Social mechanisms behind the poor health of marginalized Roma: Novel insights and implications from four ethnographic studies in Slovakia.

Roma represent one of the largest ethnic groups facing marginalization worldwide. However, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding: A) the social mechanisms supporting health-endangering practices among Roma; B) the social mechanisms adversely affecting their use of health services; and C) the social determinants underlying both above pathways. To fill these gaps, we conducted a series of four explorative ethnographic studies spanning over ten years. Beginning in 2004, the series involved 260 participants, including segregated Roma and health services staff in Slovakia. Of the four studies, two addressed gap A, two addressed gap B, and all addressed gap C. Regarding pathway A, we found that Roma in segregated Roma enclaves can be socialized into ethnically framed racialized ideologies that oppose the cultural standards of local non-Roma life, including certain healthy practices. This adherence to counter-cultural ideals of Roma identity increases specific health and care challenges. Regarding pathway B, we discovered that health service frontliners frequently lack any organizational support to better understand and accommodate the current living conditions and practices of segregated Roma, as well as their own and others' racism and professional expectations regarding equity. This lack of support leads many frontliners to become cynical about segregated Roma over their careers, resulting in health services being less effective and exacerbating health problems for both Roma and the frontliners themselves. Concerning pathway C, we found that the societal omnipresence of antigypsyism - racist and racialized anti-Roma ideas and sentiments - serves as a prominent driver of both the above pathways. We conclude that much of the unfavorable health status of Roma can be understood via a systems perspective that embraces structural racism.

Collaborative strategies for adolescent suicide prevention: insights from Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to gain insights about the collaborative efforts of various professionals involved in preventing adolescent suicide within multidisciplinary teams in Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative research method was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 10 specialists from Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan. RESULTS: Despite differing levels of development and implementation of multidisciplinary team concepts, findings revealed a generally positive impact of collaborative efforts in both countries (more structured in Slovakia and less developed in Kyrgyzstan). Multidisciplinary teams in educational settings strive to create supportive environments for adolescents, contributing significantly to mitigating various issues during their formative years. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention efforts require coordinated action among multiple social institutions with unified strategies. While progress has been made, there remains potential for further development, particularly in improving cooperation among specialists, national recognition of youth suicide as a critical issue, and institutionalizing procedures to elevate the status and education of multidisciplinary teams. SIGNIFICANCE: This research provides innovative insights into the effectiveness of multidisciplinary teams in suicide prevention among adolescents. By suggesting comprehensive strategies for team collaboration, it offers valuable contributions to reducing youth suicide rates in both Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan.

Moss spores: overlooked airborne bioparticles in an urban environment.

Moss spores are present in aerobiological samples, but their low representation, lack of known allergenic properties, and difficult identification have led to their being overlooked by aerobiologists so far. The data about their presence in the atmosphere and the factors that influence them are, however, important from the biodiversity conservation point of view, since they give us information about their ability to spread to new habitats. In this pilot study, we analysed their presence in the atmosphere of Bratislava city, Slovakia (2018-2023), using Burkard volumetric sampler, and determined the most significant factors influencing its temporal distribution. The size category of 13-18 µm was the most represented in the samples. Environmental factors influenced the daily spore concentrations and the characteristics of the whole spore season. The start of the Main Spore Season (MSS) depended mainly on the temperatures in November-January, initiating earlier growth of sporophytes in the following year, while the intensity of the MSS was influenced by high humidity in April, stimulating the formation of spores in sporangia. The daily concentration of airborne moss spores was mostly influenced by the actual temperature and wind speed, promoting the release and dispersal of spores, and precipitation lowering their levels due to the "wash-out" effect, although no intradiurnal pattern was observed. More data from other locations is needed to determine the role of atmospheric spore transport for the conservation of moss species facing anthropogenic climatic change.

Demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Ukrainian war refugees with HIV infection in the Slovak Republic.

BACKGROUND: The Slovak Republic, an Eastern European country, borders Ukraine, which has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in Europe. This study aims to inform readers about the demographic characteristics of Ukrainian war refugees with HIV/AIDS seeking temporary protection status in Slovakia due to the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022. It focuses on their epidemiology, immunological profiles, co-infections, and treatment. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective study between March 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. METHODS: Data were collected from all Ukrainian patients with refugee status living with HIV or newly diagnosed, who presented to any of the five HIV/AIDS centres in Slovakia. Information was obtained through medical interviews, physical examinations, laboratory tests and medical reports from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. RESULTS: From March 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, 141 Ukrainian refugees were included, mostly women (56.7%, n=80), with a median age of 41 years. The median CD4+ count was 680 cells/mL; 69.2% (n=97) had a viral load below 40 copies/mL. On arrival, 87.8% (n=123) were on ART, 90.2% (n=111) on dolutegravir. Coinfections included hepatitis C (31%, n=41), hepatitis B (12.5%, n=17), and tuberculosis (11.3%, n=16). Three died from AIDS complications. CONCLUSION: The study provides a detailed overview of the epidemiological, demographic, immunological, co-infection, and treatment characteristics of Ukrainian PLWHA displaced by the war to the Slovak republic. With the conflict ongoing, it is necessary to be prepared for more refugees in the coming months.

The first evidence of Asian-like CPV-2b in Slovakia in a vaccinated dog with an acute fatal course of parvovirus infection: a case report.

This study provides a comprehensive description of the clinical course of a fatal parvovirus infection in a vaccinated dachshund puppy, along with the first identification of a new CPV-2 variant in Slovakia, elucidated through molecular amino acid analysis of the VP2 gene. The dog exhibited clinical signs such as apathy, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. After confirming CPV-2 infection with a commercial snap test, intensive therapy was initiated. The dog succumbed within 48 h of admission. A rectal swab sample was collected, CPV-2 was examined using the PCR method, and sequenced. The virus detected in the patient was related to strains of CPV-2c of Asian origin and unrelated to European CPV-2b strains. The sequence had genetic signatures typical of Asian strains (VP2: 5Gly, 267Tyr, 324Ile, 370Arg, and 440Thr). Phylogenetic analysis classified this strain as similar to Asian strains of CPV-2c. It is believed to be derived from an Asian strain similar to CPV-2c that acquired the 426Asp mutation. With this finding, we present the first evidence of an Asian-like CPV-2b strain in the territory of Slovakia.

Toxic Elements in Sheep Milk, Whey, and Cheese from the Environmentally Burdened Area in Eastern Slovakia and Health Risk Assessment with Different Scenarios of Their Consumption.

The study aimed to determine the content of 17 elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, and Zn) in samples of sheep milk, cheese, and whey (36 samples in total) collected from a farm in an environmentally burdened area due to the long-term mining and industrial activity in Slovakia as well as to determine the possible risk of consumption via health risk assessment calculations. Consumption of 120 g of milk, 500 g of milk, 20 g of cheese, and 100 g of cheese were used in calculations for children and adults, respectively. According to the results, concentrations of four elements are controversial. Lead concentrations in all types of samples exceeded the maximum permissible lead limit in milk set by European Union legislation. The content of Se and As is problematic for children's consumption, and the target hazard quotient for As and Al is higher than one (considered potentially not safe) in all scenarios. According to the target system approach, lead concentrations in milk and cheese could adversely influence the nervous system and kidneys of adults' and children's developmental and reproductive systems. Considering the worst-case scenario, consuming sheep milk and cheese from the monitored areas could represent a risk and be potentially harmful to human health, mainly for children. However, further monitoring of the levels of elements and concentrations in environmentally burdened areas and more robust data on consumption are needed.

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Slovakia.

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) represent an important challenge for human and veterinary medicine. In Slovakia, studies on the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) regarding reservoir hosts have focused on small mammals and to a lesser extent on birds or lizards, while knowledge of the role of the remaining vertebrate groups is limited. Generally, wild ungulates, hedgehogs, small- and medium-sized carnivores, or squirrels are important feeding hosts for ticks and serve as reservoirs for TBP. Importantly, because they carry infected ticks and/or are serologically positive, they can be used as sentinels to monitor the presence of ticks and TBP in the environment. With their increasing occurrence in urban and suburban habitats, wild ungulates, hedgehogs or foxes are becoming an important component in the developmental cycle of Ixodes ricinus and of TBP such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Babesia spp. On the other hand, it has been postulated that cervids may act as dilution hosts for Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and tick-borne encephalitis virus. In southwestern Slovakia, a high prevalence of infection with Theileria spp. (100%) was observed in some cervid populations, while A. phagocytophilum (prevalence of c.50%) was detected in cervids and wild boars. The following pathogens were detected in ticks feeding on free-ranging ungulates, birds, and hedgehogs: A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, B. burgdorferi (s.l.), and Babesia spp. The growing understanding of the role of wildlife as pathogen reservoirs and carriers of pathogen-infected ticks offers valuable insights into the epidemiology of TBP, providing a foundation for reducing the risk of TBD.

First detection and a new avian host of the tick Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, 1936, in Slovakia.

This study describes the first detection of Ixodes ventalloi in Slovakia. Two engorged females of I. ventalloi were collected from Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) captured in eastern Slovakia. The identification of females was based on morphological and molecular 16S rRNA gene features. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a classification of the females into distinct genogroups. Moreover, comparative morphological analysis highlighted variations between the two females, particularly in the curvature of the auriculae, the shape of coxa I, and the internal spur. These findings suggest the potential for varied phenotypes of I. ventalloi correlated with their genogroups. Nonetheless, I. ventalloi population establishment within Slovakia necessitates further investigation through flagging or drag sampling.

Dataset of measurable indicators of the Slovak state institutions' websites.

The dataset contains 11 measurable indicators for the website evaluation from different points of view. These indicators were collected for 60 websites of the Slovak state institutions. It provides information about the directly measurable variables, which may affect or reflect the usability, popularity and visibility of the website. Most variables were measured by online tools. The dataset is a mixture of binary, ordinal, discrete numeric and continuous numeric variables, which gives many opportunities to analyze the relations between the measurable websites' indicators. It can be used to find the structure consisting of latent variables, which cannot be directly measured (such as usability or popularity of the website). Another use is to find subgroups of state institutions, which have similar websites from some point of view.

Detecting familial hypercholesterolemia: An observational study leveraging mandatory universal pediatric total cholesterol screening in Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: In Slovakia, a mandatory national universal pediatric total cholesterol (TC) screening program is in place to identify cases of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). However, the program's effectiveness has not been systematically assessed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of FH among parents of children that had elevated TC levels identified during screening. METHODS: This prospective, non-interventional, observational study enrolled parents of 11-year-old children who underwent TC screening in 23 selected pediatric outpatient clinics between 2017 and 2018. FH was diagnosed using the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria and targeted next-generation sequencing. The primary objective was to estimate the proportion of children with a TC level of >188 mg/dL (>4.85 mmol/L) who had a parent with a confirmed diagnosis of FH. RESULTS: A total of 112 parents of 56 children with an elevated TC level were enrolled. Five children (8.9%) had a parent in whom FH was genetically confirmed. Without genetic analysis, all five parents would only be diagnosed with "possible FH" by DLCN criteria. Of parents, 83.9% (n = 94/112) had an low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level of >116 mg/dL (>3 mmol/L), but only 5.3% (n = 5/94) received lipid-lowering therapy. Among the five parents with genetically confirmed FH, all had an LDL-C level >116 mg/dL (>3 mmol/L), with a mean (±SD) of 191 (±24) mg/dL (4.94 [±0.61] mmol/L). Only two of these parents received lipid-lowering therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the significance of mandatory universal pediatric TC screening in identifying families with FH and other at-risk families in need of lipid-lowering therapy.

Molecular screening for enteric parasites and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in haemodialysis patients in Slovakia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Intestinal parasitoses are important causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), the accumulation of non-excreted metabolites leads to uraemia, which induces a state of immunodeficiency, increasing the incidence of infections. The aim of the study was molecular screening for enteric protozoa in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 53 samples were collected in January 2023 from patients undergoing dialysis at Logman Ltd. Nephrodialysis Centre in Kosice, Slovakia. Samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum / Cryptosporidium hominis, Giardia intestinalis, Microsporidia spp., and Blastocystis sp. RESULTS: From the 53 samples, the only pathogen identified by PCR was Blastocystis sp., in 13 patients (24.5 %). Sequence analyses confirmed that the most prevalent subtype (ST) among patients was ST 3 (n=9, 69.2%), followed by ST 1 (n=3, 23.1%) and ST 2 (n=1, 7.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Molecular methods for the detection of microscopic enteric parasites are not used as a first-line diagnostic method in Slovakia. In immunocompromised patients, diarrhoea can be caused not only by a chronic disease or therapy but can also be a result of an ongoing underdiagnosed infection. Early diagnosis leads to targeted therapy and subsequent partial improvement of the quality of life. This study also shows the first insights into Blastocystis sp. subtype distribution in humans in Slovakia.

Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 Infections in Slovakia during March 2020 to July 2022.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its spatiotemporal patterns. The objective of this study is to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 infections among five age groups (<1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, and 15-19 years) in 72 districts of Slovakia on a quarterly basis from March 2020 to July 2022. Material and Methods: During the study period, a total of 393,429 confirmed PCR cases of COVID-19 or positive antigen tests were recorded across all studied age groups. The analysis examined the spatiotemporal spread of COVID infections per quarter, from September 2021 to May 2022. Additionally, data on hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, pulmonary ventilation (PV), and death cases were analyzed. Results: The highest number of COVID-19 infections occurred between September 2021 and May 2022, particularly in the 10-14-year-old group (68,695 cases), followed by the 15-19-year-old group (62,232 cases), while the lowest incidence was observed in the <1-year-old group (1235 cases). Out of the total confirmed PCR cases, 18,886 individuals required hospitalization, 456 needed ICU admission, 402 received pulmonary ventilation, and only 16 died. The analysis of total daily confirmed PCR cases for all regions showed two major peaks on 12 December 2021 (6114 cases) and 1 February 2022 (3889 cases). Spatial mapping revealed that during December 2021 to February 2022, the highest number of infections in all age groups were concentrated mainly in Bratislava. Moreover, temporal trends of infections within each age group, considering monthly and yearly variations, exhibited distinct spatial patterns, indicating localized outbreaks in specific regions. Conclusions: The spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 infections among different age groups in Slovakia showed a higher number of infections in the 10-14-year-old age group, mainly occurring in urban districts. The temporal pattern of the spread of the virus to neighboring urban and rural districts reflected the movement of infected individuals. Hospitalizations, ICU and PV admissions, and deaths were relatively low. The study highlights the need for more proactive measures to contain outbreaks promptly and ensure the resilience of healthcare systems against future pandemics.

Strongylids of Domestic Horses in Eastern Slovakia: Species Diversity and Evaluation of Particular Factors Affecting Strongylid Communities.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the species diversity and structure of the strongylid community in domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia. Also, an analysis of the impact of age, sex, and collection location factors on the strongyid communities was performed. METHODS: Twenty-seven horses 1.5-21 years old from two farms in eastern Slovakia with different horse-management conditions were studied. Strongylids were collected after horse treatments with Noromectin (0.2 mg ivermectin); 66,170 specimens were collected and identified. Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed following fenbendazole (FBZ) and ivermectin (IVM) treatments. RESULTS: Twenty-four strongylid species were found; horses were infected with 6 to 16 (average = 11.7) species. Six cyathostomin species (Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cyathostomum catinatum, C. pateratum, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, C. goldi, C. calicatus) were the most prevalent; C. catinatum was the dominant species in both farms (Berger-Parker index 0.34 and 0.42). The structure of the strongylid community was multimodal with dominant, subdominant, background, and rare species. The Mantel test showed that horse age and sex did not significantly affect the nematode infracommunity composition (p > 0.05), while the impact of the collection location (farm) was significant (p = 0.03). Additionally, C. longibursatus was identified as the species contributing significantly to the observed farm differences. Strong resistance to FBZ was documented on both farms (FECRT was 36.4% and 22.7%); IVM resistance was not observed (FECRT = 100%). CONCLUSION: This study presents the first report on the strongylids parasitizing domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia and gives basic information for further studies of horse parasites and their control in the region.

Exploring CJD incidence trends: insights from Slovakia.

Authors are commenting on the evolving geographical incidence trends observed with the genetic form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and discussing the diverse array of factors contributing to the heightened incidence rates observed in specific geographical regions.

Updated Surveillance Metrics and History of the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2023) in Europe: Longitudinal Trend Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we built upon our initial research published in 2020 by incorporating an additional 2 years of data for Europe. We assessed whether COVID-19 had shifted from the pandemic to endemic phase in the region when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the public health emergency of international concern on May 5, 2023. OBJECTIVE: We first aimed to measure whether there was an expansion or contraction in the pandemic in Europe at the time of the WHO declaration. Second, we used dynamic and genomic surveillance methods to describe the history of the pandemic in the region and situate the window of the WHO declaration within the broader history. Third, we provided the historical context for the course of the pandemic in Europe in terms of policy and disease burden at the country and region levels. METHODS: In addition to the updates of traditional surveillance data and dynamic panel estimates from the original study, this study used data on sequenced SARS-CoV-2 variants from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data to identify the appearance and duration of variants of concern. We used Nextclade nomenclature to collect clade designations from sequences and Pangolin nomenclature for lineage designations of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we conducted a 1-tailed t test for whether regional weekly speed was greater than an outbreak threshold of 10. We ran the test iteratively with 6 months of data across the sample period. RESULTS: Speed for the region had remained below the outbreak threshold for 4 months by the time of the WHO declaration. Acceleration and jerk were also low and stable. While the 1-day and 7-day persistence coefficients remained statistically significant, the coefficients were moderate in magnitude (0.404 and 0.547, respectively; P<.001 for both). The shift parameters for the 2 weeks around the WHO declaration were small and insignificant, suggesting little change in the clustering effect of cases on future cases at the time. From December 2021 onward, Omicron was the predominant variant of concern in sequenced viral samples. The rolling t test of speed equal to 10 became insignificant for the first time in April 2023. CONCLUSIONS: While COVID-19 continues to circulate in Europe, the rate of transmission remained below the threshold of an outbreak for 4 months ahead of the WHO declaration. The region had previously been in a nearly continuous state of outbreak. The more recent trend suggested that COVID-19 was endemic in the region and no longer reached the threshold of the pandemic definition. However, several countries remained in a state of outbreak, and the conclusion that COVID-19 was no longer a pandemic in Europe at the time is unclear.

Complex analysis of the national Hereditary angioedema cohort in Slovakia - Identification of 12 novel variants in SERPING1 gene.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease characterised by acute episodes of non-pruritic skin and submucosal swelling caused by increase in vascular permeability. Objective: Here we present the first complex analysis of the National HAE Slovakian cohort with the detection of 12 previously un-published genetic variants in SERPING1 gene. Methods: In patients diagnosed with hereditary angioedema caused by deficiency or dysfunction of C1 inhibitor (C1-INH-HAE) based on clinical manifestation and complement measurements, SERPING1 gene was tested by DNA sequencing (Sanger sequencing/massive parallel sequencing) and/or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for detection of large rearrangements. Results: The Slovakian national cohort consisted of 132 living patients with confirmed HAE. We identified 51 index cases (32 families, 19 sporadic patients/112 adults, 20 children). One hundred seventeen patients had HAE caused by deficiency of C1 inhibitor (C1-INH-HAE-1) and 15 patients had HAE caused by dysfunction of C1 inhibitor (C1-INH-HAE-2). The prevalence of HAE in Slovakia has recently been calculated to 1:41 280 which is higher than average calculated prevalence. The estimated incidence was 1:1360 000. Molecular-genetic testing of the SERPING1 gene found 22 unique causal variants in 26 index cases, including 12 previously undescribed and unreported. Conclusion: The first complex report about epidemiology and genetics of the Slovakian national HAE cohort expands the knowledge of the C1-INH-HAE genetics. Twelve novel causal variants were present in the half of the index cases. A higher percentage of inframe variants comparing to other studies was observed. Heterozygous deletion of exon 3 found in a large C1-INH-HAE-1 family probably causes the dysregulation of the splicing isoforms balance and leads to the decrease of full-length C1-INH level.

Characterization of HIV-1 subtypes and drug resistance mutations in Slovakia: update 2017-2018.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide an overview on the HIV-1 subtypes circulating in Slovakia between 2017 and 2018 and to evaluate the risk of transmission of HIV­resistant strains. BACKGROUND: The HIV epidemic in Slovakia is characterised by low incidence of new and pre-existing infections and a slightly elevated level of strain heterogeneity. METHODS: Partial HIV pol gene sequences of 110 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV between 2017 and 2018 were analysed. RESULTS: The genotypic analysis revealed sporadic occurrence of mutations linked to HIV resistance to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The HIV-1 B subtype has been found as predominant (84.55 %) and primarily linked to men who have sex with men (MSM). A total of eighteen individuals (15.45 %) were found to be infected with HIV-1 non-B subtypes. CONCLUSION: The data suggest a minimal risk of a resistant HIV strain transmission and a marginal rise of HIV-1 subtypes´ diversity. The HIV-1 B subtype remains the most prevalent in the period 2017-2018 in Slovakia (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 37).

A representative dataset on Czech and Slovak pre-Russia-Ukraine-war attitudes to the West and to the Russian Federation.

This article presents a comprehensive dataset and its associated data collection methodology aimed at understanding public opinion and attitudes across diverse socio-political dimensions in Czechia and Slovakia. The dataset covers a wide array of variables, including socio-demographic variables, media consumption patterns, scales measuring attitudes and ideology, evaluations of political statements, and reactions to political billboards. The dataset is structured into folders containing raw data, metadata, research samples, analyses, and visual stimuli used in the study. The raw data files encompass original survey responses received from participants, while the metadata provides essential details about variables, their coding, scaling, and question formulation. The survey contains data from more than 1200 Czech and Slovak participants. The samples are representative by gender, age, education level, region, and place of residence size. Researchers utilizing this dataset have the opportunity to explore public opinion dynamics, ideological tendencies, and responses to political stimuli. The dataset's extensive and multifaceted nature offers a valuable resource for various analyses, allowing researchers to delve into factors shaping political orientations, public sentiment towards specific political narratives, and the impact of visual stimuli on political perceptions. Moreover, the dataset's inclusion of both Czechia and Slovakia provides a comparative dimension, enabling cross-country analyses and insights into potential socio-political divergences or convergences within the region. Its accessibility and comprehensiveness make it a valuable asset for a wide range of research endeavors across political science, sociology, psychology, and related disciplines.

Motivated to vote? The effect of flooding on political participation.

This paper investigates changes in political participation following a disaster. Drawing on the electoral results and flood declarations after the 2010 flood in Slovakia, a dataset was constructed that illustrates when and how often each municipality was affected by disastrous conditions before the elections. The analysis revealed that experiencing a flood significantly increased the level of political participation in a municipality. However, the effect of flooding on elections is conditional. First, significantly higher turnout occurs only when a flood affects the municipality on election day. Second, repeated flooding before the elections does not change the overall participation rate. In contrast, it is the one-time, continuous extreme weather event that most mobilises voters. Third, only severely affected municipalities demonstrated a significant turnout effect. Lastly, the timing variable is crucial in determining the impact of repetition and severity. This paper distinguishes between different kinds of flood events that can influence disaster behaviour.

Zoonotic Marine Nematode Infection of Fish Products in Landlocked Country, Slovakia.

Fish products in Slovakia have been heavily infected with Anisakis spp. larvae, which causes human anisakiasis. We found larvae in all tested samples of frozen Atlantic herring. Anisakid allergen t-Ani s7 testing revealed 2 positive cases in humans, signaling need for health authorities to closely monitor zoonotic marine parasites, even in inland areas.