The etiological agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, in ticks (Acari:Ixodidae) from eastern Poland.

In 1994, 4204 out of 4656 Ixodes ricinus collected both from vegetation in three different areas and from hunter-killed deer and wild boar in the Bialystok province (eastern Poland) were examined individually for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.I. Detection of spirochetes was carried out by the routine indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using polyclonal antibody (anti-B. burgdorferi, strain 1 B 29). B. burgdorferi spirochetes were evident in 349 (8.8%) nymphal and adult I. ricinus collected from vegetation (n = 3958) and in 8 (3.2%) of those removed from hosts (n = 246). Among the ticks collected from vegetation, infection rates in nymphs (5.8-6.4%) in particular areas were about 2-4 times lower than in adults (8.1-24.6%). The calculated minimal and maximal infection rates of ticks collected from different sites were 1.6% and 15.4%, respectively. Prevalence of B. burgdorferi in I. ricinus was determined with respect to the abundance and seasonal activity of the ticks.

[The prevalence of Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) in the forested areas of Gdansk, Sopot, and Gdynia and their infection rate with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes]. / Wystepowanie kleszczy Ixodes ricinus (Acari, Ixodidae) na zalesionych obszarach Trojmiasta i ich zakazenie kretkami Borrelia burgdorferi.

Data are presented on the variable patterns on the seasonal activity of Ixodes ricinus questing on vegetation in 6 study sites in the forested areas of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia in 1993-1995. A total of 8992 specimens collected there show that ticks frequently occupy habitats closely associated with man. Out of them 5775 (4328 nymphs, 713 females and 680 males) collected in 1994 and 1995 were examined individually for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis-using in-direct immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Spirochetes were detected in 577 (10.3%) of the ticks tested. The overall infection rate was 8.2% for nymphs (n = 353), 14.9% for females (n = 102) and 18.9% for males (n = 122). The infection rates in particular study sites varied between 1.4% and 16.4% in 1994 and between 3.6% and 26.9% in 1995. The highest prevalence of B. burgdorferi was observed in June (10%) and October (11.9%) in 1994 and in August (16.3%) and October (25%) in 1995. Detection of B. burgdorferi in ticks derived from the same area in the two following years shows that the infection of the I. ricinus population with this pathogen in the forested areas of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia is permanent.

[The role of ticks occurring in Poland in the epidemiology of transmitted diseases]. / Rola kleszczy wystepujacych w Polsce w epidemiologii chorób transmisyjnych.

This paper is a comprehensive presentation of the role of ticks, especially those occurring in Poland, in the epidemiology of arthropod-borne diseases. Following paragraphs review briefly principal diseases of viral, rickettsial and bacterial etiology with emphasis on natural circulation of pathogens between ticks serving as vectors and various vertebrates which function as tick hosts and pathogen reservoires. The vertical circulation of pathogens within the ticks population as well as modes of transmission of viruses, rickettsiae and bacteria by ticks to man are also outlined.

[The role of ticks in the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis]. / Rola kleszczy w epidemiologii boreliozy z Lyme.

In this paper the current knowledge of the natural circulation of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis, and its relationships both to hard ticks (Ixodidae) serving as vectors, and to certain vertebrates which function as tick hosts and pathogen reservoirs is reviewed. The modes of transmission of borreliae (by salivation, regurgitation, defecation) by ticks to their animal hosts and men as well as prophylactic measures against tick-bites are also discussed.

Occurrence of pediculosis capitis in a population of children from Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia and the vicinities.

Elementary schools in Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia and the neighbourhood, were studied during 1990-1992 to determine the actual extent of head louse infestation in school children as well as to see if there was correlation between incidence of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) and some environmental factors as: the sex and the age of a child, the parents education, family situation and living condition of a child etc.--In the examined sample of normal population of 27,800 school children (aged 6-15 years) 881 (3.2%) pupils were infested with head lice, with the incidence being higher in girls. As many as 382 cases (1.3%) were qualified as a focal type, i.e. with stubborn, repeated reinfestations after following treatments. In the group with focal pediculosis 48.9% and 79.4% of children originated from the families of 4 or more children and from the families where parents had only elementary or trade education. Later, over 50% (53.3-56.6%) of village elementary school children focally infested with head lice lived in old houses mostly supplied only with cold water or even without running water at all. These data confirm the association between head louse infestation and familial, social and hygienic conditions of an infested child.

Occurrence of Borrelia spirochaetes in ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) collected in the forest areas in Olsztyn province (north central Poland).

In 1993, 2178 out of 3816 Ixodes ricinus and 45 out of 82 Dermacentor reticulatus collected from vegetation at 35 sites and removed from hunter-killed deer in Olsztyn province (N. C. Poland) were examined individually for the presence of Borrelia spirochaetes. Detection of spirochaetes was carried out by the routine indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using polyclonal antibody anti-B. burgdorferi, strain 1 B 29. Borreliae, presumably B. burgdorferi, were evident in 192 (11.5%) I. ricinus (nymphs and adults) collected from vegetation (n = 1666) and in 6 (1.2%) of those removed from hosts (n = 512). Among the first ones, infection rate in nymphs (7.5%) was 2.5 times lower than in adults (18.8%) but was similar in females (18.7%) and males (18.9%). The calculated minimal and maximal infection rates of ticks collected from different locations were 2.9% and 35.7%, respectively. No spirochetes were observed in D. reticulatus tested.

The first isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi from Ixodes ricinus (Acari, Ixodidae) ticks in Poland.

Among ticks Ixodes ricinus collected in April 1994 in the forest near Fraknowo (Olsztyn province, N. C. Poland), 17 ticks were evaluated for Borrelia infection by cultivating in the BSK-H medium (Sigma). The ticks were examined in five pools--four of 3 females and one pool of 5 nymphs. Spirochaetes were cultured successfully only from one pool of females and identified as Borrelia burgdorferi with monoclonal antibodies: H 9724, H 5332, H 3TS and 11 G 1 by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). This is the first reported isolate of B. burgdorferi from Ixodes ricinus in Poland.

[A new case of cutaneous myiasis from South America via the larva Dermatobia hominis (L. Jr.)]. / Nowy przypadek muszycy skórnej z terenu ameryki poludniowej spowodowany przez larwe Dermatobia hominis (L. Jr.).

A case of cutaneous myiasis produced by D. hominis in a 26-year Polish missionary, who spent 3 months in Peru in 1990 is presented. Practical indications helpful in the diagnosis of this parasitosis are given together with data concerning occurrence and biology of D. hominis.

[Morphological anomalies in lice (Anoplura, Hoplopleuridae)]. / Anomalie morfologiczne u wszy (Anoplura, Hoplopleuridae).

Remarkable morphological anomalies were observed in a female of Hoplopleura capitosa found on Mus musculus caught in Niemirówek, the Tomaszów district (Poland). The anomalies concerned the shape and chaetotaxis of some parapleural plates on the abdomen, constitute one of the basic taxonomical features of Anoplura.

[Experimental studies of the control of mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles using selected insecticides]. / Badania doswiadczalne nad redukcja komarów z rodzaju Anopheles przy zastosowaniu wybranych insektycydów.

In the research 4 compounds: Iodofenphos, Propetamphos, Dioxacarb and Permethrin and two commercial insecticides: Pibutoks Super (Permethrin) and Safrotin 10 WP (Propetamphos) were used to control anophelini females. The chemicals were tested in the laboratory on mosquitoes caught in the nature and the contact method was employed. Propetamphos and Permethrin at concentrations 0.05% and 0.1%, after 2 hours of 1 hour exposure reduced the mosquitoes in 96% and 99.9% respectively. Iodofenphos and Dioxacarb, even at concentration 0.1%, after 24 hours of 1 hour exposure caused barely 78.3% and 83.9% mortality of these insects. Both insecticides tested, in the 7 days period after the spraying, caused more than 97% reduction of the Anopheles population in the cow-sheds.

[Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) found in the coastal region from Wejherowo to Darlowo]. / Komary (Diptera, Culicidae) znalezione w pasie przymorskim od Wejherowa do Darlowa.

Species composition Anophelini were investigated in the years 1986/87 and Culicini in 1987/88 at the part of the coastal region. The mosquitoes were caught from April till October, every week, at 47 stations (water reservoirs, free nature and cattle-sheds). Total 16,194 mosquitoes (2452 Anophelini and 13,742 Culicini) were caught. They belong to 26 species of 5 genera: Anopheles (4 spp.), Aedes (15 spp.), Coquillettidia (1 sp.), Culex (1 sp.) and Culiseta (5 spp.). The highest numbers of Anophelini were observed in July (1986) and in September (1987). The aggressiveness toward man showed by Culicini was found to be highest in the second half of May and at the end of July.