Coxiella burnetii in Humans and Ticks in Rural Senegal

Q fever is a zoonotic disease known since 1937. The disease may be severe, causing pneumonia, hepatitis and endocarditis. Q fever agent has been described as a possible biological weapon. Animals—especially domestic cows, goats and sheep—are considered reservoirs for this infection. They are capable of sustaining the infection for long periods and excreting viable bacteria, infecting other animals and, occasionally, humans. Here we studied the distribution of Q fever in a poorly studied region, Senegal. We studied the agent of Q fever both in ticks parasitizing domestic animals and in humans (antibodies in serum, bacteria in feces, saliva and milk). We found from the studied regions the bacterium is highly prevalent in rural Senegal. Up to 37.6% of five different and most prevalent tick species may carry the bacterium. Humans living in such areas, as other mammals, may occasionally excrete Q fever agent through feces and milk

Seasonal dynamics of Ceratophyllus sciurorum sciurorum [Schrank, 1803] [Siphonaptera] in Slovakia

The authors pay attention to an occurrence of the taxon Ceratophyllus sciurorum sciurorum (Schrank, 1803) (Siphonaptera) in Slovakia during the whole season. The curve of occurrence this taxon of fleas has showed two high points. The first top has been achieved in April and second one followed in October. In December the authors have noticed a period and named it "cocoon block". This course of the curve has been found at the species from family Myoxidae, mostly. On the other hand, the course of curve of the birdboxes nesters has the opossite position, the high points have been recorded in autumn. A conspicuous differences has been probably caused by different biology of nesters of Myoxidae and birds in boxes. The ratio of males to females these ecological groups of hosts was different, too