{"title":"[Acarological faunistic and statistical analysis of dust from various compartments of human dwellings in north-western Poland].","authors":"Łukasz Henszel, Elzbieta Kalisińska, Danuta Kosik-Bogacka, Wanda Kuźna-Grygiel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this paper was to compare the species composition of mites in dust samples collected at different compartments of human dwellings of north-western (NW) Poland. In 30 urban apartments (Szczecin, Police, Pyrzyce and Łobez) and rural quarters (Przelewice, Brzesko Szczecińskie, Bylice, Krasne, Kakolewice, Wierzchowo, Przeradz, Kłodzino) from NW Poland, 150 samples of dust were collected at 5 locations: bed area, bedroom carpet, sitting area in the living room, hall carpet, and kitchen floor. Mites were isolated using Berlese-Tüllgren extractors. The isolated dust mites belonged to the order Astigmata, families Pyroglyphidae: Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes, 1961, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart, 1987), Euroglyphus maynei (Cooreman, 1950) and Hirstia Hull, 1931; Chortoglyphidae: Chortoglyphus arcuatus (Troupeau, 1879) and Glycyphagidae: Gohieria fusca (Oudemans, 1902), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank, 1781), and the order Prostigmata, family Cheyletidae: Cheyletus (Latreille, 1796). The most frequently observed were the species D. farinae (58.9%) and the representatives of the genus Cheyletus (30.6%). Statistically significant differences were found between: the number and concentration of D. farinae in the dust collected from beds in the bedroom and dust from the carpet in the bedroom, living room, hall and kitchen; the number of D. farinae in samples from the carpet in the bedroom and from the kitchen floor; the number and concentration of D. farinae in the dust from the living room and the dust in the hall and kitchen; the number of Cheyletus sp. in samples of dust from bed areas in the bedroom and the samples from the carpet in the bedroom, hall and kitchen; the number and concentration of Cheyletus sp. in dust samples collected from the carpet in the bedroom and samples from the kitchen; the concentration of Cheyletus sp. in dust collected from bed areas and samples from the floor in the hall and kitchen; the number of D. pteronyssinus in dust samples collected from bed areas in the bedroom and samples from the carpet in the bedroom. In conclusion, the number of mites D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus and Cheyletus sp. depended on the place where the mites were sampled. The greatest numbers of these species were observed in the bed areas in bedrooms. The tests confirmed the high occurrence of house dust mites in the apartments in north-western Poland, especially in the bed areas in the bedroom.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 1","pages":"51-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28969378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mirosław M Michalski, Aleksandra Platt-Samoraj, Elzbieta Mikulska-Skupień
{"title":"Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in domestic cats in Olsztyn urban area, Poland.","authors":"Mirosław M Michalski, Aleksandra Platt-Samoraj, Elzbieta Mikulska-Skupień","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of the investigation was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii among a domestic cat population in an urban area in Olsztyn. In total, 135 serum samples of cats collected in several veterinary outpatient clinics in Olsztyn were examined by direct agglutination assay. The Toxo-Screen DA BioMerieux commercial test detected anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies. The results of studies indicated that cats bred under different conditions in the city of Olsztyn have contact with various forms of invasive T. gondii. The high percentage of seropositive results at a 1:40 dilution (65.9%) suggests a past infection, and the high percentage of seropositive cases at a 1:4000 dilution (68,1%) indicates a current or recent toxoplasmosis process. This could indicate that there is a permanent source of T. gondii infection in the habitable environment of the cats. The high percentage of T. gondii seropositive results among domestic cats in Olsztyn proves the presence of circulation of the parasite in the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 3","pages":"277-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29550831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Parasitic helminths as medicines].","authors":"Henryka Długońska","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many recent epidemiologic and experimental data showed immunomodulatory action of several helminths. Of particular interest have been the results demonstrating that helminths infections are able to inhibit the development of autoimmune processes and pathology in animal experimental models, and probably in humans. The article presents and discusses selected aspects of this novel therapeutic approach which seems particularly important for combat a dramatic rise in the incidence of allergy and autoimmune diseases in the West.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 1","pages":"19-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28969374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[The immune response to fungal infections].","authors":"Piotr Kurnatowski, Anna J Kurnatowska","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In mycoses congenital--nonspecific innate as well as acquired immunity (involving neutrophiles, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and lymphocytes) both play important roles in host defence. Th1 lymphocytes release cytokines (IL-2, IL-12, IFN gamma) and stimulate cytotoxic cells and neutrophiles to destroy fungal cells. Th2 lymphocytes, on the other hand, suppress cellular immunity by releasing the cytokines IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 which counter regulate the secretion of IL-2, IL-12, IFN gamma and depress the activity of macrophages. Cellular mechanisms play essential roles in host responses to fungal infections. Dysfunction of T lymphocytes and a reduction in their number are typically observed in patients with mycotic diseases. There occurs a reduction of both T lymphocyte populations and the T-helper to T-suppressor cell number ratio, and these are of critical importance in explaining the diminished IgA production and enhanced adhesion of fungal cells to the surface of host cells as well as in facilitating the intrusion of fungi throughout the skin and mucous membranes. The specific immunological reaction, associated with the synthesis of antibodies against fungal cell wall or cytoplasmic antigens, is of little significance in protective immunity, but nevertheless has a rather important role to play in diagnosis as well as in supporting phagocytosis by inhibition of fungal cell adherence. In patients with mycoses, typically low blood serum level of the immunoglobulin class G and A and low sIgA in saliva are observed. A detailed understanding the nature and function of the immune system in mycoses is necessary to enable improvements in pharmacotherapy with antifungal antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, as well as to treatments based on immunotherapy and vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 1","pages":"23-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28969375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Grzegorz Karbowiak, Jana Fricová, Michal Stanko, Joanna Hapunik, Denisa Várfalvyová
{"title":"Blood parasites of mound-building mouse, Mus spicilegus Petényi, 1882 (Mammalia, Rodentia).","authors":"Grzegorz Karbowiak, Jana Fricová, Michal Stanko, Joanna Hapunik, Denisa Várfalvyová","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mound-building mice, Mus spicilegus, were studied for the blood parasites in Eastern Slovakia, vicinity Kechnec village near Kosice town (Kosická kotlina basin, 21 degrees 14' E, 48 degrees 33' N) during years 2002-2005. Overall, 251 specimens were examined. The parasites were detected using microhematokrit centrifugation technique and on the Giemsa's method stained blood smears and light microscopy. The parasites were found in 3.57% of specimens; 1.20% of mice were infected with Bartonella sp., 2.39% were infected with Babesia piroplasms. No Hepatozoon hemogregarines and trypanosomes were observed. The intensity of infection with Bartonella was low, less than 0.01% of erythrocytes were invaded, the percent of the erythrocytes with Babesia sp. was less than 0.01%. The morphological description and measurements of parasites were made using the \"Analysis\" software combined with a video camera and a microscope. The mean size of Bartonella sp. bacteria's were 0.8 x 0.3 microm, range 0.4-1.5 x 0.1-0.9 microm, Babesia sp. occurred in pear-shaped and ring-like forms, 1.00-1.27 microm in diameter, and 0.98-1.27 microm in size, respectively. The regular form of four cells--\"maltese cross\" was not noticed. This is the first record infection of Mus spicilegus with blood parasites.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 1","pages":"63-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28969380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[From piroplasmosis to babesiosis--problems with classification of Babesia protozoa isolated from dogs].","authors":"Łukasz Adaszek, Stanisław Winiarczyk, Marta Górna","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Babesia and Theileria are the tick-borne parasites belonging to the order Piroplasmida. Both of them cause a severe disease with symptoms of hemolytic anemia. The main etiological factors of canine piroplasmosis are protozoa Babesia. There are two species of this pathogen infective for dogs: Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni. Based on the results of molecular biology techniques it is possible to distinguish them as well as many subspecies or strains. It is known since quite some time that there are substantial differences in vector specificity, cross-immunity and pathogenicity between isolates of this species. Also the results of molecular analysis of these protozoa indicate that their genetic structure is diversified. On the basis of analysis of Babesia DNA sequences, the new variants of protozoa in dogs were detected. It is possible that, these new variants of Babesia are characterized by high virulence for dogs and resistance to drugs used in babesiosis therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 2","pages":"111-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29188379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Interspecies differentiation of Candida albicans (Robin, 1853) Berkhout, 1923 strains from multifocal invasions--their identity or similarity parameters].","authors":"Barbara Modrzewska, Alicja Kurnatowska","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The subject of analysis is a pathogenic species of fungi that has the highest prevalence in the word--Candida albicans. The aim of this study was to determine the identity and similarity of strains for the diagnosis of multifocal (concerning two or more organs) invasions. The material was comprised of 210 strains isolated from 83 women from 6 various ontocenoses: in group I--from the vagina, oral cavity and rectum, in group II--from the vagina and oral cavity, in group III--from the oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum and rectum. Three tests were used in this study; API 20 C and API 20 AUX tests were used to differentiate interspecies biochemical features, and identify the codes of individual strains, while the API ZYM test was used to evaluate extracellular hydrolase activity and compare their enzymograms. Strain biotyping was also conducted with the use of binomial distribution 1:4:6:4:1. Comparing the codes of strains from successive sections of the alimentary tract identified pentafocal, tetrafocal, trifocal and bifocal invasions. The analysis of the enzymograms from all strains allowed the diagnosis of trifocal and bifocal candidosis. Consecutive hydrolase activity and biotyping evaluation demonstrated the similarity of strains from various ontocenoses. Interspecies differentiation of Candida albicans strains is relevant for the determination of the identity and similarity of strains, leading to multifocal infection diagnosis and localization, as well as choosing appropriate treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 3","pages":"253-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29553399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[17th Conference of European Society for Vector Ecology, 13-17 September 2010, Wrocław, Poland].","authors":"Katarzyna Rydzanicz","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 4","pages":"351-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29781836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Krzysztof Siuda, Magdalena Nowak, Małgorzata Gierczak
{"title":"Confirmation of occurrence of Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) rugicollis Schulze et Schlottke, 1929 (Acari: Ixodidae) in Poland, including the morphological description and diagnostic features of this species.","authors":"Krzysztof Siuda, Magdalena Nowak, Małgorzata Gierczak","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research on feline and canine ticks was conducted in the years 2004-2005 in the vicinities of Przemyśl, in the village of Torki (Medyka region) and in Przemyśl. Ticks were collected by examining thoroughly the bodies of cats and dogs. Ticks were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol and their taxonomic identity was determined. It was confirmed that dogs and cats in the study sites carried four species of ticks: Ixodes (Ph.) rugicollis, I. (Ph.) hexagonus, I. (Ph.) crenulatus and I. (I.) ricinus. Ixodes (Ph.) rugicollis was shown to be a common species among the ectoparasites on these hosts and therefore is considered now to be a regular component of the Polish fauna. Morphological characteristics of all the development stages of I. rugicollis are given in the paper.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 1","pages":"77-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28971343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Potential risk of zoonotic infections in recreational areas visited by Sus scrofa and Vulpes vulpes. Case study--Wolin Island, Poland.","authors":"Hanna Mizgajska-Wiktor, Wojciech Jarosz","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The relation between intestinal parasite prevalence in wild boars and red foxes and the sanitary condition of the soil in recreational estates were determined. The analysis was made based on 36 samples of boar faeces and 22 samples of fox faeces, collected in their habitat as well as 60 samples of soil from two recreational areas. Two methods were used for faecal samples--flotation and direct faecal smear; and flotation in NaNO3 for soil samples examination. Zoonotic nematode eggs were recovered from 25.5% of boar faecal samples; they were Ascaris suum (22.2%) and Trichuris suis (5.6%). Other parasites found were: Metastrongylus sp. (69.4%), Oesophagostomum sp., Strongyloides sp. (36.6%) and Physocephalus sp. (8.6%) as well as coccidia (69.4%). In fox faeces, zoonotic nematode eggs were recovered from 31.8% of samples, and they were Toxocara canis (27.2%) and Ancylostoma caninum (18.2%). Tapeworm eggs were found in 36.4% of samples including Taenia sp. (22.7%). The presence of Uncinaria stenocephala (45.5%), Capillaria sp. (36.4%), Trichuris vulpis (4.5%) and coccidia (40.1%) was also detected. It was shown that both, flotation and faecal smear, as mutually complementary should be used for higher rate of detection of parasites in faeces. No eggs of zoonotic helminths in soil from recreational areas were found despite these areas were accessible to wild animals and pets. This could be explained by characteristics of the soil (loose sand soil) as well as by behaviour of the parasite hosts in the examined areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":23835,"journal":{"name":"Wiadomosci parazytologiczne","volume":"56 3","pages":"243-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"29550829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}