Karel Vostal

The occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in certain ectoparasites (Mesostigmata, Siphonaptera) of Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus in chosen localities in the Czech Republic

Ticks represent the primary vectors of several serious diseases, including the Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl). In this study two dominant ectoparasitic groups of arthropods (Mesostigmata, Siphonaptera) were investigated for the presence of borrelian DNA in order to determine their potential role of vectors (or carriers) of this bacterium. All individuals (235) were collected from wild-living rodents obtained in three localities in the Czech Republic (Bažantula, Baba and Křižovice). The majority of parasites were members of the families Parasitidae and Dermanyssidae (Mesostigmata) and families Hystrichopsyllidae and Ceratophyllidae (Siphonaptera). The rodent host species was almost exclusively the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). Bbsl was detected by the PCR method in the following ectoparasite species: Euryparasitus emarginatus (1), Eulaelaps stabularis (1), Haemogamassus nidi (1), Laelaps agilis (5), Myonyssus gigas (1) (Mesostigmata) and Ctenophthalmus agyrtes (1), C. solutus (3) (Siphonaptera).

A longitudinal study of the prevalence of borreliae in ticks in the urban locality of Brno - Pisárky, Czech Republic

The aim of this study was to evaluate potential effects of the infection rate and the frequency of the infected individual developmental stages of I. ricinus on Lyme borreliosis incidence, based on data from the 7-year study. Pisarky Park was chosen for this long-term project since it is a popular recreational area for inhabitants of Brno city, Czech Republic. The positivity of ticks in Pisarky has changed over the years and also within one year. The activity culminated in summer, but the positivity peaked in the autumn months. In this longitudinal study the prevalence of all developmental stages of I. ricinus ticks in the Pisarky Park in Brno was confirmed. Nymphs were established as the main vector stage infecting humans.