Monitoring of humans and animals for the presence of various Rickettsiae and Coxiella burnetii by serological methods.

Serological examination of humans in Slovakia suspected of having rickettsial infections revealed the presence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae (R. conorii, R. slovaca, and R. typhi). Of interest is the finding of serological positivity to the newly recognized "IRS" agent. Antibodies to these rickettsiae and to C. burnetii were demonstrated also in domestic and hunting dogs and pet animals. These results confirm the occurrence and possible circulation of these rickettsiae and C. burnetii in the Slovak Republic.

Immunoglobulin G antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in game animals and small mammals in eastern Slovakia.

In a survey of game animals and small mammals, the sera of 185 animals were examined for the presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies to the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which causes Lyme borreliosis. These animals comprised 59 fallow deer (Dama dama), 56 mouflons (Ovis musimon) and 70 small mammals of six different species. The sera of the fallow deer and the mouflons were examined by indirect haemagglutination assay. The sera of the small mammals were examined by modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which is available in a commercial kit. The sera of the 59 fallow deer demonstrated positivity of 40.77% (titres 1:40-1:80). The 56 mouflons demonstrated seropositivity of 17.8% (1:40-1:80). The sera of the small mammals were highly positive in the yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) at 42.1% (titres 1:200-1:1,600), followed by the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) at 14.3% (1:400-1:800), the common vole (Microtus arvalis) at 12.5% (1:200) and the black-striped field mouse (A. agrarius) at 10.0% (1:200-1:400-800). The authors also report the rate of infestation of these small mammals by the tick Ixodes ricinus, as these mammal species are potential reservoirs for this vector. The study focuses on the relationship between the possibility of infestation by I. ricinus and the reservoir competence of the different species under study, as well as the possible spread of disease. The detected rate of seroprevalence indicates that all the investigated animals have had contact with infected ticks.

Chlamydial infection of cats and human health.

Chlamydia psittaci var. felis is considered as a primary and important agent in the etiology of infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract and eyes in cats, having zoonotic potential. We investigated 13 cats aged between 2 months and 7 years, in which conjunctivitis, rhinitis, laryngotracheitis, bronchopneumonia and lymph adenopathy was clinically diagnosed. To detect the antigen of C. psittaci the Clearview Chlamydia Direct Test was used for the first time. The presence of C psittaci in 10 of 13 investigated cats and in 8 nasal mucosa smears from 10 investigated cats were confirmed in conjunctiva. Using bacteriological examination different species of the genus Staphylococcus in conjunctiva from all 13 investigated animals were also confirmed. Serological investigation using complement fixation test was negative in all animals.