Anna Biedunkiewicz

Coexistence of Placobdella costata (Fr. Müller, 1846) (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) and mud turtle Emys orbicularis

Emys orbicularis is receding from Europe, mainly due to anthropogenic habitat changes. Its parasite, Placobdella costata, is widely distributed within both the former and the present distribution range of the host. Though closely associated with the mud turtle, it may have other hosts (birds, amphibians, reptiles). Its reproductive period coincides with that of its host’s migration to the breeding grounds, thus facilitating dispersal of the parasite. Based on literature data we have analyzed the geographic spread of P. costata and mud turtle to observe the possible overlap of their habitats. Observations on the population of mud turtle and the associated leech species (P. costata) were carried out in eastern Poland — Podlasie Lowland. The studies were conducted in spring and summer in 1986–1993. The leeches were collected from the turtles caught in the water and on land. Observations showed that most leeches were found on turtles inhabiting the lake or moving to a breeding area. The greatest intensity of invasion was observed in June and July and that most leeches were observed in female E. orbicularis characterized by greater length of the carapace and weight, compared with males and juvenile individuals.

Snow in the city as a spore bank of potentially pathogenic fungi.

This study evaluates the role of snow as a specific ecological niche and a vector in fungal spreading with particular emphasis on potential pathogens in seasonally and daily changing conditions. The experimental material was fungi isolated from the atmospheric air, snow cover, and fragments of ice and soil from underneath the snow cover. The total count of microfungi in the air before snowfall, i.e. in the autumn, reached 1756.1 CFU/m(3) on average. After the first snowfalls, it dropped to 85.2 CFU/m(3). The analyzed samples of snow cover contained from 101.6 to 8500.0 CFU/m(3) of fungi. Furthermore, 26 species of yeast and yeast-like fungi were isolated from the experimental material. Amongst the analyzed species, 13 were potential anthropopathogens. Though another three species were isolated from organ ontocenoses, i.e. Candida intermedia, Saccharomyces bayanus and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, their pathogenic potential has not yet been explicitly confirmed. The results of the presented study may be applied in predicting concentrations of fungal spores responsible for mycoses. The first snowfalls significantly reduced the number of colony-forming units of fungi in the air. Under conditions of temperate climate, snow becomes a temporary bank of yeast-like fungi spores and while it melts cells of deposited microfungi migrate to the atmosphere. Hence, individuals with impaired immunity or in the course of immunosuppression or recovery should avoid long walks during periods of snow melting. The count of fungi in urban bioaerosol during the melt may be reduced through systematic removal of snow cover, which is a significant reservoir of potential pathogens. In addition, it should be noted that even a typical psychrophilic strain, capable of surviving at a temperature of 37°C, may bear a significant pathogenic potential.

Epidemiological Importance of Yeasts Isolated from the Beak and Cloaca of Healthy Charadriiformes

Abstract The paper presents mycological studies conducted jointly with ornithologists on the epidemiology of mycoses and the taxonomic diversity and prevalence of fungi that colonise the selected onthocenoses in healthy, wild migratory birds. Aquatic ecosystem populations of healthy birds include a percentage of carriers of potential zoo- and anthropopathogens, and this studys purpose was to determine the percentage. The studies were performed on swabs sampled in vivo (during spring and autumn migrations) from the beak and cloaca of nine species of Charadriiformes in two age categories. Macro- and microcultures of fungi were prepared according to the standards for diagnostic mycological laboratories. From the 450 birds examined, fungi were isolated from 130 (26.5%) individuals. The sampling yielded 272 yeast isolates: 170 (62.5%) from the beak and 102 (37.5%) from the cloaca. The isolates represented 23 species, among which C. albicans, C. neoformans, and R. rubra were predominant. In both onthocenoses in young and adult birds, more fungi were recorded in autumn than in spring. As many as 15 species are included in the biosafety level classification, of which seven are categorised as category 2 and one as category 3.

Human Mycobiota-Selected Ontocenoses of Students of Natural Science andMedicine

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of yeast-like fungi and yeasts on the mucous membranes of a group of students of Natural Sciences and Medicine. Materials and methods: The study involved 156 students of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology (FB&B) and 37 students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS). Material samples were collected with sterile cotton swab from the nose, mouth and throat. The identification of fungi was carried out by the evaluation of macrocultures and microcultures on Nickerson agar and biochemical features. Results: Yeast-like fungi and yeast were isolated from 41.97% of the subjects (81 people). The fungal colonization of the mucous membrane was observed in 59 students of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology (37.82%) and 22 students (56.46%) of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The obtained fungi were classified into 31 taxonomic units. The predominant species were Candida dubliniensis and Lachancea thermotolerans (syn. Kluyveromyces thermotolerans). 14 species with defined status of BSL were recorded. Conclusions: Yeast and yeast-like fungi were more frequent among students of Biology and Biotechnology, than students of Medical Sciences. In students of FB&B greater taxonomic diversity of fungi was found than in students of FMS. The species diversity and prevalence of fungi observed in students of the Life Sciences are determined not only by lifestyle, but mainly by the possibility and frequency of contact with a variety of reservoirs and sources of potentially pathogenic fungi. The occurrence in human ontocenoses of 14 species classified to 1st and 2nd class of Biosafety Level is also very important.

Effects of some abiotic factors on the occurrence of aquatic mycobiota in lakes of the Drawa National Park

Effects of environmental factors, including acidity, temperature, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphate and total iron content, on the diversity of aquatic mycobiota in lake water were studied in two lakes in Northern Poland in 2005–2007. Fifty four species of fungi and fungus-like organisms were recorded in the sub-surface and benthic of both lakes. There were 36 and 45 species in Lakes Marta and Sitno, respectively. The greatest species diversity was observed with a higher content of oxygen and biogenic compounds in the surface water. Temperature and oxygen content were the most important factors affecting the distribution of mycobiota in lake water.

Black cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (L., 1758) as a vector of fungi and parasites occurring in the gastrointestinal tract

The study reported in this manuscript is a part of extended investigations on transmission of fungi potentially pathogenic to man as well as parasitic flatworms and nematodes by wild fowl. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of fungi and parasites in the gastrointestinal tract of cormorants. Mycological and parasitological analyses were carried out on swabs taken from ontocenoses of beak, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cloaca of 21 cormorants. The presence of fungi in the gastrointestinal tract was detected in 60% of the birds examined. They were isolated most frequently from beaks and cloacae of birds, duodenum was free of fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi were: Candida krusei and Debaryomyces hansenii. All isolates of fungi selected for enzymatic analyses were characterized by a high activity of esterases. Stomachs of all cormorants analyzed were found to contain Contracaecum rudolphii s.l. nematode. In turn, intestinal digesta of most of the birds were shown to contain Paradilepis scolecina tapeworm. Apart from tapeworms, duodenal digesta were also found to contain Paryphostomum radiatum digenea. The highest prevalence and intensity of infection with digenea was determined in the case of the birds shot in July.

Batracobdelloides moogi Nesemann et Csányi, 1995 (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae): Morphometry and structure of the alimentary tract and reproductive system

Batracobdelloides moogi, the species representing the afroasiatic genus, is very poorly known for its biology and anatomy. This species was described on the basis of a small group of samples from south-western Europe. This study presents a morphological analysis and description of the structure of the alimentary tract and reproductive system. Biometry and external morphology were analyzed on 96 individuals and the anatomic structure on 40 individuals. The average length of the examinated specimens was 9.81 mm and the average weight was 0.056 g. The length of proboscis ranged from 2.5 to 4 neurosomites. Lengths of each ovary ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 neurosomites. Lengths of left and right sperm ducts ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 neurosomites. Correlation between the length of sperm ducts and their coiling was recorded.