|
|
Influence of latent toxoplasmosis on sex ratio and pregnancy progression - search for proximate cause
Kaňková, Šárka ; Flegr, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Votýpka, Jan (referee) ; Calda, Pavel (referee)
The boy-to-girl ratio at birth (secondary sex ratio) is around 1.06 in most populations. The sex ratio may be influenced by many factors, such as stress and immunosuppression, age of parents, parity and sex of preceding siblings. The most common human protozoan parasite in developed countries, Toxoplasma gondii (prevalence 20% - 80%), is known to change the behaviour of its intermediate hosts, thereby increasing the probability of transmission to its definitive host (the cat) by predation. The results of our retrospective cohort study suggest that the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, can influence the secondary sex ratio in humans. Depending on the antibody concentration, the probability of the birth of a boy can increase up to a value of 0.72, which means that for every 260 boys born, 100 girls are born to women with the highest concentration of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. In accordance with results on human subjects, laboratory mice with toxoplasmosis produced a higher sex ratio than controls, in the early phase of latent infection. Our further results showed that mice in the early phase of latent infection exhibited temporarily increased production of interleukin (IL)-12 and decreased production of IL-10. The mice showed decreased production of IL-2 and nitric oxide and decreased proliferation...
|
|
|
Toxoplasma gondii manipulation in the host
Dittrichová, Anna ; Langrová, Iva (advisor) ; Nechybová, Stanislava (referee)
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to collect so far discovered findings about manipulation of behaviour caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The first part of this thesis introduces basic characteristic of the parasite and toxoplasmosis, which is a disease caused exactly by this parasite. In the second part we summarize outcomes of many different scientific essays that deal with manipulation of intermediate host behaviour. Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread parasite that can modify the behaviour of the intermediate host, which can lead to serious changes in psychological profile of infected people. Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common zoonosis in the Czech Republic, the prevalence reaches 25-30 %. Toxoplasmosis is usually an asymptomatic infection, however it modifies the behaviour and acting of the intermediate host in some special situasions, it also changes excretion of important substances and affects the secondary sex ratio too. Toxoplasmosis is a very important risk especially for imunodeficit people and pregnant women. The principle of prevention is very strict personal and food hygiene.
|
|
|
Injuries caused by an animal in the pre-hospital emergency care and subsequent outpatient care
VOTRUBOVÁ, Kateřina
The topic of this bachelor thesis is the various types of injuries from animals in prehosptial emergency care and their subsequent treatment in outpatient clinics. The theoretical section includes the summary of possible predicaments, which various animals cause. It discusses anaphylactic reaction to insect stings and furthermore the poisoning by snake venom, which in the Czech Republic primarily concerns the common viper (otherwise known as the common adder). The next chapter deals with the illnesses caused by cats, specifically cat scratch disease (lymphadenopathy) and toxoplasmosis with acute childbirth. The acute condition caused by dog bites and rabies belong to the next section of the thesis. In the conclusion a brief summary of injuries is mentioned, which are a threat during the handling of domestic animals, where the thesis focuses on the polytraumatized patient, fractures and cranio-cerebral injuries. The practical section was carried out on two qualitative levels in the Central Bohemian Region in connection with the Region of the Capital City, Prague and the Southern Bohemian Region. The first of these was the verification of knowledge of paramedics about injuries caused by animals through a knowledge test, comprising of ten questions. These questionnaires were always filled in my presence. In total 40 knowledge tests were distributed, of which 38 were returned completed. The return rate was thus 95%. The second section determined the differences in outpatient care in the individual regions. It was carried out through managed interviews with outpatient medical doctors from the surgical and internal medicine departments, a traumatologist, general practitioner and paediatrician. In total, eight medical doctors were approached. Furthermore an identical questionnaire was given to all these medical doctors. The research was carried out from November 2013 to April 2014. The aim of this thesis is to ascertain the knowledge about these injuries of paramedics in the Central Bohemian Region in connection with Region of the Capital City, Prague and the Southern Bohemian Region and compare them. Furthermore, it intends to find the difference in outpatient care of patients in the same territorial units injured in this way. Three research questions were asked, specifically to the mid-level health services personnel, whether paramedics have the correct knowledge about this issue and whether their knowledge varied in the regions. Regarding the second aim, the question asked was whether outpatient care of injured patients varied in the relevant regions.
|
guest ::
