• MeSH
• larva anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• Toxocara anatomie a histologie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Larval toxocarosis is a zoonosis caused by larvae of Toxocara canis and T. cati, a gastrointestinal nematode of canids and felids, respectively. Diagnosis is usually performed by ELISA IgG using Toxocara excretory-secretory products as an antigen. Due to laboriousness of isolation of the products and subsequent process of standardization of antigenic compounds, routine use of this method is limited and can produce inaccurate diagnostical results. The purpose of this study was to discover new specific antigenic proteins that could be used in routine serological methods of larval toxocarosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Toxocara excretory-secretory products were collected and separated by SDS-PAGE. Proteins from the gel were electro-transferred to a membrane and incubated with mouse sera. Antigenic proteins were analyzed using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach. Selected proteins were prepared in recombinant form and tested with mice and human sera by ELISA and Western blot. RESULTS: A total of four recombinant protein antigens were prepared (rTc-TES-26, rTc-ASA, rTc-PDP, and rTc-ASP). They were analyzed by ELISA and Western blot using mice and human sera. For all sera, three of the four recombinant antigens correlated with Toxocara excretory-secretory products in ELISA analysis. By Western blot, the infection was confirmed in all experimentally infected mice and two out of seven human patients. CONCLUSION: Combination of the presented methods and analyses represents a possible method of effective identification of Toxocara protein antigens for the purpose of routine serodiagnosis.

• Klíčová slova
• Antigen, Diagnostics, Recombinant protein, Toxocara canis, Toxocariasis, Toxocarosis,
• MeSH
• antigeny helmintové MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• larva MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• Toxocara canis * MeSH
• Toxocara MeSH
• toxokaróza * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antigeny helmintové MeSH

The nematodes Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) and Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) have been associated with worse human cognitive function in children and middle-aged adults. In this study, we sought to determine the association between Toxocara seropositivity and serointensity determined by detection of IgG antibodies against the Toxocara antigen recombinant Tc-CTL-1 and cognitive function in older adults, including approximately 1,350 observations from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mean fluorescence intensity was used to quantify IgG antibodies against the Toxocara recombinant Tc-CTL-1 antigen, and respondents were considered positive at values greater than 23.1. In adjusted models from sample sizes ranging from 1,274 to 1,288 depending on the individual cognitive task, we found that Toxocara seropositivity was associated with worse performance on the animal-fluency task (b = -1.245, 95% CI: -2.392 to -0.099, P< 0.05) and the digit-symbol coding task (b = -5.159, 95% CI: -8.337 to -1.980, P< 0.001). Toxocara serointensity assessed using log-transformed mean fluorescence intensity as a continuous variable was associated with worse performance on the digit-symbol coding task (b = -1.880, 95% CI: -2.976 to -0.783, P < 0.001). There were no significant associations with tasks assessing memory. Further, age modified the association between Toxocara and cognitive function, although sex, educational attainment, and income did not. These findings suggest that Toxocara might be associated with deficits in executive function and processing speed in older U.S. adults, although additional research is required to better describe cognitive function in older adults who are seropositive for Toxocara spp.

• Klíčová slova
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, cognition, toxocariasis,
• MeSH
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• kognice MeSH
• Toxocara MeSH
• toxokaróza * komplikace   diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• výživa - přehledy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• imunoglobulin G MeSH

Using a small animal imaging system, migratory activity of Toxocara canis larvae stained by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) was observed post primary infection (PPI) and post reinfection (PR) of BALB/c mice. Each infection was performed with 1,000 larvae per mouse. Primary infections were performed with labeled larvae, while for challenge infections the reinfecting larvae were stained by CFSE. The worm burden in mouse organs was determined during a period from 6 h to 21 days and 4 months PPI and PR. In comparison with primary infections that led to the first larvae appearance in the brain after 60 h, greatly accelerated migration of the parasites administered 3 weeks PPI to the CNS and eyes of challenged mice was noted-in both organs the larvae appeared 6 h PR. In all challenged mice, reinfecting larvae prevailed in the resident parasite population. Preliminary experiments with Toxocara cati larvae also revealed early brain involvement in primarily infected mice. Staining of T. canis larvae by CFSE had no effect on the development of a humoral antibody response against T. canis excretory-secretory antigens. In ELISA, elevated levels of specific IgG and IgG1 were noted on day 14 PPI and the levels of antibodies increased till the end of experiment. Reinfection induced an increase in the levels of both antibodies. In terms of optical density, IgG1 antibodies gave higher values in all sera examined. In ELISA for IgG antibodies, an increase in the avidity index of around 50% was detected 1 month PPI; higher-avidity antibodies were also detected in sera of reinfected animals.

• MeSH
• barvení a značení MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• helmintózy centrálního nervového systému patologie   MeSH
• imunoglobulin G krev   MeSH
• larva patogenita   MeSH
• mozek parazitologie   MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oči parazitologie   MeSH
• oční nemoci parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• parazitární zátěž MeSH
• protilátky helmintové krev   MeSH
• Toxocara canis patogenita   MeSH
• toxokaróza parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• protilátky helmintové MeSH

BACKGROUND: Larval toxocarosis (LT), a zoonotic disease transmitted by dogs, cats, and other carnivores, is caused by roundworms of the genus Toxocara. Humans become infected by ingesting embryonated eggs of this parasite. In this study, we present data on the seroprevalence of LT in the Czech Republic collected by the National Reference Laboratory for Tissue Helminthoses in 2012-2016. METHODS: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a total of 4428 adults and children with or without clinical symptoms were examined for the presence of IgG antibodies against Toxocara canis excretory-secretory antigens. RESULTS: Of all the persons examined, specific Toxocara antibodies were detected in 160 (3.6%) individuals. There were, however, significant differences between various regions, with seropositivity rates ranging from 1.4 to 7.5%. CONCLUSION: In comparison to studies from 1998 and 2004, our results suggest a decrease in overall Toxocara seroprevalence in the Czech population, whereby the rates are similar to or even lower than rates in some other Central European countries.

• Klíčová slova
• Czech Republic, Seroprevalence, Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, Toxocarosis, Zoonosis,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• imunoglobulin G krev   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• larva MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• protilátky helmintové krev   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
• Toxocara izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• toxokaróza krev   epidemiologie   MeSH
• zoonózy epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• protilátky helmintové MeSH

The ascarid nematodes Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) and Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) may infect humans resulting in toxocariasis. A prior study associated species of Toxocara Stiles, 1905 with cognitive deficits in children. To determine if a similar association between toxocariasis and cognition exists in adults, we analysed a large dataset from the United States' Center for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We used linear-regression and multivariate models to examine the association between toxocariasis as assessed by the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies and three measures of cognitive function - simple reaction time (SRT), symbol-digit substitution (SDS) and serial-digit learning (SDL) in 4 279 adults aged 21 to 59 years. Toxocara seroprevalence did not vary with age or blood-lead concentration but did vary with gender, ethnicity, educational attainment and poverty-to-income ratio. Controlling for gender, age, blood-lead concentration, educational attainment, ethnic background and the poverty-to-income ratio, we found that toxocariasis predicted worse performance on the SDS but not on the SRT or the SDL. Moreover, there were significant interactions between toxocariasis and age, gender and educational attainment. In conclusion, toxocariasis appears to be associated with decreased cognitive function. Interactions between toxocariasis and gender, age and educational attainment further suggest that certain groups may be more susceptible than others to the cognitive dysfunction associated with toxocariasis in adults.

• Klíčová slova
• Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, cognition,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Cats are important hosts for different zoonotic parasites that can be hazardous to human health. To date, few studies have attempted to identify the factors affecting parasitic infections in shelter animals. This study aims to analyse the presence of endoparasites in shelter cats in Tartu, Estonia, and identify factors affecting endoparasite prevalence and intensity. The risk factors considered were age, location (urban vs rural cats) and time spent in shelter. In total, 290 faecal samples were collected from cats at an animal shelter in 2015-2016 and investigated for endoparasites using the concentration flotation technique. In total, 138 shelter cats (47.6%) were infected with endoparasites and their overall prevalence was: Toxocara cati (36.6%), Cystoisospora spp. (12.4%), Taeniidae gen. sp. (4.1%), Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi (3.4%), Eucoleus aerophilus (2.1%), Cryptosporidium spp. (2.1%), Ancylostoma sp. (0.7%) and Giardia sp. (0.7%). Coinfections occurred in 38 cats (13.1%) most frequently of T. cati and Cystoisospora spp. (4.5%), Cystoisospora spp. and T. gondii/H. hammondi (2.1%). Where species identification of cestode and nematode samples was not possible according to morphology, genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 gene was carried out. DNA was successfully analysed for 6 out of 13 samples that required genetic identification, revealing Ancylostoma tubaeforme in one nematode sample and Hydatigera taeniaeformis in five cestode samples. Cats from rural areas had significantly higher endoparasite prevalence than cats from urban areas. Helminth prevalence decreased to some extent due to anthelmintic treatment in cats available for adoption (held ≥15 days in the shelter), whereas the prevalence of infection with protists increased significantly in these animals. It is important to note that the analysis revealed lower infection intensity for quarantine cats (held 1-14 days in the shelter) compared with cats available for adoption. The relatively high prevalence of endoparasites (including zoonotic) in shelter cats ready for adoption suggests that current anthelminthic procedures require improvements.

• Klíčová slova
• Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Toxocara cati, rural cats, shelter cats, shelter management, urban cats,
• MeSH
• Ancylostoma izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Cestoda izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• cizopasní červi MeSH
• Coccidia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Cryptosporidium izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• Giardia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza MeSH
• hlístice izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• kočky parazitologie   MeSH
• paraziti * klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• respirační komplex IV genetika   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Toxocara izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Toxoplasma izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• zoonózy parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• kočky parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Estonsko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• respirační komplex IV MeSH

Eggs and oocysts of 11 species of parasites were recorded in 21 of 50 sand boxes (200 samples) and in 66 (13.2%) of 500 dog faeces samples from parks and grassy areas in Prague. Toxocara canis was found in 12 sand boxes and in 4.2% of faeces samples and T. cati in one sand box and one sample of dog faeces.

• MeSH
• cizopasní červi izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• hra a hračky * MeSH
• Isospora izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• psi parazitologie   MeSH
• rekreace MeSH
• Toxocara izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Československo MeSH

The current trend for a healthy lifestyle corresponds with a healthy diet, which is associated with regular and frequent consumption of raw fruit and vegetables. However, consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) food without heat treatment or sufficient washing may pose a risk to consumers. Among the well-known protozoan parasites associated with RTE food and water are Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Toxoplasma gondii. These belong among prioritized parasitic pathogens, as they are associated with numerous disease outbreaks in humans all around the world. Nevertheless, other parasitic agents such as Cyclospora cayetanensis, Toxocara cati, Toxocara canis, Echinococcus multilocularis and zoonotic microsporidia should not be neglected. Although these selected parasites belong to phylogenetically diverse groups, they have common characteristics associated with fresh produce and each of them poses a health risk to humans. Ensuring healthy food is produced requires the standartization of laboratory methods for the detection of parasitic agents. This article reviews the molecular methods currently used in laboratories for detection of Cyclospora cayetanensis, Toxocara cati, Toxocara canis, Echinococcus multilocularis and zoonotic microsporidia in fresh produce.

• Klíčová slova
• Food safety, Fruit, PCR, Parasite, Vegetables,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Two hundred sand samples from 50 children's sandboxes and 500 samples of dog faeces collected in 10 Prague housing developments were examined for the presence of parasites. Eggs of three helminth species were found in 28% of sandboxes and eggs and oocysts of 10 species of parasites were found in 10.4% of dog faeces. Toxocara canis occurred in 9 sandboxes and 3.2% of dog faeces, T. cati in 0.2% of dog faeces. The results from housing developments are compared with those from older estates.

• MeSH
• bydlení MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• hlístice izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• hra a hračky * MeSH
• ovum MeSH
• psi parazitologie   MeSH
• půda * MeSH
• Strongyloides izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Toxascaris izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Toxocara izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi parazitologie   MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Československo MeSH
• Názvy látek
• půda * MeSH