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.

Trichinellosis in Slovakia - epidemiological situation in humans and animals (2009-2018).

INTRODUCTION: Trichinella spp. are zoonotic parasitic nematodes with almost worldwide distribution. The infection can be transmitted through the foodborne route and can cause serious health problems in infected human patients. It is also an economically important issue due to the high financial cost connected with prevention of the disease. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to discover trends in the epidemiological situation in people and animals in Slovakia in 2009-2018. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on human trichinellosis originated from the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, and data on Trichinella infection in animals from the State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic. A seroepidemiological study on 655 voluntary respondents was performed. RESULTS: Altogether, 29 human cases were reported between 2009-2018, with a maximum of 13 cases in 2011. Males were affected more often (19 cases) than females (10 cases); the average age of patients was 45.1 years. Antibodies to Trichinellawere detected in two sera (0.3%): in a serum from one hunter and one veterinarian. In the monitored period, the average prevalence of Trichinella infection was 9.6% in 2,295 red foxes, and 0.04% in 165,643 wild boars. Three (1.7%) of 178 surveyed brown bears were positive. Within the compulsory monitoring of trichinellosis in domestic pigs, none from a total of 1,632,688 pigs were positive. The presence of three species, Trichinellabritovi, T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis, was documented, with T. britovi representing 93.9% of identified isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that the prevalence of Trichinella infection has not changed considerably with time in Slovakia, and the risk of human infection outbreaks is connected mainly with the consumption of wild boar meat.

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.

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.