Dermacentor reticulatus: a vector on the rise

Dermacentor reticulatus is a hard tick species with extraordinary biological features. It has a high reproduction rate, a rapid developmental cycle, and is also able to overcome years of unfavourable conditions. Dermacentor reticulatus can survive under water for several months and is cold-hardy even compared to other tick species. It has a wide host range: over 60 different wild and domesticated hosts are known for the three active developmental stages. Its high adaptiveness gives an edge to this tick species as shown by new data on the emergence and establishment of D. reticulatus populations throughout Europe. The tick has been the research focus of a growing number of scientists, physicians and veterinarians. Within the Web of Science database, more than a fifth of the over 700 items published on this species between 1897 and 2015 appeared in the last three years (2013–2015). Here we attempt to synthesize current knowledge on the systematics, ecology, geographical distribution and recent spread of the species and to highlight the great spectrum of possible veterinary and public health threats it poses. Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is a severe leading canine vector-borne disease in many endemic areas. Although less frequently than Ixodes ricinus, D. reticulatus adults bite humans and transmit several Rickettsia spp., Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus or Tick-borne encephalitis virus. We have not solely collected and reviewed the latest and fundamental scientific papers available in primary databases but also widened our scope to books, theses, conference papers and specialists colleagues’ experience where needed. Besides the dominant literature available in English, we also tried to access scientific literature in German, Russian and eastern European languages as well. We hope to inspire future research projects that are necessary to understand the basic life-cycle and ecology of this vector in order to understand and prevent disease threats. We conclude that although great strides have been made in our knowledge of the eco-epidemiology of this species, several gaps still need to be filled with basic research, targeting possible reservoir and vector roles and the key factors resulting in the observed geographical spread of D. reticulatus. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1599-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Fungal diversity of root vegetables and soil rhizosphere collected from organic and conventional farms in Eastern Poland

Objective. Determination of the concentration and species composition of filamentous fungi in root vegetables (carrots and red beetroots), and the adjacent rhizosphere soil, collected on organic and conventional farms in Eastern Poland. Materials and method. During the period 2015–2016, a total number of 80 samples of vegetables and 40 samples of soil were examined. From each type of farm, 20 samples of vegetables and 20 samples of the adjacent soil were examined. In addition, the study included 20 samples of vegetables from organic farms and 20 samples of vegetables from conventional farms purchased on the markets in the city of Lublin in Eastern Poland. In order to determine the concentration and species composition of filamentous fungi, both in vegetables and soil, the method of plate dilutions on Malt Agar medium (Difco) with chloramphenicol was used. The study was conducted in two parallel repetitions. Inoculated media were incubated at the temperature of 30° C for 72 hours, then at room temperature for 72 hours. The species composition of fungal flora was determined using macroscopic and microscopic methods, with the help of keys and atlases. Results. It was found that the mean concentration of fungi was higher in vegetables and soil from conventional farms than in those from organic farms. In the case of carrots and soil from conventional farms, this concentration was 4.93 and 5.10 log10 CFU g-1, respectively, whereas from organic farms – respectively, 3.81 and 4.20 log10 CFU g-1. In the case of beetroots and soil from conventional farms, the mean concentrations were also higher compared to organic farms – 5.09 vs. 3.93 and 4.95 vs. 4.23 log10 CFU g-1. In the examined vegetables and rhizosphere soil, 61 species of filamentous fungi were found, of which 12 belonged to the genus Penicillium, 4 to the genus Fusarium, and 2 species each to the genera: Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Trichoderma. As many as 28 (45.9%) fungal species that occurred in vegetables and soil are regarded as pathogenic for humans

Prevention of zoonotic diseases other than tick-borne

W Polsce występuje co najmniej 31 ważnych patogenów (wirusy, bakterie, grzyby, pierwotniaki, robaki), wywołujących zawodowe choroby odzwierzęce inne niż odkleszczowe. Spośród tych patogenów 9 przekazywanych jest głównie drogą powietrzną, 9 - drogą pokarmową i 13 - drogą kontaktu bezpośredniego przez skórę i/lub błony śluzowe. Najważniejsze kierunki profilaktyki chorób odzwierzęcych obejmują: utrzymywanie czystości w pomieszczeniach dla zwierząt i dokonywanie okresowych dezynfekcji, stosowanie odzieży ochronnej i sprzętu ochrony osobistej, profilaktykę medyczną, wybijanie zagrożonych stad, tępienie gryzoni, szczepienia ochronne ludzi i zwierząt, zachowanie szczególnej ostrożności przy odbieraniu porodów u przeżuwaczy, przestrzeganie zasad higieny przy spożywaniu pokarmów i wody i edukację zdrowotną.In Poland, there are at least 31 important pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths) causing occupational zoonotic diseases other than tick-borne. Of that number, 9 are transmitted mainly by airborne route, 9 by alimentary route and 13 by direct contact through the skin and/or mucous membranes.The main directions using protective clothing and equipment, medical prophylaxis, eradicating endangered flocks, combating rodents, vaccinating humans and animals, taking precautions at parturitions of ruminants, maintaining hygiene at food and water consumption, and health education

Missions of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in rural and urban areas in Poland - a comparative retrospective analysis

Introduction. Mortality due to various causes, despite continuous efforts to improve the quality of medical services, is a serious problem for modern healthcare systems. Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the cause of over 15 million deaths annually, and are therefore known as the world’s number one killer. Objective. The aim of this study is to characterise the missions and the most common reasons for dispatching Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) crews, with special emphasis on the differences between urban and rural areas. Materials and method. The study was conducted using a retrospective analysis of HEMS missions, including flights to accidents and diseases carried out by HEMS crews in Poland from January 2014 – December 2018. The final analysis included 35,213 cases of HEMS missions. Results. The study group consisted mainly of male patients (66.40%), aged 50–64 (22.06%), mean age of the entire analysed group – 47.71 (SD: 25.96). The main reason for HEMS missions were strokes (21.63%). Analysis of patients’ clinical status revealed that the clinical status of patients treated in rural areas was more severe, which was indicated by the Glasgow Coma Scale – GCS (12.03 vs 12.35) and the Revised Trauma Scale – RTS (10.14 vs 10.60) scores. When assessed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score, body injuries and fatal diseases were observed more often in patients in rural areas (NACA 7 6.12% vs 3.46%) (p<0.05). Conclusions. Multi-organ injuries, head traumas, sudden cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injuries, collapse and epilepsy, were more frequent reasons for HEMS missions in rural areas than in urban areas