|
|
Current and future changes in sand fly distribution in Europe
Svobodová, Eliška ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Brzoňová, Jana (referee)
Sand flies are small two-winged important as carriers of various pathogens, such as parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania or viruses of the genus Phlebovirus. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease with various clinical forms and affects 700,000 to 1 million people every year. There are 20-25 species of sand flies belonging to the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia in Europe, mainly in the Mediterranean region. However, due to climate and environmental change, various species of sand flies are spreading to other European countries located to the north of the Mediterranean Sea. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of sand flies is essential for assessing the risks of transmission of diseases in different regions of Europe. This bachelor tries to summarise current knowledge about current and future changes in sand fly distribution in Europe. Key words: phlebotomus, sand fly, Europe, distribution, vector, Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia, Mediterranean area, area outside the Mediterranean, leishmaniasis, Leishmania
|
|
|
Leucocytozoon and methods of its detection in raptors
Sekerášová, Iveta ; Brzoňová, Jana (advisor) ; Majerová, Karolina (referee)
The genus Leucocytozoon is a bird parasite. Its hosts constitute usually of representatives of the Falconiformes group and hawks (Accipitridae). The vector of this parasite are blackflies (family Simuliidae). This thesis brings an overview of species of the genus Leucocytozoon so far detected in birds of prey. The thesis focuses primarily on methods of detecting Leucocytozoon in hosts. Traditionally, this genus has been described on the basis of its morphological characters observed via microscope. With the discovery of polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), the detection possibilities expanded and allow us to study this parasite on molecular levels. The thesis contains a basic overview of detection methods, characteristics of their principles and outlines their strengths and weaknesses regarding the practical applicability as well. Based on that, the microscopic approach alongside with the detection based on molecular methods is recommended.
|
|
|
Trypanosomes from the T. theileri group in ungulates in the Czech Republic
Brotánková, Anna ; Brzoňová, Jana (advisor) ; Juránková, Jana (referee)
The Trypanosoma theileri group are blood parasites of ungulates. Confirmed vectors of these protists are horseflies or sheep keds for T. melophagium, but these trypanosomes were also detected in deer keds, mosquitoes and phlebotomus. We targeted on the investigation of possibility mosquitoes acting as vectors and additionally we targeted on the prevalence of T. theileri in mosquitoes at selected locations in the Czech Republic due to previous positive detection there. The measured prevalence has reached 6,4 % in mosquitoes, 4 % in deer keds and 16,7 % in sheep keds. The aim of experimental infections was to discover a potential of mosquitoes and phlebotomus acting as vectors of the T. theileri. Phlebotomus perniciosus and three species of mosquitoes Culex pipiens molestus, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Aedes vexans were used for those experiments. Furthermore, isolates of T. theileri and T. melophagium from different sources were used. The divergence among these isolates and among used species of insect was found. The best results were achieved with Ae. aegypti and isolates from mosquitoes, where prevalence had reached 90,8 %. The infected mosquitoes were used for prediuresis research which had shown infection forms of the trypanosomes in the urine liquid. The phylogenetic analyse of T....
|
|
|
The role of biting midges in avian blood parasites transmission
Chobotová, Kristýna ; Brzoňová, Jana (advisor) ; Kočišová, Alica (referee)
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous in- sects mainly important as vectors of viral diseases of farm animals. They have shifted to the forefront of scientific interest in the Czech Republic primarily in relation to the Bluetongue Virus spread since 2007. However, they have been often ignored as vectors of parasitic infec- tions, especially if these are not pathogens of economic importance. In birds, which are the focus of this bachelor's thesis, biting midges are the most significant vector mainly for the genus Haemoproteus, they transmit at least 24 species of these protozoa. On the other hand, they are proven vectors for only one species of the genus Leucocytozoon - L. caulleryi. Trans- mission has been proven for three species of the genus Trypanosoma - T. avium, T. bennetti and T. everetti. Biting midges also transmit helminths of the family Onchocercidae, they play a role as vectors for the genera Eufilaria, Chandlerella and Splendidofilaria. The goal of this bachelor's thesis is to gather information about biting midges as vectors of avian blood parasites - protozoa of the genera Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma and helminths of the family Onchocercidae. Key words: biting midges, parasite, vector, host, bird, Haemoproteus,...
|
|
|
Trypanosomes from the T. theileri group in ungulates in the Czech Republic
Brotánková, Anna ; Brzoňová, Jana (advisor) ; Juránková, Jana (referee)
The Trypanosoma theileri group are blood parasites of ungulates. Confirmed vectors of these protists are horseflies or sheep keds for T. melophagium, but these trypanosomes were also detected in deer keds, mosquitoes and phlebotomus. We targeted on the investigation of possibility mosquitoes acting as vectors and additionally we targeted on the prevalence of T. theileri in mosquitoes at selected locations in the Czech Republic due to previous positive detection there. The measured prevalence has reached 6,4 % in mosquitoes, 4 % in deer keds and 16,7 % in sheep keds. The aim of experimental infections was to discover a potential of mosquitoes and phlebotomus acting as vectors of the T. theileri. Phlebotomus perniciosus and three species of mosquitoes Culex pipiens molestus, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Aedes vexans were used for those experiments. Furthermore, isolates of T. theileri and T. melophagium from different sources were used. The divergence among these isolates and among used species of insect was found. The best results were achieved with Ae. aegypti and isolates from mosquitoes, where prevalence had reached 90,8 %. The infected mosquitoes were used for prediuresis research which had shown infection forms of the trypanosomes in the urine liquid. The phylogenetic analyse of T....
|
|
|
Occurence and diversity of amphibian trypanosomes
Poloprutská, Klára ; Votýpka, Jan (advisor) ; Brzoňová, Jana (referee)
The genus Trypanosoma represents well-known flagellates of order Trypanosomatida and class Kinetoplastea, which includes over 500 described species parasitizing on all classes of vertebrates. However, the best known and economically and medically most important are mammalian trypanosomes, especially human ones, which cause serious diseases in the world: sleeping sickness in Africa and Chagas disease in Latin America. But trypanosomes may also be found in blood of birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. And exactly on trypanosomes of amphibians, whose diversity is surprisingly vast, is this thesis focused. However, many studies concentrate only on morphological description, which may not be the best in order to determine species, which may lead to distortion of information e.g. about species' life cycle, prevalence or host specificity. This thesis points to some ambiguities, but also to some more reliable experimental or in some cases molecular evidence dealing with individual aspects of life of trypanosome of amphibians. It also summarizes representatives of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate vectors of trypanosomes, among which leeches are considered to be the dominant vector in aquatic environment. Furthermore, some species of phlebotomes, mosquitoes and genus Corethrella are known to be...
|
|
|
Molecular taxonomy of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Europe
Grešová, Markéta ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Brzoňová, Jana (referee)
Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) are small blood sucking insects which are only proven vectors of neglected tropical disease called leishmaniasis. Sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus act as vectors in the Old World and those of genus Lutzomyia are vectors in the New World. However, not all of them are capable of transmitting the disease. It is therefore crutial to conclusively determinate the species and have up-to-date knowledge of their natural occurence. Routine identification based on morphological characters is challenging due to intraspecific variability of these or their possible damage during the capture and preparation. In adition, correct assessment of distinctive cahracters, especially for females, is difficult and requires certain expertise. Thus, approaches of molecular taxonomy have been recently increasingly used for sand flies species determination. This thesis presents usage of DNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF protein profiling for routine determination of sand flies caught in southeastern Europe and adjacent regions, where we have lack of information of present sand flies species. Another part of this thesis focus on closer examination of relations between selected closely related species within species complexes. Key words: Phlebotomus, molacular identification, DNA...
|
|
|
Leucocytozoon and methods of its detection in raptors
Sekerášová, Iveta ; Brzoňová, Jana (advisor) ; Majerová, Karolina (referee)
The genus Leucocytozoon is a bird parasite. Its hosts constitute usually of representatives of the Falconiformes group and hawks (Accipitridae). The vector of this parasite are blackflies (family Simuliidae). This thesis brings an overview of species of the genus Leucocytozoon so far detected in birds of prey. The thesis focuses primarily on methods of detecting Leucocytozoon in hosts. Traditionally, this genus has been described on the basis of its morphological characters observed via microscope. With the discovery of polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), the detection possibilities expanded and allow us to study this parasite on molecular levels. The thesis contains a basic overview of detection methods, characteristics of their principles and outlines their strengths and weaknesses regarding the practical applicability as well. Based on that, the microscopic approach alongside with the detection based on molecular methods is recommended.
|
guest ::
