Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) and resistance training (RT) on the level of functional fitness in a group of elderly women. Participants: 63 women (60-65 years) were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups (19 in WB-EMS, 22 in RT) and one control group (22 women). Both experimental groups underwent a ten-week lasting interventional program, the control group was asked to maintain their usual daily regimen and lifestyle. Methods: Senior fitness test battery (SFT) determined the level of functional fitness in participants, and the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) assessed the body composition. Results: The RT group reported a statistically significant difference between pre-and post-test in values of the Chair Stand test (p = 0.04), 8 Foot up and Go (p = 0.03), in the Back Scratch test left side (p = 0.02) and the Chair Sit and Reach test right side (p = 0.05). The WB-EMS interventional program had a positive statistically significant effect only the on level of flexibility of the lower limbs measured by the Chair Sit and Reach test left side (p = 0.05). Conclusions: The results of all individual components of functional fitness measured by SFT in both experimental groups (WB-EMS, RT) show an improving tendency. Comparing WB-EMS and RT groups, better results were confirmed in the RT group. Study limitations: Extending the length of intervention programs could have a more significant effect on the level of functional fitness in elderly women.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellurar unicellular parasite of wide range of vertebrates. Although ingestion or inhalation of microsporidian spores is the main route of infection, assumed vertical transmission was described in some mammals. The present study was focused on proof of vertical transmission in mice under experimental conditions. Mice were infected with E. cuniculi genotype II intraperitoneally after mating, or perorally followed by mating in acute or chronic phase of infection. Fetuses were delivered by Caesarean section or mice were kept up to the parturition. Some of cubs were immediately after birth transferred to uninfected surrogate mothers. Group of cubs was immunosuppressed. All cubs were examined using polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Encephalitozoon after birth or in their age of 3 or 6 weeks, respectively. All fetuses delivered by Caesarean section, which were intraperitoneally or perorally infected were negative as well as all neonatal mice and youngsters tested in age of 6 weeks. Only immunosuppressed cubs and cubs of immunodeficient mice in age of 21 days were positive for Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II. Present results provided the evidence that transplacental transmission of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in mice occurs, but the mechanism of these transport is still unknown.

• MeSH
• Cercopithecus aethiops MeSH
• DNA fungální chemie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza imunologie   mikrobiologie   přenos   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• imunokompromitovaný pacient MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši MeSH
• spory hub MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Vero buňky MeSH
• vertikální přenos infekce * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites, which are able to infect a wide range of animals, including humans. Four genotypes of Encephalitozoon cuniculi have been found to date. The different courses of microsporidiosis described in humans, which are dependent on immunological status of the host and genotype of E. cuniculi, have been successfully imitated in murine models. In the present study, we quantified the microsporidial burden in individual organs of a murine experimental model, using qPCR and we compared the parasitic load of two genotypes of E. cuniculi, namely genotype II and III (EC II and EC III). While the extent of microsporidiosis caused by EC II gradually increased over 35 days post infection (DPI) in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice and caused death in the latter at 28 DPI, EC III had spread into all host organs by seven DPI and was not lethal for either mouse strain during the experimental time period. Moreover, EC III persisted in many organs until termination of the experiment. The number of microsporidial spores in individual organs was ten times higher in EC III-infected animals compared to those infected with EC II. EC II infection also progressively shifted towards organs outside the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in both monitored mouse strains; whereas, EC III infection equally remained in both the GIT and organs outside the GIT. With the increasing use of molecular methods in diagnostics, it is important to better understand the pathophysiology of microsporidia, including its ability to escape from the immune system and persist in host organisms. Our results indicate that pathogenicity is not directly connected to spore burden, as infection caused by E. cuniculi genotype II is less extensive and spreads more slowly within the host organism than infection caused by E. cuniculi genotype III, but which caused the earlier death of immunodeficient mice.

• MeSH
• Arvicolinae MeSH
• Cercopithecus aethiops MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi klasifikace   genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza parazitologie   MeSH
• gastrointestinální trakt parazitologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• imunokompetence MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• Microsporidia fyziologie   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši MeSH
• parazitární zátěž MeSH
• spory hub MeSH
• Vero buňky MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is probably the most common microsporidia which infects a wide range of vertebrates, including human. So far, four genotypes of this parasite have been identified based on the rRNA internal transcribed spacer variations. The course of infection caused by E. cuniculi III had very massive onset in immunocompetent host characterized by the presence of this parasite in all organs and tissues within one week after peroral infection. Encephalitozoonosis caused by E. cuniculi III had very progressive spreading into all organs within first week post inoculation in immunocompromised SCID mice and led to the death of the host. The experimental treatment with albendazole of immunocompetent BALB/c mice infected with E. cuniculi III have shown very weak effect. Our findings clearly showed that the different course of infection and response to treatment depends not only on the immunological status of the host, but also on the genotype of microsporidia. It could be very important especially for individuals under chemotherapy and transplant recipients of organs originating from infected donors.

• MeSH
• albendazol farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• antifungální látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi účinky léků   genetika   imunologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza farmakoterapie   imunologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• imunokompetence * MeSH
• imunokompromitovaný pacient * MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši MeSH
• spory hub MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This study describes the prevalence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in raw cow's milk and evaluates the effect of different milk pasteurization treatments on E. cuniculi infectivity for severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Using a nested polymerase chain reaction approach, 1 of 50 milking cows was found to repeatedly shed E. cuniculi in its feces and milk. Under experimental conditions, E. cuniculi spores in milk remained infective for SCID mice following pasteurization treatments at 72 °C for 15 s or 85 °C for 5 s. Based on these findings, pasteurized cow's milk should be considered a potential source of E. cuniculi infection in humans.

• MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• mléko parazitologie   MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši MeSH
• pasterizace metody   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• skot MeSH
• spory hub izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• vysoká teplota MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• skot MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium genetika   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• kozy parazitologie   MeSH
• protozoální DNA genetika   MeSH
• vysoká zvěř parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Piglets from 4 to 8 weeks of age originated from a Cryptosporidium-free research breed were orally inoculated with 1 × 10(6) infectious oocysts of Cryptosporidium scrofarum. The number of shed oocysts per gram of faeces served to describe the infection intensity and prepatent period. In addition, faecal samples collected daily and tissue samples of the small and large intestine collected at 30 days post-inoculation were examined for the C. scrofarum small subunit ribosomal RNA gene using PCR. The piglets inoculated at 4-weeks of age remained uninfected, whereas 5-week-old and older animals were fully susceptible with a prepatent period ranging from 4 to 8 days. Susceptible pigs shed oocysts intermittently, and shedding intensity, reaching a mean maximum of 6000 oocysts per gram, did not differ significantly among infected animals. This study demonstrates that pigs become susceptible to C. scrofarum infection as late as 5-weeks of age. The mechanisms of age related susceptibility remain unknown.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium genetika   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• geny rRNA genetika   MeSH
• kryptosporidióza imunologie   patologie   veterinární   MeSH
• nemoci prasat imunologie   patologie   MeSH
• počet parazitárních vajíček MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

From 2011 to 2012, the occurrence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. was surveyed at 29 randomly selected localities (both forest areas and enclosures) across four Central European countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Slovak Republic. Isolates were genotyped by PCR amplification and characterization of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using Enterocytozoon and Encephalitozoon-specific protocols. PCR revealed 16 mono-infections of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, 33 mono-infections of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and 5 concurrent infections of both Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Enterocytozoon bieneusi out of 460 faecal samples. Two genotypes (I and II) were revealed by sequence analysis of the ITS region of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Eleven genotypes, five previously found in other hosts including domestic pigs (D, EbpA, EbpC, G and Henan-I) and six novel (WildBoar1-6), were identified in Enterocytozoon bieneusi. No other microsporidia infection was found in the examined faecal samples. Prevalence of microsporidia at the locality level ranged from 0 to 58.8 %; the prevalence was less than 25 % at more than 86 % of localities. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected as a predominant species infecting Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa). The present report is the most comprehensive survey of microsporidia infections in wild boars within the Czech Republic and selected Central European countries.

• MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• Enterocytozoon klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• mikrosporidióza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• Sus scrofa mikrobiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Polsko MeSH
• Rakousko MeSH
• Slovenská republika MeSH

We describe the morphological, biological, and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium pig genotype II and propose the species name Cryptosporidium scrofarum n. sp. to reflect its prevalence in adult pigs worldwide. Oocysts of C. scrofarum are morphologically indistinguishable from C. parvum, measuring 4.81-5.96 μm (mean=5.16)×4.23-5.29 μm (mean=4.83) with a length to width ratio of 1.07±0.06 (n=400). Oocysts of C. scrofarum obtained from a naturally infected pig were infectious for 8-week-old pigs but not 4-week-old pigs. The prepatent period in 8-week-old Cryptosporidium-naive pigs was 4-6 days and the patent period was longer than 30 days. The infection intensity of C. scrofarum in pigs was generally low, in the range 250-4000 oocysts per gram of feces. Infected pigs showed no clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis and no pathology was detected. Cryptosporidium scrofarum was not infectious for adult SCID mice, adult BALB/c mice, Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), southern multimammate mice (Mastomys coucha), yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), or guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rRNA, actin, and heat shock protein 70 gene sequences revealed that C. scrofarum is genetically distinct from all known Cryptosporidium species.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   cytologie   genetika   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze * MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• Gerbillinae MeSH
• kryptosporidióza patologie   veterinární   MeSH
• morčata MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nemoci prasat parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• protozoální geny genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• morčata MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites causing severe infections with lethal outcome in immunocompromised hosts. However, these pathogens are more frequently reported as latent infections in immunocompetent individuals and raises questions about the potential risk of reactivation following induced immunosuppression. AIMS: To evaluate the possibility latent microsporidiosis, efficacy or albendazole, and reactivation, the authors monitored the course of E. cuniculi infection in immunocompetent BALB/c mice and immunodeficient SCID mice using molecular methods. METHODS: Mice were per orally infected with 10(7) spores of E. cuniculi. Selected groups were treated with albendazole, re-infected or chemically immunosuppressed by dexamethasone. The presence of microsporidia in the host's organs and feces were determined using PCR methods. Changes in numbers of lymphocytes in blood and in spleen after induction of immunosuppression were confirmed using flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: Whereas E. cuniculi caused lethal microsporidiosis in SCID mice, the infection in BABL/c mice remained asymptomatic despite parasite dissemination into many organs during the acute infection phase. Albendazole treatment led to microsporidia elimination from organs in BALB/c mice. In SCID mice, however, only a temporary reduction in number of affected organs was observed and infection re-established post-treatment. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in a chronic microsporidia infection disseminating into most organs in BALB/c mice. Although the presence of E. cuniculi in organs of albendazole- treated mice was undetectable by PCR, it was striking that infection was reactivated by immunosuppression treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that microsporidia can successfully survive in organs of immunocompetent hosts and are able to reactivate from undetectable levels and spread within these hosts after induction of immunosuppression. These findings stress the danger of latent microsporidiosis as a life-threatening risk factor especially for individuals undergoing chemotherapy and in transplant recipients of organs originating from infected donors.

• MeSH
• albendazol terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Cercopithecus aethiops MeSH
• dexamethason MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi * MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza farmakoterapie   imunologie   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• myši MeSH
• počet lymfocytů MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie MeSH
• Vero buňky MeSH
• vnitřnosti mikrobiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH