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Avian malaria parasites and their vectors
Synek, Petr ; Munclinger, Pavel (advisor) ; Hypša, Václav (referee) ; Široký, Pavel. (referee)
Parasites causing avian malaria belong to the group Haemosporida, which represents a monophyletic group of dixenic protists within Apicomplexa. Their asexual reproduction takes place in a vertebrate intermediate host, and the formation of gametes and sporogony occur in blood-sucking dipteran insects, which are the definitive hosts of these parasites. Three main genera (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) are found mostly in their avian hosts. We focused on the Haemosporida of wild birds and their transmission by insect vectors in natural populations, which had previously been a neglected area. Our results were obtained both by traditional methods (investigation of infections by microscopy of blood smears) and mainly by molecular methods (e.g. nested PCR) centered around work with unique haplotypes of the haemosporid lineages. The aim of our work was to determine the range of possible insect vectors of avian haemosporidians in the territory of the Czech Republic, taking into account the specificity of the parasites within these vectors, and to describe the diversity of haemosporidians in the populations of their bird intermediate hosts. We chose four different species of birds from four orders (Passeriformes, Strigiformes, Accipitriformes, and Galliformes). As potential vectors of avian...
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Shell shape variability in selected members of family Geoemydidae
Protiva, Tomáš ; Rehák, Ivan (advisor) ; Šmíd, Jiří (referee) ; Široký, Pavel. (referee)
Turtles always fascinated men primarily by morphology, unique embryogenesis and later also by uncertain phylogenetic position. As this group exists for 200 Mya, with taxon Odontochelys and Proganochelys identified as the first ancestors, recently they are endangered by habitat destruction and hunting for meat. The worst situation is in Asia, with China as the most important consumer of turtle meat and other products. Captive breeding programs may be the only chance for lot of almost extinct species. Proper taxonomic and geographical determination is crucial for correct management of rescue programs. Shell shape variability studied by geometric morphometric method and supported by genetics is the right tool for this task. My thesis is focused on verification of the use of geometric morphometric method for selected species of family Geoemydidae. This family has centre of distribution in Asia and many of its species are endangered by so called Asian Turtle Crisis. We found unusual high occurrence of supernumerary vertebral scute in Morenia petersi. Shape of the carapace and plastron is not affected by presence of this extra scute. There are no significant differences between turtles with additional scute and turtles with normal five vertebral layouts. Scute pattern with supernumerary vertebral scute...
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Canine babesisosis in Europe
Majerová, Karolina ; Votýpka, Jan (advisor) ; Široký, Pavel. (referee)
Babesiosis is a parasitic disease that affects various animal species and also human. It is characteristic by erythrocyte destruction and malaria-like syndroms and caused by different Babesia species which belong to the phylum Apicomplexa. Canine babesiosis is a serious veterinary disease which has recently spread to new regions in Europe and belongs to the cathegory of "emerging infectious diseases". The most common causative agent of canine babesiosis in Europe is Babesia canis whose vector is a tick Dermacentor reticulatus. The range of geographical distribution of D. reticulatus has been expanding in last decades - probably due to climate changes - northward and in Central Europe westward too. Occurrence of canine babesiosis in new regions which have been well documented from Central and Western Europe, is probably caused by the spread of its tick vector, Dermacentor reticulatus, but more factors can play a role.
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