Molecular detection of Megatrypanum trypanosomes in tabanid flies.

Trypanosomes of the subgenus Megatrypanum have been isolated from many mammalian hosts around the world. They are usually non-pathogenic, although they may confuse the parasitological diagnosis of trypanosomosis. Additionally, Trypanosoma theileri has been associated with disease in cattle. Megatrypanum trypanosomes are considered to be transmitted by different arthropods, including tabanids. However, little is known about the potential vectors of Megatrypanum trypanosomes in different parts of the world. The present study reports on the detection of Megatrypanum trypanosomes in Heamatopota pluvialis, Tabanus bromius, Tabanus maculicornis and Tabanus distinguendus in Poland. It also discusses the possible role of these tabanids in the transmission of Megatrypanum trypanosomes.

Parasitic fauna of Polish konik horses (Equus caballus gmelini Antonius) and their impact on breeding: a review.

The influence of internal and external parasites on the health of Polish konik horses housed in different types of management strategies in Poland is discussed. This study includes consolidated data of different authors from the past 50 years, supplemented by results of more recent research. A total of 38 species of helminths (i.e., 37 Nematoda and one Cestoda) and five Diptera species were recorded from the horses. Protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium spp. and Theileria equi, and the Rickettsiales, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, were observed for the first time in Poland.

The root-vole Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776): a new potential reservoir of Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection is a recently emerged tick-borne zoonosis. The bacterium's reservoirs likely comprise cervids, some ruminants, rodents, and perhaps other small and intermediate-size mammals; the main vector in Europe is the Ixodes ricinus tick. The Bialowieza Primeval Forest is an ecosystem with a known prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. We studied the root-vole Microtus oeconomus to evaluate the natural infection of A. phagocytophilum. Intragranulocytic bacterial clusters (morulae) were not seen, but the A. phagocytophilum-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, targeting the rrs gene, was detected in two out of 30 rodent samples (GenBank accession nos. DQ361024 and DQ361025). Twenty-six root vole (86.6%) hosted ticks, mainly Dermacentor reticulatus larvae and nymphs. Only two rodents were parasitazed by I. ricinus single larvae. These data show the presence of natural infection of A. phagocytophilum among the root-vole M. oeconomus in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest ecosystem.

[The role of ticks and small mammals in propagation of Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti]. / Rola kleszczy i drobnych ssaków w szerzeniu sie zakazen Borrelia burgdorferi i Babesia microti.

In the present article, the role of ticks and small mammals in the epidemiology of Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti is reviewed. Contrary to other European countries, the zoonotic reservoir of both potogens in Poland is unknown. In particular a preliminary analysis of B. burgdorferi and B. microti infections of rodents in District of Mazury Lake is presented.

[Borrelia burgdorferi infection of ticks in some regions of Poland]. / Zakazenie kleszczy Borrelia burgdorferi w wybranych rejonach Polski.

Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were collected by flagging from the vegetation at five different locations in Poland in May 1994. I. ricinus (n191) and D. reticulatus (n48), as well as 24 Argas reflexus collected from Katowice, Kornie, Szcyglice, Urwitalt and Zwierzyniec, were examined for the presence of Borrelia spirochetes by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA). Borrelia were found in adult I. ricinus ticks at all 5 collection sites. Nine out of 39 I. ricinus males (23%) and 16 out of 72 I. ricinus females (22.2%) were infected. In addition, 2 out of 72 I. ricinus larvae (2.7%) were heavily infected, whereas none of the D. reticulatus and A. reflexus contained Borrelia. These results show that I. ricinus is also in Poland the main vector of Lyme disease-causing spirochetes. The finding that some larvae are also infected merits further investigations into the relative role of transovarial transmission of Borrelia in field populations of I. ricinus ticks.

[Ticks (Ixodidae) in zoonotic propagation of piroplasma Babesia micorti and Babesia divergens]. / Kleszcze (Ixodidae) w zoontycznym rozprzestrzenianiu piroplazm Babesia micorti i Babesia divergens.

Recent advance in the knowledge of the role of Ixodidae in the epidemiology of human piroplasmosis is reviewed, with special emphasis on Babesia species which cause diseases in man. The problem in Europe came to medical attention since 20 cases have been reported, and most of them due to B. divergens. However, contrary to other European countries, the zoonotic reservoir of Babesia spp. in Poland is unknown and further research is required to elucidate the importance of Ixodidae in the transmission of piroplasms.

[Ecological aspects of infection of bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) with Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) evotomys Hadwen, 1912]. / Ekologiczne aspekty zarazenia nornicy rudej Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) swidrowcem trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) evotomys Hadwen, 1912.

The studies were carried out in Kosewo Górne in the Mazurian District (North-East region of Poland), in September 1995, September 1996 and between May 1997 and June 1998 each month. The animals were trapped in live traps, and after study they were marked and released. The infection of trypanosomes was detected using microhaematocrit centrifugation technique and in blood smears. The intensity of infection had the range from 50 to 150 000 individuals in 1 ml of blood. The maximal prevalence of infection was in August and September and there were 45% and 38% of infected voles respectively. The infection was detected also in May 1998, in other months the prevalence had low level. There were no individuals of bank vole infected in succeeding months. The females of bank vole are more often infected with trypanosomes than males.

[The cases of infection of brown rats Rattus norvegicus with Trypanosoma lewisi (Kent, 1880) Laveran i Mesnil, 1901, in the area of Warsaw agglomeration]. / Przypadki zarazenia szczurów wedrownych Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) swidrowcem Trypanosoma lewisi (Kent, 1880) Laveran i Mesnil, 1901, na terenie aglomeracji warszawskiej.

Two from three brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) catched in Milan6wek near Warsaw, and one catched in the centre of Warsaw were infected with Trypanosoma lewisi. The morphometric features of trypanosomes were in accordance with the features of T. lewisi gived by other authors. This is first note about infection of free living rats with T. lewisi in Poland.

[The prevalence of trypanosomes in bream Abramis brama in Goslawskie and Goplo lakes]. / Wystepowanie swidrowców z rodzaju Trypanosoma u leszcza Abramis brama w jeziorach Goslawskim i Goplo.

20 individuals of Abramis brama from Goslawskie Lake and 10 individuals from Goplo Lake, central Poland, were investigated on the presence of trypanosomes. The infections of Trypanosoma abramidis LAVERAN and MESNIL, 1904 were detected in three breams from Goslawskie Lake and two in Goplo Lake. The question of the distinctivity of T. abramidis from T. carassii Mitrophanow, 1883 found in other Cyprinidae in Poland is discussed.