Leptospira interrogans Sensu Lato in Wild Small Mammals in Three Moravian Localities of the Czech Republic.

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis, affecting humans, domestic animals and wildlife, with small mammals as a reservoir of this infection. In recent years, this disease has been re-emerging and affects approximately 1 million people all over the world each year. Due to this disease having a significant health impact, it is important to identify the source and method of infection. The risk of Leptospira sp. infection is higher mainly in the cities of developed and industrialised countries. The aim of the study was the detection of antibodies against Leptospira sp. in some wild small mammals captured in the Czech Republic. In total, samples of 855 animals captured in three locations of Moravia during a six-year study (2010-2015) were examined by a microscopic agglutination test, using eight serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato, representing serogroups Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Canicola, Sejroe, Javanica, Pomona and Pyrogenes, as antigens. Antibodies to Leptospira sp. were detected in 6.1% (52/855) of animals, with a prevalence of 6.4% (51/801) and 1.9% (1/54) in rodents and insectivores, respectively. The only statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was in prevalence between individual species (0-33%), while there were no differences in sex (6.7% in females and 5.1% in males), locality (1.8-8%) and year of trapping (0-8.4%). Only two serovars, L. interrogans serovar Pomona and L. interrogans serovar Grippotyphosa, were detected in 5.5% and 0.5% of animals, respectively. The prevailing serovar of pathogenic L. interrogans s.l. can be identified in a number of infected people in the Czech Republic. The composition of vaccines should be based on the current occurrence of Leptospira serovars in the actual territory. For this reason, the occurrence of Leptospira and its serovars should therefore be regularly monitored.

Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in wild small mammals from the Czech Republic.

Wild rodents are an important source of the tick-borne pathogens Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of antibodies and possible coexistence of these pathogens in wild small mammals from three localities in the Czech Republic. A total of 614 wild small mammals (324 Apodemus flavicollis, 145 Myodes glareolus, 50 Sorex araneus, 48 A. sylvaticus, 40 A. agrarius, six Microtus arvalis and one Talpa europaea) were trapped between 2012 and 2015. Their sera or heart extracts were examined by modified indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis in 12 % and 7 % of animals, respectively; coinfection was identified in 4.4 % of animals. The prevalence of C. burnetii and F. tularensis antibodies statistically differed according to animal species and sex (p < 0.05); the seroprevalence of C. burnetii (p < 0.05) also differed in the sampling period. The highest prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis was detected in the case of M. glareolus (24 % and 14 %, respectively).

Pilot study of Ixodes ricinus ticks preference for human ABO blood groups using a simple in vitro method.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The existence of a blood group preference for ticks is a problem widely discussed among the lay public but often neglected by the scientific community. The Ixodes ricinus tick transmits serious zoonotic diseases such as Lyme borreliosis, tick encephalitis, or anaplasmosis. The preventive strategies include vaccination (if available) and individual measures including the use of repellents and avoidance of risk areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since this topic is relatively neglected in the scientific literature, a simple in vitro method was used. Ticks used in this study were collected in the suburban region of Ruda in Brno, Czech Republic. One hundred active nymphs of the collected ticks were tested for preferences for blood groups, using Petri dishes and blood samples from volunteers. To demonstrate the threat of ticks and the diseases they transmit, the positivity of one of the most abundant zoonosis, Lyme borreliosis, was tested using dark-field microscopy. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that the examined ticks were attracted most by blood group A, whereas the least preferred was group B, which was proved statistically (p <0.05). The mean positivity of collected ticks for the presence of spirochaetes was 9.35%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the host selection of ticks may be influenced by the physiological or biochemical profile of an individual, such as their blood group. This means that a blood group of an individual can be one of the factors that increase the risk of tick bite and the transmission of dangerous diseases and thus must not be underestimated.

Students' attitudes to tick risks.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The ever-increasing number of patients with tick-borne diseases resulted in the presented study investigating the awareness, attitudes and knowledge among students about the threats arising from tick bites and preventive anti-tick practices. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Questionnaires concerning these issues were distributed amongst Czech and Polish university students of science. Responses were analyzed by nationality and by gender. RESULTS: Nearly all respondents were aware of the risks arising from ticks and could name at least one disease transmitted by ticks. The Czech students felt more threatened by tick-borne diseases, had more frequently suffered from Lyme borreliosis and were vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis more often than the Polish students. A large number of the participants applied preventive measures against ticks in order to protect themselves. The Czech students believed in the effectiveness of repellents statistically more often than the Polish students, while effectiveness is the main criterion for selection of the right repellent in both groups. CONCLUSION: Differences in preferences between the two nations appeared in many areas, e.g. the Czechs felt more threatened by all kind of risks and suffered from Lyme disease more frequently. Gaps can still be found in both the knowledge and behaviour among the respondents. It can be expected that the general public knowledge of this issue is rather limited in comparison with the students participating in the study, who are systematically educated in the field.

[Monitoring the prevalence of pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks in two Brno locations]. / Monitoring prevalence patogenní Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato v klíst'atech ve dvou lokalitach v Brne.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to present the results of monitoring the prevalence of the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) in Ixodes ricinus ticks in two different locations in the city of Brno, Pisárky and Zamilovaný hájek (ZH). At the same time, factors potentially affecting the activity of ticks in these locations were studied. Results of the monitoring carried out in the first three spring months of the year 2011 are compared with 2010 results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2010-2011, Ixodes ricinus ticks were periodically sampled in two locations in Brno by flagging. Ticks were investigated by dark field microscopy (DFM) for the presence of spirochetes. DFM-positive samples from 2010 were tested by PCR to identify Bbsl. RESULTS: In the first three spring months (March-May) of 2011, a total of 234 ticks were collected in Pisárky and 211 ticks in ZH. Positive samples detected by DFM accounted for 5.56 % in Pisárky and 25.12 % in ZH. PCR confirmed Bbsl in at least 75 %. Statistical analysis confirmed the dependence of tick activity on the air temperature in both locations. CONCLUSION: Within the same city, seroprevalence was found to be different in two locations. High seroprevalence in ZH (25.12 %) could be attributed to focal spread of the disease from several sources, both ticks and reservoirs such as rodents. This may results in unfavourable epidemiological situation in Brno. On the other hand, the seroprevalence rates in Pisárky are consistent with findings from an earlier long-term study.