The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is an expanding species in Europe in recent decades due to reintroductions and natural population growth. Beavers expanded rapidly in the second half of the 20th century, and their expansion was particularly rapid in the Danube basin. Nowadays, the majority of the continuous population located in the central and eastern parts of the continent and a large disjunct population in Norway and Sweden. Despite the increasing population size, the role of the beaver as a source of waterborne pathogens is not firmly established or is often inferred from circumstantial data. In order to extend knowledge about the composition of the parasite fauna of beavers occurring in Slovakia, 21 faecal samples taken near their burrows from three sites (located in the Topľa, Poprad and Danube river basin) were examined microscopically and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR-positive specimens were further examined by DNA sequencing. Parasites were detected in 21% of the examined beavers, specifically the protozoa Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 2), Blastocystis sp. (n = 1), and microsporidia Enterocytozoon bieneusi (n = 1) and Encephalitozoon spp. (n = 1). Using the sequence analysis, two variants of Cryptosporidium proliferans, a new subtype of Blastocystis sp., genotype D of E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis were identified. A putatively novel Blastocystis subtype (ST), originated from a site near the Danube river (southwestern Slovakia), was proposed based on high genetic divergence from the closest described subtype ST12 (11.9%) and unique phylogenetic position in a clade composed of ST's 35-38. The increased risk of zoonotic transmission or transmission to other animals was particularly evident in the site near the Topľa river (northeastern Slovakia), where fungal spores of zoonotic genotype D of E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis, together with oocysts of the potentially zoonotic C. proliferans, were found.

• Klíčová slova
• Gastrointestinal parasites, Molecular analysis, Protected animals, Protozoan, Rodents, Zoonoses,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The nutria was introduced to Europe from South America and kept for the fur industry. This semiaquatic rodent became a well-established species in the Czech Republic; however, it still poses a significant threat to the native fauna, not only as a natural competitor but also as a vector of non-indigenous parasites. Our research aimed to investigate the diversity of endoparasitic helminths in nutria, with a particular focus on assessing the risk posed by helminth species with zoonotic potential. A total of 46 nutria cadavers were collected at 8 locations in the Morava River basin and examined using standard parasitological post-mortem procedures. Additionally, coprological and molecular methods were used to identify the parasites. The presence of 6 helminth species was revealed. The highest prevalence was observed for Strongyloides myopotami (78.3%) and Trichuris myocastoris (37.0%), both of which are host-specific nematodes of nutria. Only 2 trematode taxa were recorded (Echinostoma sp. and a representative of the family Psilostomidae). The presence of alveolar hydatid cysts of Echinococcus multilocularis in the livers of 5 nutria specimens was also recorded. Herein, we provide novel molecular data for each parasite species collected, which is valuable for future phylogenetic analyses. Our findings also demonstrate that nutria in the Czech Republic serve as a carrier of helminths with zoonotic potential, particularly E. multilocularis and S. myopotami. Although the nutria is a relatively new species in local fauna, its synanthropic behaviour raises concerns about potential threats to human health, underscoring the importance of exercising caution when handling these animals.

• Klíčová slova
• Echinococcus multilocularis, Strongyloides, Trichostrongylidae, biological invasions, coypu, parasites,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• cizopasní červi * izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• helmintózy zvířat * epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• hlodavci * parazitologie   MeSH
• nemoci hlodavců * parazitologie   epidemiologie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH