Proširenost nematoda Capillaria hepatica u smeđeg štakora (Rattus norvegicus) u Hrvatskoj.

An analytical cross-sectional study of Capillaria hepatica in 307 Norway (brown) rats (Rattus norvegicus) was performed. Rats were trapped in two rural regions in Croatia. The prevalence of adult C. hepatica was 1.95%. The parasite was observed in 6 rats. Of these, 3 out of 189 (1.59%) were male and 3 out of 118 (2.54%) female. The adult parasite was a more common finding in large rats and was observed in 5 (1.95%) large rats and in one (2.17%) intermediate rat. Adult C. hepatica was not found among 4 examined young rats. Positive rats were derived from only four households. Clustering of adult parasites found among examined 17 households was significant (P<0.001). Eggs of C. hepatica were found in 12 (3.91%) rats. The majority of positive rats with adult C. hepatica had parasite eggs (P<0.001) and having adult parasite in livers, increases of 210 × odds of having parasite eggs in intestines (OR=210, P<0.001).Pretraženo je 307 smeđih štakora (Rattus norvegicus), podrijetlom iz dvije županije u Hrvatskoj, na prisutnost nematoda Capillaria hepatica. Proširenost adulta C. hepatica bila je 1,95%. Parazit je nađen u šest štakora, i to u tri od 189 mužjaka (1,59%) i tri od 118 ženki (2,54%). Adulti C. hepatica su nađeni češće u velikih štakora i to u 5 (1,95%), i u 1 (2,17%) štakora srednje veličine, dok u mladih štakora adulti C. hepatica nisu nađeni. Pozitivni štakori su potjecali iz samo 4 dvorišta. Nađeno grupiranje odraslih parazita među 17 dvorišta bilo je značajno (P<0,001). Jajašca C. hepatica nađena su u 12 (3,91%) štakora. Većina pozitivnih štakora s adultima C. hepatica imali su i parazitska jajašca (P<0,001)

Trichinelosis - zoonosis of world proportion

Trihineloza ljudi i životinja je značajan javno zdravstveni problem u svijetu. To se odnosi i na Republiku Hrvatsku u kojoj se trihineloza suzbija po Zakonu. Sprečavanje invazije ljudi se u svijetu pa i u nas temelji na već tradicionalnim metodama trihineloskopije i umjetne probave kao i opće naobrazbe pučanstva glede načina pripreme mesa. Rizik za invaziju svinja uzgajanih u modernim farmama je zanemariv, stoga je već u Sad-u i Europskoj Uniji promovirana ideja o registraciji i evidentiranju farmi s dobrom proizvođačkom praksom u kojima je rizik od trihineloze gotovo zanemariv. Za napomenuti je da bi se takav alternativni način kontrole mogao provesti samo u nekim neendemskim područjima poput SAD-a i nekih država u sklopu Europske Unije. Prethodna zamisao Komisije Europske Unije o proglašavanju područja slobodnih od trihineloze (Trichinella - free area) je opovrgnuta posebice nakon što su u posljednje vrijeme dokazane nemogućnosti potpune kontrole u divljih životinja. Glede toga jedina moguća alternativa pored tradicionalne postmortalne pretrage je implementacija načela programa “Od štale do stola”Trichinelosis among people and animals is a significant public health issue in the world. This also refers to the Republic of Croatia in which trichinelosis is kept under control by law. Prevention of invasion among people, in Croatia as well as in the world, is based on methods of trichineloscopy and artificial digestion, which have become traditional, as well as on comprehensive education of people in relation to meat preparation. The risk of invasion among pigs bred in modern farms is irrelevant, so the idea of registering and recording farms that have a good manufacturing practice, where the risk of trichinelosis is almost negligible, has been promoted in the USA and EU. It is also important to mention that this alternative way of control could be implemented only in some non-endemic areas like the USA and some countries within the EU. The former idea about declaring Trichinella-free areas, supported by the European Union Comission, has been disproved, especially since impossibilities of complete control of wild animals have been proved. In regard to this, the only possible alternative, apart from the traditional post-mortal examinations, is the implementation of principles stated in «From stable to table» programme

Seroprevalencija i mogući rizični čimbenici za zarazu nametnikom Neospora caninum u mliječnih goveda u Hrvatskoj

Neospora caninum, a cyst forming coccidian parasite, is an important cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. The present work aims to update knowledge of the presence of Neospora in cattle from Croatia. The survey was carried out on dairy cows in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County in northwest Croatia (2652 km2). The cows were selected by simple randomization from county dairy producer records. Cows were tested for the presence of N. caninum antibodies with the Neospora-Ab iscom enzyme-linked immunoassay kit (SVANOVIR). N. caninum antibodies were detected in 23 from 395 (5.6%, confifi dence interval (CI); CI 95%; 3.5 to 8.1) lactating cows. Epidemiological studies of potential risk factors, such as the presence of a dog, cat, swine, free range poultry and management practices, such as silage processing and pasture practising showed that none of these factors was associated with N. caninum antibodies. Seropositivity of cows was associated to abortion (odds ratio (OR); OR = 8.307, P = 0.002) and to purchasing of replacement animals from other sources (OR = 5.27, P = 0.0002). A strong correlation was also found between antibodies, history of abortion and origin (imported animals) of heifers or cows (OR = 5.52; P = 0.001).Neospora caninum, cistotvorna kokcidija, značajan je uzročnik pobačaja u goveda u čitavom svijetu. U radu su prikazani novi podatci o prisutnosti protutijela za neosporu u goveda u Hrvatskoj. Istraživanje je provedeno na mliječnim kravama na području Bjelovarsko-bilogorske županije (2652 km2). Životinje su odabrane metodom slučajnoga odabira iz registra proizvođača. Krave su bile pretražene na prisutnost protutijela za N. caninum imunoenzimnim testom (SVANOVIR). Protutijela su bila dokazana u 23 od 395 pretraženih krava u laktaciji (5,6%, interval povjerenja (CI) 95%: 3,5 do 8,1). Epidemiološko istraživanje s ciljem određivanja mogućih rizičnih čimbenika kao što su prisutnost pasa, mačaka, svinja, slobodno držane peradi te menadžment farme koji uključuje pripremu i skladištenje silaže te načine ispaše pokazala su da niti jedan od prije navedenih čimbenika nije povezan s prisutnošću protutijela protiv N. caninum. Seropozitivnost krava bila je povezana s pobačajima (odds (OR) = 8,307, P = 0,002) i s uvođenjem u stado životinja iz drugih stada (OR = 5.27, P = 0.0002). Također je dokazana snažna povezanost između seropozitivnosti, pobačaja i podrijetla (uvezene životinje) junica ili krava (OR = 5,52; P = 0,001

Serološko istraživanje lajmske borelioze u pasa s područja grada Zagreba u Hrvatskoj.

Sera from 120 apparently healthy dogs, 74 purebred, 46 mixed-bred, 57 females and 63 males in the Zagreb area (Croatia) were examined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. During triple i/v immunization of dog at 1, 7 and 14 day, on each occasion with 5 ml 1.4×107 cells/ml of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, strain B31 ATCC 35210, a positive control serum was obtained at day 28 p.i., while negative control serum was obtained prior to immunization. The antigen for ELISA was prepared from the same bacterial strain sonicated on ice. The sonicate was quantified by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrilamid gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi were estimated in 6 (5%) samples of dog sera in titre ranging from 1:100 to 1:2000 (Optical density-OD=0.650 + 36.49, n=6). Antibodies to B. burgdorferi were found in two females and four males, two Labrador retrievers and in one German shepherd, a Hungarian viszla, one cocker spaniel, and a German wirehaired pointer at 2.5 to 8 years of age. Of 114 seronegative samples three samples were found to be very close to the margin of optical density that determined seropositive result (OD=0.562). Estimated seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi in dog sera suggested that dogs in the Zagreb area are infected with B. burgdorferi and that the Zagreb area is part of a wider Central European Lyme boreliosis endemic area.Imunoenzimnim testom (ELISA) pretraženo je 120 uzoraka klinički zdravih pasa, 74 čistokrvna, 46 križanih, 57 ženki i 63 mužjaka područja grada Zagreba na prisutnost protutijela za B. burgdorferi. Trokratnom i/v imunizacijom psa 1., 7. i 14. dana s po 5 ml kulture B. burgdorferi sensu stricto soj B 31 ATCC 35210 u količini 1,4 × 107 bakterija/ml dobiven je 28. dan od početka imunizacije pozitivni kontrolni serum, a negativni je uzet prije imunizacije. Od istog soja načinjen je ultrazvučno lizirani antigen za imunoenzimni testž (ELISA) čiji je proteinski sastav određen elektroforezom u poliakrilamidnom gelu uz dodatak natrijevog dodecilsulfata (sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrilamid gel electrophoresis - SDS PAGE). U 6 (5%) uzoraka seruma pasa ustanovljen je titar IgG protutijela od 1:500 do 1:2000 (ODp=0,650 + 36,49, n=6) u dvije kuje i četiri psa u dobi od 2,5 do 8 god., u dva labradora i po jednog njemačkog ovčara, mađarske vižle, koker španijela i njemačkog oštrodlakog ptičara. Od 114 seruma u kojih apsorpcijska vrijednost nije prelazila graničnu apsorpcijsku vrijednost za pozitivne (OD=0,562) u tri seruma apsorpcijska vrijednost je bila blizu granične apsorpcijske vrijednosti. Ustanovljena IgG protutijela za B. burgdorferi u serumima pasa ukazuju da psi područja grada Zagreba bivaju inficirani bakterijom B. burgdorferi i da je to područje dio šireg srednjeeuropskog endemskog žarišta lajmske borelioze

Use of ELISA for detection of Trichinella spiralis during veterinary-sanitary inspection of meat of pigs

Epizootiološka situacija s trihinelozom svinja u Republici Hrvatskoj, posebice u njezinim istočnim županijama nije povoljna. Službena metoda pretrage mesa svinja umjetnom probavom, s obzirom na svoju osjetljivost, može spriječiti oboljenje ljudi, ali je nedostatna u uspješnom suzbijanju lanca širenja trihineloze. ELISA kao osjetljiva metoda pretrage, mora pronaći svoje mjesto u epidemiološkim istraživanjima i monitoringu uzgoja svinja nekih područja Republike Hrvatske, pa i pojedinačnih farmskih uzgoja, radi određivanja epizootiološkog statusa promatrane populacije svinja. Na ovaj se način za života mogu izdvojiti sve sumnjive svinje (pozitivne, lažno pozitivne, ali i lažno negativne), a preostali dio populacije se zatim može klati bilo u registriranim klaonicama, bilo u obiteljskim gospodarstvima, bez bojazni da će se previdjeti svinje s trihinelozom ispod detekcije mogućnosti klasične trihineloskopije. Uvođenje imunoenzimnog testa na liniji klanja svinja kao jedine metode pretrage nije moguće, i to prvenstveno radi pojave manjeg broja lažno negativnih životinja, koje u epidemiološkom smislu predstavljaju veliki rizik u lancu širenja ove bolesti, a u određenim okolnostima mogu dovesti i do oboljenja ljudi.Epizootiological situation with trichinellosis of pigs in the Republic of Croatia, especially in its Eastern counties, is not favourable. The currently prescribed officialmethod of classical trichinelloscopy, with respect to its sensibility, can prevent the infection of people, but it is definitely insufficient for an efficient prevention of the spreading chain of trichinellosis. ELISA, as a more sensitive method of inspection, has to find its place in epidemiological researches and monitoring of pig breeding in some regions of Croatia, as well as in individual farm breeding, in order to determine the epizootiological status of the pig population that is being monitored. In this way it would be possible to separate all suspicious pigs while alive (positive, false-positive, but false- negative, too), and the remaining part of the population could be then slaughtered in the registered slaughter-houses, as well as on family farms, without fear that the infected pigs would be overlooked because it is beyond the detecting possibilities of classical trichinelloscopy. The introduction of ELISA on a range of pig slaughters as the only method of inspection is not possible, firstlybecause of the occurrence of a smaller number of falsely negative animals, which, in epidemiological sense, represent a great risk in the spreading chain of this disease, which can lead in certain circumstances to infection of people

Prvo izvješće o nalazu velikog američkog metilja (Fascioloides magna, Bassi, 1875) u Hrvatskoj.

Cases of American liver fluke (Fascioloides magna) were detected in Croatia for the first time in January 2000. Initial suspicions with regard to the presence of Fascioloides magna in the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) population were raised in Baranja, eastern Croatia, during the winter of 1999. Red deer liver samples from that area were examined and 22 adult parasites were recovered. The parasites, as well as mature eggs, were determined to be Fascioloides magna. The parasite was probably introduced into the Baranja region by natural deer migration from neighbouring Hungary.Tijekom siječnja 2000. godine po prvi puta je ustanovljena prisutnost velikog američkog metilja (Fascioloides magna) u Hrvatskoj. Sumnja na njegovu prisutnost u populaciji jelena običnog (Cervus elaphus L.) postavljena je tijekom zime 1999. godine u istočnom dijelu Hrvatske, odnosno Baranje. Dostavljeni i pregledani uzorak jetre jelena običnog s tog područja sadržavao je 22 odrasla parazita. Paraziti i zrela jajašca determinirani su kao Fascioloides magna. Paraziti su vjerojatno uneseni na područje Baranje prirodnom migracijom jelena iz susjedne Mađarske