe).

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus (the genus Flavivirus) representing a medical and veterinary public health concern. Birds are the most important reservoirs. Culicine mosquitoes transmit WNV to vertebrate hosts (including horses and humans) and migratory birds play role in its long-distance transport. Slovakia is geographically localised at the crossroad of migration routes connecting South Europe and Africa with breeding localities in the Western, Northern, Central and Eastern Europe and Siberia. This review summarizes historical and present knowledge on WNV in Slovakia during a period of more than fifty years. Five European mosquito species capable to transmit WNV are native in Slovakia. Based on recent research results, the major role in the WNV transmission is attributed to Culex mosquitoes, which are also the most abundant species. Virus isolates from birds that succumbed to WNV infection are genetically close to Central European strains. Historical and recent results point out, that WNV circulates in the population of vectors, reservoirs and hosts for decades. Although West Nile fever epidemics in Slovakia were not reported yet, virus isolation, molecular detection and serological findings in reservoirs and hosts confirm that sporadic cases occur. Furthermore, the first autochthonous human case may indicate favourable conditions for WNV transmission to humans. The climate change and precipitation anomalies may favour to increase vector abundance, hence increase the chance of WNV epidemics. This review highlights an urgent need of a countrywide surveillance program aimed on the WNV occurrence in vectors and reservoirs in Slovakia. Keywords: West Nile virus; flavivirus; vector-borne pathogen; arbovirus.

Historical analysis of epizootiological situation of rabies on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Currently, Slovakia is a rabies-free country, but the epizootiological situation of rabies was not always favorable. The main reservoir species of rabies virus in the first half of the last century was the domestic dog. Since 1906, hundreds of cases were reported, of which approximately 90% were infected dogs. The disease had a typical urban character. Since 1929, the number of rabid domestic animals decreased due to the implementation of dog vaccination campaigns in particular parts of Slovakia. From the second half of 1950s, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have become an important reservoir of the RABV. In this time period urban rabies in Slovakia changed into sylvatic form. One effective method of prevention and control of wildlife rabies is an oral rabies vaccination of red foxes. It is carried out in Slovakia since 1993. A detailed development of the rabies epizootiological situation on the territory of the Slovak Republic until the application of oral antirabies immunisation of foxes and the current situation after its performance is the main object of this review. Keywords: rabies; Lyssavirus; red fox; incidence; oral vaccination.

Increasing incidence of Geomyces destructans fungus in bats from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: White-nose syndrome is a disease of hibernating insectivorous bats associated with the fungus Geomyces destructans. It first appeared in North America in 2006, where over a million bats died since then. In Europe, G. destructans was first identified in France in 2009. Its distribution, infection dynamics, and effects on hibernating bats in Europe are largely unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We screened hibernacula in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for the presence of the fungus during the winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. In winter 2009/2010, we found infected bats in 76 out of 98 surveyed sites, in which the majority had been previously negative. A photographic record of over 6000 hibernating bats, taken since 1994, revealed bats with fungal growths since 1995; however, the incidence of such bats increased in Myotis myotis from 2% in 2007 to 14% by 2010. Microscopic, cultivation and molecular genetic evaluations confirmed the identity of the recently sampled fungus as G. destructans, and demonstrated its continuous distribution in the studied area. At the end of the hibernation season we recorded pathologic changes in the skin of the affected bats, from which the fungus was isolated. We registered no mass mortality caused by the fungus, and the recorded population decline in the last two years of the most affected species, M. myotis, is within the population trend prediction interval. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: G. destructans was found to be widespread in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with an epizootic incidence in bats during the most recent years. Further development of the situation urgently requires a detailed pan-European monitoring scheme.