Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Human toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan helminthic zoonosis caused by roundworms of the genus Toxocara. The study aimed at a cross-sectional analysis of seropositivity to Toxocara spp. in selected groups of population in Slovakia and an estimate of the risk factors of infection. METHODS: For the detection of anti-Toxocara antibodies, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on an excretory-secretory (E/S) antigen of Toxocara canis was used. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity to Toxocara in 1489 evaluated sera was 3.7%. The seropositivity of Roma children/young people (40.3%) was significantly higher when compared with all other analysed groups. Among adult respondents, the positivity of farmers and hunters (5.5% and 5.1%, respectively) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the other analysed groups (veterinarians and veterinary assistants, soldiers, students of veterinary medicine, and students of other universities). Analysis of infection risk factors showed that living in a rural locality, everyday contact with soil, and everyday outdoor activities (12.7%, 8.8% and 8.3% positivity, respectively) can increase the risk of infection, but the observed differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: The results underline the importance of preventive measures and the need for improving of knowledge of toxocariasis among professionals, as well as the public.

The cross-sectional study of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in selected groups of population in Slovakia.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite with domestic or free-living members of family Felidae known as the only definitive hosts of the parasite. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in selected population groups in Slovakia and to analyse the infection risk factors. Totally 1536 serum samples of voluntary respondents were examined by EIA Toxoplasma IgG (Test-Line Ltd., Clinical Diagnostics, Brno, Czech Republic). IgG antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 322 (21.0%) sera, with the highest seropositivity recorded among farmers (42.5%) and hunters (28.5%). According to age, the highest seropositivity was recorded in 12-18-year-old Roma children (46.2%), what confirms increased risk of infection in this minority that often lives in inadequate hygiene conditions. When only adult participants were taken into account, the highest seroprevalence was observed in the age group of ≥ 70 years. Higher risk of infection (p < 0.05) was connected with cat ownership, living in rural residency and consumption of raw meat and meat processing. The results underline the importance of preventive measures and ongoing need to improve the knowledge on toxoplasmosis in both professionals and public.

Impact of way of life and environment on the prevalence of Chlamydia felis in cats as potentional sources of infection for humans.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chlamydia (C.) felis can cause infection which may be associated with conjunctivitis and/or respiratory tract disease, particularly in kittens, but could also be the cause of the disease in adult cats. Infection is more common in multi-cat environments. The zoonotic potential of C. felis appears low, but exposure to this microorganism is possible by handling the affected cats, by contact with their aerosol, and also via fomites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study, 140 cats of various breeds from Kosice region in Slovakia were studied. Conjunctival samples were obtained from 71 clinically healthy cats (50.7%) and 69 cats with clinical signs of conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract impairment (49.3%). Cats were divided into 4 groups according to breed and type of environment in which they lived. In the 1st group were cats kept inside only (n=33), in the 2nd group, free-roaming cats (n=50), the 3rd group comprised stray cats, taken from the streets (n=28), and the 4th group included cats kept in shelters or deposit devices (n=29). Molecular method PCR and DNA sequencing was used as the diagnostic method. RESULTS: Overall positivity was 17.1%. Of the 24 positive cats, the highest positivity was detected in the population of stray cats (35.7%) and shelter cats (31%). In the group of free-roaming cats, 10% had positivity. No positive animals were detected in the group of cats kept inside only. It was also found that the risk of C. felis in cats with clinical signs of disease was more than 7-fold higher than in cats without clinical signs of conjunctivitis and respiratory tract. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results show that cats, especially stray and shelter cats, can be important sources of feline chlamydiosis, and due to their close contact with people they can present a risk for transmission.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii among employees of the Veterinary University in Kosice, eastern Slovakia.

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen known to be the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis with worldwide occurrence. The organism has been found in many wild and domestic animals. Infected animals shed highly stable bacteria in urine, faeces, milk, and through placental and birth fluids. Humans acquire the infection mainly by inhaling infected aerosols, or by ingesting contaminated raw milk or fresh dairy products; tick transmission has been proven but is probably rare. The aim of the present study was to determine the titres of immunoglobulin IgG against phase I and II of C. burnetii, and to evaluate the risk factors that might be associated with exposure to C. burnetii among employees of the Veterinary University. Venous blood was obtained from 92 employees. IgG antibodies were determined by ELISA method modified in our laboratory using whole cells of the Nine Mile C. burnetii strain. The questionnaire was filled out by every subject to obtain epidemiological and clinical date. Phase I antibodies were detected in 35 subjects, i.e. in 38%, and phase II antibodies in 58 subjects, i.e. in 63%. When using the titre > or = 1:800 as a cut-off level, 2 samples were positive for phase I antibodies (2.1%) and 12 for phase II antibodies (13%). Factors predisposing to infection or exposure to C. burnetii included professional orientation and regular contact with farm animals and pets. Clinical history of some seropositive subjects revealed substantial problems, such as fever of unknown origin, rheumatic disease, disease of heart, liver, respiratory tract (particularly atypical pneumonia), chronic fatigue syndrome and spontaneous abortion in females. Q fever is a profession-related disease and prevention of its spreading within the risk population groups requires observation of basic safety rules.