BACKGROUND: Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents. Thus, the distribution of rodents and their vicinity to humans and companion animals may have an important impact on human and animal health. However, the reservoir potential of some rodent genera, e.g. Microtus, has not yet been precisely examined concerning tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. Therefore, we examined small mammals from Germany and the Czech Republic for the following vector-borne pathogens: Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (CNM) and Coxiella burnetii. Spleen DNA from 321 small mammals belonging to four genera, Myodes (n = 78), Apodemus (n = 56), Microtus (n = 149), Sorex (n = 38), collected during 2014 in Germany and the Czech Republic were available for this study. DNA samples were examined for the presence of Babesia and Bartonella DNA by conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, respectively. For the detection of CNM, A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii real-time PCR assays were performed. RESULTS: Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in 216 specimens (67.3%) with 102/174 (58.6%) positive in Germany and 114/147 (77.6%) in the Czech Republic. The prevalence in each genus was 44.9% for Myodes, 63.2% for Sorex, 77.2% for Microtus and 75% for Apodemus. Four Bartonella species, i.e. Bartonella sp. N40, B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. doshiae, as well as uncultured bartonellae, were detected. The Bartonella species diversity was higher in rodents than in shrews. In total, 27/321 (8.4%) small mammals were positive for CNM and 3/321 (0.9%) for A. phagocytophilum (S. coronatus and M. glareolus). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Coxiella spp. CONCLUSIONS: While the detected high prevalence for Bartonella in Apodemus and Myodes spp. is confirmatory with previous findings, the prevalence in Microtus spp. was unexpectedly high. This indicates that individuals belonging to this genus may be regarded as potential reservoirs. Interestingly, only Sorex spp. and M. glareolus were positive for A. phagocytophilum in the present study, suggesting a possible importance of the latter for the maintenance of certain A. phagocytophilum strains in nature.
- MeSH
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Anaplasmataceae izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Babesia izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Bartonella izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii izolace a purifikace MeSH
- hlodavci mikrobiologie parazitologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- zdroje nemoci mikrobiologie parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic, gram-negative bacterium that causes tularemia in humans. Depending on its subspecies and the route of transmission, mild to lethal courses have been reported. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica is the only subspecies found in Europe and affects a plenitude of vertebrates including lagomorphs and rodents. Population outbreaks of certain rodent species are likely to be involved in the transmission of this pathogen. This molecular survey aims to evaluate the presence of F. tularensis in small mammals from three Central European countries. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, F. tularensis DNA was detected in common voles (Microtus arvalis) from Switzerland and in field voles (Microtus agrestis) and a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) from Germany, but not in any other small mammal species. All common voles from the Czech Republic were negative for F. tularensis DNA. The prevalence in the three vole species varied between 1.3% and 3.0%. In conclusion, Francisella tularensis DNA was detected in three vole species in two of three countries investigated. The observed low prevalence raises questions on the role of voles for the transmission of Francisella tularensis in Central Europe.
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae mikrobiologie MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika MeSH
- epidemický výskyt choroby veterinární MeSH
- Francisella tularensis genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce veterinární MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- tularemie epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
Laboratory mice are the most commonly used animal model for Staphylococcus aureus infection studies. We have previously shown that laboratory mice from global vendors are frequently colonized with S. aureus. Laboratory mice originate from wild house mice. Hence, we investigated whether wild rodents, including house mice, as well as shrews are naturally colonized with S. aureus and whether S. aureus adapts to the wild animal host. 295 animals of ten different species were caught in different locations over four years (2012-2015) in Germany, France and the Czech Republic. 45 animals were positive for S. aureus (15.3%). Three animals were co-colonized with two different isolates, resulting in 48 S. aureus isolates in total. Positive animals were found in Germany and the Czech Republic in each studied year. The S. aureus isolates belonged to ten different spa types, which grouped into six lineages (clonal complex (CC) 49, CC88, CC130, CC1956, sequence type (ST) 890, ST3033). CC49 isolates were most abundant (17/48, 35.4%), followed by CC1956 (14/48, 29.2%) and ST890 (9/48, 18.8%). The wild animal isolates lacked certain properties that are common among human isolates, e.g., a phage-encoded immune evasion cluster, superantigen genes on mobile genetic elements and antibiotic resistance genes, which suggests long-term adaptation to the wild animal host. One CC130 isolate contained the mecC gene, implying wild rodents might be both reservoir and vector for methicillin-resistant . In conclusion, we demonstrated that wild rodents and shrews are naturally colonized with S. aureus, and that those S. aureus isolates show signs of host adaptation.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky farmakologie MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny genetika MeSH
- divoká zvířata mikrobiologie MeSH
- faktory virulence genetika MeSH
- hlodavci mikrobiologie MeSH
- methicilin rezistentní Staphylococcus aureus MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- myši MeSH
- rejskovití mikrobiologie MeSH
- stafylokokové infekce epidemiologie veterinární MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus klasifikace izolace a purifikace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Francie MeSH
- Německo MeSH
BACKGROUND: While the 'no-tillage' management system generally improves soil properties and helps to control arthropod pests, it may also intensify crop infestation by the common vole (Microtus arvalis Pallas). In this study, we evaluated the impact of soil management (no-tillage or tillage), crop and previous crop (winter wheat or winter rape), and season (spring or autumn) on common vole density using data from the Common Vole Monitoring Programme undertaken by the Plant Protection Service of the Czech Republic between 2000 and 2009. RESULTS: Models predicted low mean values of vole infestation across management types, crops, and seasons. The untilled fields hosted significantly more voles than the tilled fields in spring but not in autumn. More common voles were found in winter rape than in winter wheat during both seasons. CONCLUSION: Recent studies suggest that no-tillage management is more profitable than tillage management as a result of its positive impact on soil properties and pest control. During periods of high vole infestation, however, tillage may constitute an alternative strategy for reducing yield losses. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae fyziologie MeSH
- biologické modely MeSH
- Brassica napus růst a vývoj MeSH
- hustota populace MeSH
- pěstování plodin metody MeSH
- pšenice růst a vývoj MeSH
- roční období MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
The conservation and management of wolves Canis lupus in the periphery of their distribution is challenging. Edges of wolf distribution are characterized by very few and intermittent occurrences of individuals, which are modulated by multiple factors affecting the overall population such as human-caused mortality, management targets and food availability. The knowledge of population dynamics in the edges becomes crucial when hunting takes place nearby the edges, which may preclude population expansion. Here, using as example the occurrence of wolves in the Beskydy Mountains (Czech-Slovak border), which are the edge distribution of the wolf and Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx populations in the West Carpathians, we explored how food availability and hunting in the Slovakian core area affected the dynamics of wolves in the edges of this population. During 2003-2012, we monitored large carnivore occurrence by snow-tracking surveys and tested potential differences in the occurrence of these species in Beskydy Mountains and potential mechanisms behind detected patterns. Despite the proximity to the core area, with several wolf reproductions being confirmed at least in recent years, the wolf was a very rare species in Beskydy and was recorded 14 times less often than the lynx. The expected abundance of wolves in the Beskydy Mountains was inversely related to prey availability in the Slovakian core area. Wolf hunting the year before influenced the expected abundance of wolves in Beskydy area. We discuss how different life histories and legal status of both species probably account for most of the observed difference of occurrence at range margins.
- MeSH
- ekosystém MeSH
- Lynx fyziologie MeSH
- populační dynamika MeSH
- vlci fyziologie MeSH
- zachování přírodních zdrojů MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
For a long time hantaviruses were believed to be exclusively rodent-borne pathogens. Recent findings of numerous shrew- and mole-borne hantaviruses raise important questions on their phylogenetic origin. The objective of our study was to prove the presence and distribution of shrew-associated Seewis virus (SWSV) in different Sorex species in Central Europe. Therefore, a total of 353 Sorex araneus, 59 S. minutus, 27 S. coronatus, and one S. alpinus were collected in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Screening by hantavirus-specific L-segment RT-PCR revealed specific amplification products in tissues of 49 out of 353 S. araneus and four out of 59 S. minutus. S-segment sequences were obtained for 45 of the L-segment positive S. araneus and all four L-segment positive S. minutus. Phylogenetic investigation of these sequences from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia demonstrated their similarity to SWSV sequences from Hungary, Finland, Austria, and other sites in Germany. The low intra-cluster sequence variability and the high inter-cluster divergence suggest a long-term SWSV evolution in isolated Sorex populations. In 28 of the 49 SWSV S-segment sequences, an additional putative open reading frame (ORF) on the opposite strand to the nucleocapsid protein-encoding ORF was identified. This is the first comprehensive sequence analysis of SWSV strains from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, indicating its broad geographical distribution and high genetic divergence. Future studies have to prove whether both S. araneus and S. minutus represent SWSV reservoir hosts or spillover infections are responsible for the parallel molecular detection of SWSV in both species.
- MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- genetická variace * MeSH
- hantavirové infekce epidemiologie veterinární virologie MeSH
- Hantavirus klasifikace genetika MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce s reverzní transkripcí MeSH
- rejskovití klasifikace virologie MeSH
- RNA virová analýza genetika MeSH
- sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Německo MeSH
- Slovenská republika MeSH
Impact of small rodents on mountain forest regeneration was studied in National Nature Reserve in the Beskydy Mountains (Czech Republic). A considerable amount of bark damage was found on young trees (20%) in spring after the peak abundance of field voles (Microtus agrestis) in combination with long winter with heavy snowfall. In contrast, little damage to young trees was noted under high densities of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) with a lower snow cover the following winter. The bark of deciduous trees was more attractive to voles (22% damaged) than conifers (8%). Young trees growing in open and grassy localities suffered more damage from voles than those under canopy of forest stands (χ² = 44.04, P < 0.001). Natural regeneration in Nature Reserve was less damaged compared to planted trees (χ² = 55.89, P < 0.001). The main factors influencing the impact of rodent species on tree regeneration were open, grassy habitat conditions, higher abundance of vole species, tree species preferences- and snow-cover condition. Under these conditions, the impact of rodents on forest regeneration can be predicted. Foresters should prefer natural regeneration to the artificial plantings.
- MeSH
- hlodavci fyziologie MeSH
- stromy MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Over 5 years (2000-2004), populations of small mammals from a rural landscape in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) were investigated for the presence of Tula virus (TULV) antigen using the ELISA set Hantagnost. In total, 1566 individuals from 10 species were examined. The prevalence in the common vole (Microtus arvalis Pallas 1778), the main reservoir of TULV, was 10% (n = 871). The prevalence of TULV antigen increases with its population numbers. The highest number of TULV antigen-positive common voles was found in set-aside plots and winter crops, such as rape and winter wheat. All these habitats are important for common vole overwintering. Older and heavier individuals were more often hantavirus antigen positive. From the other small mammal species, 186 pygmy field mice (Apodemus uralensis Pallas, 1811) were examined, of which 3 were positive, which represents the first hantavirus antigen positive record for this species, and of 195 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus Linnaeus, 1758) only 1 was positive. The remaining five rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis Melchior, 1834, Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758, Micromys minutus Pallas, 1771, Myodes glareolus Schreber, 1780, Microtus subterraneus de Sélys-Longchamps, 1836) and two Soricomorpha (Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758, Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766) were hantavirus antigen negative.
- MeSH
- hantavirové infekce veterinární virologie MeSH
- Hantavirus klasifikace izolace a purifikace MeSH
- hlodavci virologie MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců virologie MeSH
- rejskovití virologie MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- zdroje nemoci MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Množství publikovaných prací rešících problematiku bolestí zad narostlo v posledních peti letech exponencionální radou. V databázi MEDLINE bylo v období mezi breznem 1998 a breznem 2003 nalezeno více než 5500 citací rešících toto téma. Pro klinického nebo všeobecného lékare v praxi je nemožné sledovat vývoj v jednotlivých oblastech výzkumu a extrahovat z literatury relevantní informace. Následující clánek byl sepsán s cílem nastínit podstatu patofyziologických mechanismu degenerace pátere, jež zpusobují bolesti zad. Autori v nem kladou duraz na patofyziologii primární diskogenní bolesti (bolestivé ploténky), jež se recentne stala casto diskutovanou v souvislosti se zavádením nových chirurgických metod dynamické stabilizace bederního pohybového segmentu. Pocátecní fáze tohoto konceptu spojené se zmenou biomechanického chování ploténky jsou soucasne výchozími body pro degenerativní zmeny celého pohybového segmentu. Zmeny, které se v rámci této diskogenní degenerace segmentu odehrávají, postihují v ruzné míre jednotlivé anatomické struktury pátere, jež se s pokrocilostí morfologické prestavby stávají generátory vertebrogenní bolesti. Pochopení jednotlivých kroku vyvolávajících jejich rozvoj má své praktické dusledky.
The number of published studies on various aspects of low back pain has exponentialy increased during the last 5 years; a MEDLINE search from March 1998 to March 2003 has yielded more than 5,500 new references for back pain. For the busy clinician or the general practitioner, it is impossible to distill all this evidence and to identify reliable data. In order to understand the nature of low back pain, the mechanisms of spinal degeneration leading to experiencing pain are discussed in our article. The authors emphasize the concept of primary discogenic pain („painful disc“) that is today relevant with respect to new surgical methods of dynamic stabilisation of lumbar motion segments. Initial stages of this concept associated with changes in the biomechanical behaviour of the intervertebral disc are termini a quo for degenerative changes of all motion segment. Changes related to this theory of discogenic degeneration of the segment affect, to a certain degree easy spinal structure, that becomes a pain generator. Complete understanding of all mechanisms leading to degenerative spine changes and pain triggering is of practical significance.
- MeSH
- bederní obratle patologie MeSH
- bolesti zad etiologie MeSH
- spinální stenóza etiologie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- kongresy MeSH
