Toxocariasis is a parasitic infection that poses significant health risks to children, particularly in marginalised populations with limited access to sanitation and healthcare. This study aimed to compare the occurrence of toxocariasis in early childhood between a group of children from the Slovak majority population and from marginalised Roma communities (MRCs), explore potential risk and protective factors and the association with mental health difficulties in early childhood. Cross-sectional data were obtained from mothers, and blood samples of their children aged 14-21 months were collected during the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study. A total of 88 blood samples from children were analysed: 49 children from the Slovak Majority population and 39 from MRCs. Anti-Toxocara canis IgG antibodies were detected in serum samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Though it was not statistically significant, seropositivity for Toxocara canis was more often observed in children from MRCs (35.9%) than in the majority population (20.4%). The absence of running water in households significantly increases the risk of Toxocara infection in children, whereas a longer duration of breastfeeding decreases it. Children seropositive for Toxocara canis showed higher levels of early mental health difficulties even when controlled for MRC residence. These results indicate the need for integrated public health interventions targeting parasitic infections in susceptible populations. Improving access to sanitation, promoting breastfeeding, and strengthening the preventive and educational role of early childhood health services are critical strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to Toxocara spp. eggs and mitigate its potential impact on child health and development.

• Klíčová slova
• Breastfeeding, Early childhood, Hygienic standards, Marginalised Roma communities, Mental health, Toxocariasis,
• MeSH
• duševní zdraví * MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• imunoglobulin G krev   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• ochranné faktory MeSH
• protilátky helmintové krev   MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Toxocara canis imunologie   MeSH
• toxokaróza * epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• protilátky helmintové MeSH

BACKGROUND: The period of early childhood bears significant importance from the lifespan perspective. Children from marginalized Roma communities face several risk factors that endanger their early development. Based on the gaps in available evidence, the aim of the RomaREACH research project (Research on Early Childhood in marginalized Roma communities) is, therefore, to explore the complex mechanisms influencing psychomotor development in the first 3 years of a child's life in marginalized Roma communities, and to translate and adapt instruments for measuring development and parenting in marginalized Roma communities and assess their psychometric qualities and suitability METHODS: The project comprises two parts. The first part is a validation study of the translated Caregiver-Reported Early Development Instrument (CREDI) and the Comprehensive Early Childhood Parenting Questionnaire (CECPAQ), tools for the assessment of early development and of parenting strategies and practices. The second part is a longitudinal cohort study, in which the relationships of risk and protective factors with development are explored. DISCUSSION: The RomaREACH project is a multicomponent study of social determinants of health and development in early childhood that can provide new evidence on the relationship of risk and protective factors with early development. Such young children from difficult-to-reach marginalized Roma communities are rarely included in research, and information about the scope and the extent of inequities in health and development in the period of early childhood is scarce. The expected results of the RomaREACH project have the potential to influence policy and practice by providing validated tools and evidence-based insights that can help mitigate the developmental risks faced by children in marginalized Roma communities and contribute to improving developmental outcomes and equity.

• MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• psychometrie metody   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• rodičovství psychologie   MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• sociální determinanty zdraví MeSH
• vývoj dítěte * MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly affecting poor and marginalised populations. These infections significantly contribute to children's diseases, malnutrition, poor school performance, cognitive disorders, and future economic losses. This study aimed to explore and compare the occurrence of intestinal parasites in early childhood among the group of infants from the Slovak majority population and from marginalised Roma communities (MRCs). Furthermore, it aimed to explore the health complaints of children with and without intestinal parasitic infection in the past month and assess the effect of various risk factors on the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection in infants from MRCs. METHODS: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers and stool samples of their children aged 13-21 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study. A total of 181 stools from infants were analysed: 105 infants from the Slovak majority population and 76 from MRCs. RESULTS: Infants from MRCs are significantly more often infected by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Giardia duodenalis than their better-off peers from the majority population. Infection rates are 30% in infants from MRCs vs. 0% in the majority population (p < 0.001). Single and mixed infections were observed in children from MRCs. Infants with intestinal parasitic infections suffer significantly more often from various health complaints, particularly cough, stomach ache, irritability, and diarrhoea. Within MRCs, the risk of parasitic infections in infants is significantly increased by risk factors such as the absence of flushing toilets in households (OR = 4.17, p < 0.05) and contact with un-dewormed animals (OR = 3.61, p < 0.05). Together with the absence of running water in the household, these three factors combined increase the risk more than ten times (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Maintaining hygienic standards in conditions of socioeconomic deprivation in MRCs without running water and sewage in the presence of un-dewormed animals is problematic. These living conditions contribute to the higher prevalence of parasitic infections in children from MRCs, causing various health complaints and thus threatening their health and healthy development.

• Klíčová slova
• Early childhood, Health complaints, Hygienic standards, Marginalised Roma communities, Parasitic infections, Risk factors, Un-dewormed animals,
• MeSH
• feces * parazitologie   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• parazitární nemoci střev * epidemiologie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Romové * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika epidemiologie   MeSH

The rhabditid nematode Strongyloides stercoralis is known worldwide as the causative agent of strongyloidiasis in humans. In addition to public health concerns, S. stercoralis also infects dogs, which represent a possible reservoir for potentially zoonotic transmissions. We describe the first confirmed case of fatal disseminated infection in a dog in the Czech Republic. The microscopic and histological results were supported by a complex genotyping approach. Using high-throughput sequencing of the hypervariable region (HVR-IV) of 18S rDNA and Sanger sequencing of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), the potentially zoonotic haplotype/lineage A of S. stercoralis was confirmed, while the solely canine haplotype/lineage B was not found. The development of the disease is mainly associated with immunodeficiency, and in this case, it was triggered by inappropriate treatment, in particular the use of corticosteroids.

• Klíčová slova
• Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongyloidiasis, dog, high-throughput sequencing, zoonotic,
• MeSH
• DNA helmintů MeSH
• fatální výsledek MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• nemoci psů * parazitologie   MeSH
• psi MeSH
• respirační komplex IV genetika   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S genetika   analýza   MeSH
• Strongyloides stercoralis * genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• strongyloidiáza * veterinární   parazitologie   diagnóza   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• vysoce účinné nukleotidové sekvenování * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA helmintů MeSH
• respirační komplex IV MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S MeSH

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare selected early childhood health risks and health outcomes of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with those of the majority. METHODS: We obtained cross-sectional data from mother-child dyads from the majority (N = 109) and MRCs (N = 143) via questionnaires and from medical records. Socioeconomic status, health risks and health outcomes were compared using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests in SPSS. RESULTS: Mothers from MRCs reported significantly worse socioeconomic status. Air quality in the households in MRCs was significantly worse, affected by heating with stoves, burning fresh wood and indoor smoking. The diet composition of children from MRCs was characterized by shorter breastfeeding and unhealthy diet composition less fresh fruits and vegetables, more processed meat products, and sweet and salty snacks. Children from MRCs more often suffered from respiratory and diarrheal diseases, used antibiotics and were hospitalized. CONCLUSION: The health and healthy development of children living in MRCs is endangered by various poverty-related factors. Persistent differences in exposures and health in early childhood should be a priority goal of the state's social and health policies.

• Klíčová slova
• early childhood, health, health risks, marginalized Roma communities, poverty,
• MeSH
• dieta MeSH
• hodnocení výsledků zdravotní péče MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• společenská třída MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The Roma are Europe's largest minority. They are also one of its most disadvantaged, with low levels of education and health and high levels of poverty. Research on Roma health often reveals higher burdens of disease in the communities studied. This paper aims to review the literature on communicable diseases among Roma across Eastern and Central Europe. A PubMed search was carried out for communicable diseases among Roma in these parts of Europe, specifically in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and North Macedonia. The papers were then screened for relevance and utility. Nineteen papers were selected for review; most of them from Slovakia. Roma continue to have a higher prevalence of communicable diseases and are at higher risk of infection than the majority populations of the countries they live in. Roma children in particular have a particularly high prevalence of parasitic disease. However, these differences in disease prevalence are not present across all diseases and all populations. For example, when Roma are compared to non-Roma living in close proximity to them, these differences are often no longer significant.

• Klíčová slova
• Central and Eastern Europe, Roma, communicable diseases, review,
• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium * MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• infekční nemoci * epidemiologie   MeSH
• kryptosporidióza * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Romové * MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Rumunsko MeSH
• východní Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH