[Presence of spirochetes of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks in the recreational area of Tarnowskie Gory and Zabrze districts in 2001-2003]. / Obecnosc kretków Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato u kleszczy Ixodes ricinus na terenach rekreacyjnych okolic Tarnowskich Gor i Zabrzaw latach 2001-2003.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is an aethiological factor of borreliosis. Borrelia spirochete is transmitted to humans by ticks. The aim of the study was to estimate the spirochetes B. burgdorferi s.1. infection in Ixodes ricinus ticks by using PCR analysis of the flagellin gene fragment. The study was carried out in 2001-2003 in recreational areas of the Silesian Region in Poland (Tarnowskie G6ry and Zabrze administrative districts). In the 233 ticks analysed the DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 33 (14,2%) cases. Further comparison of spirochetes infection percentages in ticks during the three consecutive vegetation seasons was made. The investigation of B. burgdorferi s.l. detection in tick populations of recreational and endemic areas is important for the evaluation of the risk of infection.

[Opportunistic protozoa--the problem in immunodeficient patients]. / Pierwotniaki oportunistyczne--problem u chorych z obnizona odpornoscia.

Protozoan infections with a mild or asymptomatic course in immunocompetent individuals, in the case of immunocompromised patients could cause severe syndromes or fatal outcome. The different clinical course is possible to diagnose only with specific laboratory methods. Actual settlements on the most often diagnosed in human opportunistic protozoan infections pathogenesis and diagnostics are presented.

[Frequency of human parasites in selected populations of Silesian region]. / Wystepowanie pasozytów czlowieka w wybranych populacjach na przykladzie badan przeprowadzonych w Slqskiej Wojewódzkiej Stacji Sanitarno-Epidemiologicznej.

Epidemiological evaluation of the most frequent human parasitoses in the group of children at age of seven years, in adult patients and in group of Polish citizens coming back from tropics between 1999-2003 was performed. All examined people were Silesian region inhabitants. The biggest average infection prevalence in children from all examined years concerned Enterobius vermicularis, in adult--Giardia intestinalis, while in group of population coming back from tropics--Entamoeba histolytica-like. High percentage of anti-Toxocara canis and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies presence can result from non randomly study group recruitment.

[Oxidative stress evaluation in chronic hepatitis C pathogenesis]. / Ocena stresu oksydacyjnego w patogenezie przewleklego wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu C.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was oxidative stress evaluation as reflected by antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation products levels in plasma and erythrocytes from CHC patients (chronic hepatitis C patients). Antioxidant status, markers of lipid peroxidation and liver function were measured in erythrocytes and plasma from 29 CHC patients and from 26 matched healthy controls. Plasma and erythrocytes MDA (malondialdehyde) levels were statistically decreased in CHC patients as compared with healthy controls while erythrocytes CuZnSOD (superoxide dismutase--cytoplasmic enzyme contains copper and zinc) activity was statistically increased in CHC patients as compared to healthy subjects. Plasma MDA levels correlated positively with AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), aldolase and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) activity. GPX (glutathione peroxidase) activity correlated negatively with erythrocytes and plasma MDA levels and CuZnSOD activity correlated negatively with LDH, aldolase, AST activity and with plasma MDA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Results of antioxidant status in CHC patients indicate oxidative stress development and efficient function of intracellular antioxidants.

[Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in HIV-infected patients]. / Awidnosc przeciwcial IgG przeciwko Toxoplasma gondii u chorych zakazonych HIV.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is mostly asymptomatic, since multiplication of the parasites is limited by immunological mechanisms. Immunocompromised patients are an exception. Immunity decrease in HIV-infected persons results in opportunistic infections, including toxoplasmosis reactivation. The basis of the diagnosis are serological investigations, revealing IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies in serum. In HIV-infected patients their titres are often low, what makes disease phase definition and therapeutic decisions difficult. Another marker of toxoplasmosis activity is the determination of IgG antibodies avidity. The aim of the study was determination of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies presence and their avidity in HIV-infected patients with respect to CD4 lymphocyte count. The results suggest no effect of IgG antibodies presence on CD4 lymphocyte count. Low titres of IgG antibodies were noted in the patients but the high avidity index of the determined antibodies indicated chronic T. gondii infection.

[Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks, Ixodes ricinus in Tarnowskie Góry district]. / Czekstosc wystepowania Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato u kleszczy Ixodes ricinus z okolic Tarnowskich Gór.

Borrelia burgdorferi is an aetiological factor of borreliosis (Lyme disease). The main vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi are larvae, nymphs, and females of Ixodes ricinus. The aim of this paper was to analyse infection parameters of Borrelia burgdorferi in a selected populations of Ixodes ricinus. The study was conducted in Tarnowskie Góry administrative district (Krupski Mlyn, Zielona, Lubliniec, Tarnowskie Góry, Swierklaniec, Tworóg, and Zbroslawice). A total of 85 ticks were collected with a piece of cloth dragged over the vegetation. The Borrelia burgdorferi infection was confirmed with a PCR method, using flagellin protein gene DNA amplification. DNA of Borrelia burgderferi sensu lato was present in 14 ticks, which constituted 16.5% of the population studied. The percentage of infected females and nymphs was 26.8%, 22.2%, and 5.6%, respectively. A high prevalence of the pathogen (50%) was in ticks revealed in the recreation areas and the community forest in Swierklaniec.