Project
Institute of Parasitology
International Projects
The beaver's legacy: A look at ecosystem impacts in Italy and Slovakia
Dedičstvo bobra: vplyvy na ekosystém v Taliansku a na Slovensku
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | SAS-CNR 2025-2026 |
| Program: | Medziakademická dohoda (MAD) |
| Project leader: | doc. RNDr. Papajová Ingrid PhD. |
ParaDise - Small Mammals and Parasites: Emerging zoonotic and tick-borne pathogens in the era of global changes.
Drobné cicavce a parazity: Novo sa objavujúce zoonózne a kliešťami prenášané patogény v ére globálnych zmien.
| Duration: | 1. 5. 2025 - 30. 4. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | TUBITAK-2024-01 |
| Program: | JRP |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Antolová Daniela DrSc. |
ParaCrust - Assessing parasite diversity and host-parasite relationships in crustacean hosts to control bioinvasion and ensure environmental and public health.
Hodnotenie diverzity parazitov a vzťahov medzi hostiteľom a parazitom u kôrovcov s cieľom kontrolovať bioinváziu a zabezpečiť ochranu životného prostredia a verejného zdravia.
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2025 - 31. 8. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | SoE/2025/61/MSCA4Uk |
| Program: | Seal of Excelence |
| Project leader: | prof. HDR. MSc. Sarabeev Volodimir PhD. |
| Annotation: | Rising levels of transportation, increased globalization, and ongoing climate change have dramatically accelerated the global spread of species, with no indication of this trend abating. The main current challenge associated with alien species is the lack of comprehensive data to explain resistance or recovery from bioinvasions. The project will provide the theoretical basis to struggle against bioinvasions by using nature's tools that will open a new way of ecosystem management. The research centres on both invasive and native higher freshwater crustaceans in Slovakia, specifically gammarids (scuds) and decapods (crayfish). There are two-fold aims: a) to assess diversity of parasites and zoonotic agents in crustaceans using both morphological and molecular methodologies; b) to evaluate the influence of parasites on the structure of wildlife communities through the application of the macroecological framework. The specific objectives are as follows: a) to sample native and invasive populations of gammarids and decapods from Slovakian waters and screen these specimens for parasitic infections; b) to provide well-documented records of identified crustacean parasites based on an integration of morphological and molecular data; c) to conduct molecular screening for zoonotic pathogens; d) to develop host-parasite and parasite-host databases; e) to perform comparative analyses of the resulting data using a macroecological framework to elucidate host-parasite relationships within invaded ecosystems. A key outcome of the project will be a comprehensive inventory of the current parasite diversity among native and invasive crustacean hosts, utilising modern microscopic and molecular techniques. By screening crustaceans for zoonotic agents, the project will investigate their potential role in disseminating human pathogens within aquatic environments. This research is fully aligned with the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which emphasises the management of invasive alien species. |
(OneHealthdrugs) - One Health drugs against parasitic vector borne diseases in Europe and beyond
Jednotné nové lieky proti parazitickým ochoreniam prenášaných vektormi v Európe a iných územiach
| Duration: | 24. 10. 2022 - 24. 10. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | CA21111 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Hrčková Gabriela DrSc. |
NeCeBiVet - National Centre for Biotechnology in Veterinary Medicine
Národné Centrum Biotechnológií vo Veterinárnej Medicíne
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | TN02000017 |
| Program: | Iné |
| Project leader: | prof. MVDr. Várady Marián DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The aim of the project is to build a long-term base of applied research, through the concentration of research capacities of 7 research organizations in the field of biotechnology in veterinary medicine, animal production and related fields. The impact of the project is to ensure the sustainable production of quality and safe food of animal origin in terms of implementing policies to reduce antibiotic consumption, improve the welfare of farmed animals, maintain biodiversity in the landscape and the principles of circular economy. The results generated in the project in the form of new or innovative products or services should increase the competitiveness of the participating companies. During 6 years of the project min. 30 sub-projects is planned with expected min. 35 innovative outputs. |
Parasitological aspects of introduced hosts in water ecosystems.
Parazitologické aspekty introdukovaných hostiteľov vo vodných ekosystémoch.
| Duration: | 1. 10. 2025 - 31. 7. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | Visegrad Scholarship 52510298 |
| Program: | International Visegrad Fund (IVF) |
| Project leader: | prof. HDR. MSc. Sarabeev Volodimir PhD. |
| Annotation: | This study focuses on the taxonomy and diversity of parasites in native and invasive freshwater crustaceans (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) to better understand parasite-mediated ecosystem dynamics and contribute to environmental monitoring and conservation biology. Field surveys of parasites from 8,920 gammarids were conducted across 38 localities in Slovakia, Poland, and France between 2020 and 2024, as part of previous and ongoing projects. This project will build on that work by performing comparative genetic, morphological and macroecological analyses. |
Tick-borne pathogens of horses in Poland and Slovakia
Vektormi prenášané patogény koní v Poľsku a na Slovensku
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | PAS-SAS-2024-18 |
| Program: | Mobility |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Víchová Bronislava PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project aims at the molecular study of the presence and diversity of vector-borne pathogens (Babesia, Theileria, Trypanosoma spp., and bacteria Hepatozoon, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Bartonella spp.) of horses in Poland and Slovakia. Comparison of the data and epizootiological situation between the neighboring countries with an intense social and economic interconnection. The aim of the study are molecular epidemiological survey and genetic analysis of vector-borne pathogens of horses in Poland and Slovakia, and thesewill be achieved through the following tasks: 1. Identification of the spectrum and evaluation of the prevalence of pathogens responsilbe for infections in horses. In particular, genomic DNA samples will be screened for the presence of protozoa of the genera Babesia, Theileria, Trypanosoma spp., and bacteria Hepatozoon, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Bartonella. The study will be conducted in crossborder area of both countries. Genetic variability of pathogens and/or strains will be evaluated. |
ENVIRANT - Environmental impact of anthelmintics in livestock and alternatives to minimize their use (ENVIRANT)
Vplyv anthelmintík na životné prostredie v chovoch hospodárskych zvierat a alternatívy minimalizácie ich používania (ENVIRANT)
| Duration: | 10. 10. 2024 - 9. 10. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | CA23154 |
| Program: | COST |
| Project leader: | prof. MVDr. Várady Marián DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Pasture-based animal production systems play a vital role in promoting sustainable farming practices in Europe. These systems rely on grass grazing as an affordable feed source on the farm. However, these systems have certain disadvantages, particularly concerning animal health since grazing livestock are very susceptible to infections caused by helminth parasites. These infections can impose a substantial economic burden on the food production system and the most commonly used method for their control is the administration of anthelmintic drugs. However, these drugs have been considered recently emerging contaminants because their presence in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems poses significant environmental risks. Under this context, the objective of ENVIRNAT is to advance, consolidate and disseminate research and knowledge on the environmental occurrence and ecological impact of anthelmintics administered to livestock and to propose more sustainable practices and methods to minimize their use in the control of helminth infections. This Action aims to (i) to monitor the sale, use and efficacy of anthelmintics in European livestock farming; (ii) to investigate factors related to farming practices, the environment and climatic conditions that favour the persistence of anthelmintics in the environment; (iii) to assess the impact of anthelmintic residues on ecosystems; (iv) to develop sustainable methods to reduce the use of anthelmintics in a variety of European settings; (v) to conduct socio-psychological research on barriers that may arise in the implementation of sustainable methods; (vi) to model the impact of anthelmintic use, considering both animal health benefits and ecosystem risks through benefit-risk assessment. |
| Project web page: | https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA23154/ |
National Projects
PARAPLAN - The future of parasitic treatment in small ruminants: Strategy and choice for global sustainability
Budúcnosť liečby parazitóz u malých prežúvavcov: Stratégia a voľby pre globálnu udržateľnosť
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2024 - 31. 8. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V04-00200 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | prof. MVDr. Várady Marián DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Diseases caused by helminths of farm animals are among the most serious infectious diseases. They account for over 55% of all livestock diseases in Europe and cause significant losses in animal production figures. The spread of anthelmintic resistance in livestock parasites has led to the failure of therapy and the need to develop new strategies and recommendations for effective control of the antihelminthic parasite resistance. The project offers an alternative to currently used chemotherapy solutions to ruminant parasitosis, namely the concept of using herbal nutraceuticals and trace elements such as feed additives and the concept of enriched pasture. Effective therapy of parasitic diseases through the management of grazing systems can not only improve production efficiency but also reduce the environmental burden in ruminant farms. |
The future of parasitological surveys – non invasive detection of infective stages of pathogenic helminths in aquatic ecosystems
Budúcnosť parazitologických prieskumov – neinvazívna detekcia infekčných štádií patogénnych helmintov vo vodných ekosystémoch
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0130/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Barčák Daniel PhD. |
| Annotation: | The proposed project studies the biodiversity and distribution of pathogenic flukes in aquatic ecosystems in Slovakia using non invasive genetic methods. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) will allow us to avoid the destructive and time-consuming examination of vertebrate hosts, and to focus on free-living infectious stages in water and larvae of potential pathogens in intermediate snail hosts. The following model groups will be studied: i) avian schistosomes, whose free-swimming larvae (cercariae) cause cercarial dermatitis (swimmer’s itch) in humans, ii) fish-borne heterophyid trematodes as causative agents of anthropozoonotic intestinal trematodoses, and iii) fish pathogens that threaten fish in aquacultures. The optimisation of this cutting edge method will provide a relatively simple and effective tool for large-scale screening of water-borne pathogens. |
TrEnD - The environmental DNA-based detection of Trichobilharzia spp., parasitic agents of cercarial dermatitis
Detekcia Trichobilharzia spp., parazitárnych pôvodcov cerkáriovej dermatitídy, vo vzorkách environmentálnej DNA
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2024 - 31. 8. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V04-00449 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Barčák Daniel PhD. |
| Annotation: | The safe environment is an imperative in developed countries in 21st century, however there are neglected threats, which still persist in some European countries. One of them is a parasitic disease known as the cercarial dermatitis, which is caused by free-swimming larvae of avian schistosomes, and mostly manifests as itching skin lesions in people engaged in water-based recreational activities. These parasites are monitored in the most of the Central European countries, but almost no data exists regarding their distribution and species diversity in Slovakia. Moreover, their screening is still based on laborious collection of their intermediate hosts, aquatic snails, and their examination in laboratory. The TrEnD project proposes a cutting-edge method of the detection of Trichobilharzia spp. using an environmental metabarcoding approach coupled with the Next Generation Sequencing. The main objectives are (1) optimisation of this technique on the selected locality in Košice city (Slovakia), where the parasite has been previously confirmed by traditional methods, (2) application of the optimised protocol to reveal environmental factors that influence distribution of the cercariae and determine health risk assessment, and (3) to raise awareness about the cercarial dermatitis in Slovak population. The stakeholders of the TrEnD are the scientific community, the medical authorities and the general population. The researchers involved in the study of avian schistomosomes or closely related taxa will acquire a rapid, cost-effective and non-invasive tool for screening of distribution and species diversity of avian schistosomes. Further standardisation of this method creates a simple tool, which is applicable by the Public Health Authorities for routine monitoring of quality of superficial waters. The public will gain important information about the unpleasant parasitic disease, its clinical signs, and risk factors which increase a probability of the infection. Moreover, the TrEnD project will provide a strong stimulus for my scientific career and also help to implement this modern method in the Institute of Parasitology in Košice. |
Diversity of soil nematodes and activity of microorganisms of Carpathian forests in relation to climate change
Diverzita pôdnych nematód a aktivita mikroorganizmov karpatských lesov vo vzťahu ku klimatickej zmene
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0007/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Renčo Marek PhD. |
| Annotation: | At present, the one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats belong climate changes. An increase in the average overall temperature in Europe is predicted as result in an increased frequency of climate extremes. In such conditions, there is a high probability that vulnerable forest ecosystems will be exposed to the increased frequency and intensity of stress caused by the living components of the environment. One of them is non-native, invasive species of trees that spread spontaneously and can completely change the habitats character. The project aims to analyze the impact of selected invasive tree species on soil organisms (bacteria, fungi, nematodes), soil physical and biochemical properties of the Carpathian forests. Evaluate the state of the soil environment of native and invasion altered habitats using soil Nematoda and microorganisms as bio-indicators. Our findings could predict the potential impact of the spread of non-native tree species on the biodiversity of the Carpathian forests. |
EpiRodent - Small mammals as reservoir for zoonotic pathogens in an urbanizing world – epidemiology and genetic diversity.
Drobné cicavce ako rezervoár zoonóznych patogénov v urbanizujúcom sa svete - epidemiológia a genetická diverzita
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2022 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-21-0166 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Miterpáková Martina DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The research project is focused on the transmission of zoonotic pathogens of parasitic Capillaria hepatica, Trichinella spp., Toxocara spp., Echinococcus multilocularis, Hymenolepis spp., Toxoplasma gondii) and bacterial (Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., etc.) origin through their reservoir hosts – rodents and insectivores. The topic is very closely related to the current intensive urbanization, which is significantly connected with natural habitats modification and changes in the wildlife species distribution. In addition, the common environment shared by urbanized animal species with humans and the zoonotic nature of many pathogens pose a serious risk to public health risks. The presented project aims to conduct complex zoological and epidemiological research providing antecedent information on species spectrum of the reservoir hosts and the pathogens transmitted by them in various habitats of the urban and suburban environment; the phylogenetic analyzes of the obtained isolates will be performed, and the degree of potential infection risk from the veterinary and public health point of view will be determined. The added value of the project consists in the high probability of acquiring rare and precious biological material which can be used also for other biological and medical researches. |
Epidemiology, genetic variability and health risk of zoonotic parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. in urban and rural ecosystems of Slovakia
Epidemiológia, genetická variabilita a zdravotné riziká zoonóznych parazitov Toxoplasma gondii a Toxocara spp. v urbánnych a rurálnych ekosystémoch Slovenska
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2/0024/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Antolová Daniela DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis are parasitic zoonoses occurring also in climatic and geographic conditions of Slovakia and important in both, human and veterinary medicine. Toxoplasmosis in particular can cause serious or even fatal health problems in immunocompromised persons and pregnant women. Project will bring priority results about the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. in patients with immunosuppression, persons in different risk of infection and in children from different socioeconomic conditions. The occurrence of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis in domestic and wild animals used for food production and in sentinel species will be monitored aiming to identify human infection risk. Valuable information about the role of different animal species in the spread of pathogens in urban and rural habitats will be obtained and the level of infection risk from the point of view of public health and veterinary medicine will be determined. Phylogenetic analyses of isolates will be also performed. |
Factors driving a host-parasite network turnover - from local to continental metacommunities
Faktory ovplyvňujúce obmenu sietí parazit-hostiteľ - od lokálnych ku kontinentálnym metaspoločenstvám
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2023 - 30. 6. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-22-0440 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Hromadová Ivica DrSc. |
Assessment of the rate of anthropogenic load in some regions of eastern Slovakia using poikilothermic animals and their endohelminths
Hodnotenie miery antropogénnej záťaže vybraných oblastí východného Slovenska s využitím studenokrvných živočíchov a ich endohelmintov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0052/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Brázová Tímea PhD. |
| Annotation: | Due to increasing anthropic activities, pollutants such as heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr) and organic substances (PAHs and pesticides) are released into the environment, posing a threat to human and animal health. These contaminants can have teratogenic and mutagenic effects on living organisms. This project aims to evaluate the degree of environmental pollution in selected areas of eastern Slovakia using poikilothermic animals (frogs and fish) and their parasites as bioindicators. In addition, the project goal is to examine the effect of parasites on their hosts in a contaminated environment. To achieve the aims, the helminth fauna of frogs in eastern Slovakia will be determined for the first time. We expect that our results will provide new knowledge about the ecological state of the investigated localities, the physiological state of animals and potential risks for the inhabitants of the given areas. The practical outcomes of this study can be directly used in the fishery and agricultural practices. |
Cage-free, parasite-free poultry - epidemiological background, diagnostic challenges and perspectives for the management of endoparasites in different systems of poultry farming.
Hydina bez klietok, hydina bez parazitov – epidemiologické východiská, diagnostické výzvy a perspektívy manažmentu výskytu endoparazitov v rôznych systémoch chovu hydiny.
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0058/25 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | doc. MVDr. Hurníková Zuzana PhD. |
| Annotation: | The presented project is designed to determine the presence of endoparasites in poultry farms in Slovakia in the period of transition from cage farming to alternative farming methods. It aims to map parasitostatus in different poultry farming systems, identify risk factors in accurate diagnosis, prevention and therapy, focusing on highly pathogenic coccidian species that pose a significant problem for poultry health and welfare with serious economic consequences for breeders. The project will deliver priority results on the prevalence of poultry parasites in different poultry production systems in Slovakia and standardise species-specific molecular diagnostic approaches for the identification of the causative agents of coccidiosis. Interaction between researchers, poultry and egg breeders and producers, advisory bodies, veterinarians and the State Veterinary and Food Administration SR in the implementation of new integrated strategies to improve animal health and living standards will be beneficial. |
AquaPara - Integrated next-generation biosurveillance of fish-borne parasites in the Danube River basin.
Integrovaný výskum novej generáce zameraný na pôvodcov rybami prenášaných parazitických zoonóz v povodí Dunaja.
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2025 - 31. 8. 2029 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-24-0140 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Oros Mikuláš DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The increasing interactions between humans, wildlife and domesticated animals, driven by globalization, climate change and human activities, are contributing to the rise of zoonotic diseases, with most of emerging infectious diseases originating from wildlife. Early detection, adequate risk assessment and effective control of these diseases require proactive environmental biosurveillance and advanced diagnostic methods. The proposed project aims to improve our still inadequate understanding of the various aspects of emerging fish-borne zoonotic diseases. The originality and innovativeness of this project lie in its integrative research strategy, combining conventional techniques of parasite screening (detection) with modern, non-invasive environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. This powerful tool will be used for large-scale screening of important causative agents of fish-borne zoonoses, including genera Metagonimus, Opisthorchis, Clinostomum, Dibothriocephalus and Eustrongylides. Common features of all these model organisms are that free-swimming larval stages or their eDNA can be detected in environmental water samples, making them ideal models for next-generation biosurveillance, which enables the simultaneous detection of multiple species in a single sample. Our study will also focus on analyzing the determinants of the spatial distribution of parasites to identify recurrent patterns in their spread and trace the pathways of infectious diseases in Europe, using a macroecological approach and modern methods of ecological data analysis. It is expected that the results of this project will lead to improved control strategies that will help in the prediction and management of disease outbreaks, with implications for public health and veterinary medicine. |
INTERDISP - The intercontinental dispersal and evolutionary history of multi-host Dibothriocephalus tapeworms
Medzikontinentálne šírenie a evolučná história viachostiteľských pásomníc rodu Dibothriocephalus
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-23-0390 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Hromadová Ivica DrSc. |
Therapeutic potential of bacteriocins in intestinal and extraintestinal parasitozoonoses and mechanisms of their beneficial effects
Terapeutický potenciál bakteriocínov pri črevných a mimočrevných parazitozoonózach a mechanizmy ich prospešných účinkov.
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2/0077/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Dvorožňáková Emília PhD. |
| Annotation: | As an alternative biological therapy for severe parasitic zoonoses (alveolar echinococcosis, trichinellosis), the protective effect of bacteriocins (Enterocin M, Durancin-like, Enterocin EMML2 /2, Enterocin 412) produced by Enterococcus strains will be examined. Bacteriocinogenic activity will be evaluated in the interactions between bacteriocin application, induction of immune effectors and elimination of the parasite. The immunomodulatory (activation, regulation/suppression) effects of bacteriocins will be monitored on critical immune cells (macrophages, lymphocytes). Detection of host immune responses (locally and overall) to a specific bacteriocin can identify relevant effector molecules in cellular signaling pathways useful in antiparasitic defense. The obtained results reveal bacteriocin-specific mechanisms of immunological control of parasites (Trichinella spiralis and Echinococcus multilocularis) and help select suitable candidates for prophylaxy or therapy of parasitic infections. |
The role of hippoboscid flies in transmission cycles of microbes with veterinary importance and zoonotic potential.
Úloha kuklorodiek pri prenose a cirkulácii veterinárne významných mikroorganizmov so zoonóznym potenciálom.
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2025 - 31. 12. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0033/25 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | MVDr. Čisovská Bazsalovicsová Eva PhD. |
ForDistSoil - Effect of forest disturbance and management treatments on soil processes and biodiversity
Vplyv disturbancií lesa a lesníckych opatrení na pôdne procesy a biodiverzitu
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2025 - 31. 8. 2029 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-24-0382 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Renčo Marek PhD. |
| Annotation: | Forest ecosystems including forest soils are increasingly threatened by disturbances due to climate change and human activities such as fire, windstorm, increased nitrogen input, land use and inappropriate forest management. On the other hand, proper forest management practoces can mitigate some of the negative effects of forest disturbances on soils, and in some cases, can even make forests more resilient. The overall aim of the project is to analyse and clarify the responses of soil properties, soil microorganisms and nematode communities to changes associated with forest disturbance and management practices, and to find out whether forest management practices can modify the effects of forest disturbances. We will focus mainly on soil biodiversity, characteristics related to organic matter and nutrient cycling, and soil structure. The research will focus on different types of disturbances and forest management practices in temperate forest ecosystems, with a particular focus on canopy destruction and increased nitrogen input among the disturbances, and salvage logging, silvicultural treatments, and litter raking among the management treatments. The project will provide important insights into nutrient cycling, biodiversity and soil health. Knowledge of the potential vulnerability of soils to forest disturbance and their capacity to recover is necessary for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems and the conservation of soil health and fertility and will also help to improve policies and strategies for biodiversity conservation and mitigate the climate change effect on forest ecosystems. |
Effect of environmental pollution on the functional morphology and chromosome of fish parasites
Vplyv environmentálnej záťaže na funkčnú morfológiu a chromozómy rybích parazitov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2/0093/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Orosová Martina PhD. |
| Annotation: | The rapid development of chemical technologies is accompanied by the release of large amounts of chemicals into all parts of the environment, where they threaten health of organisms on Earth. Zemplínska Šírava reservoir is an ecologically disturbed ecosystem, heavily contaminated with PCB compounds. The aim of the project is to study the impact of the polluted environment on the development of morphological anomalies and on the structure of chromosomes of intestinal parasites of fish. For the first time, in addition to classical and molecular karyological techniques, a new approach to identify DNA repeats in the genome of parasites (RepeatExplorer) will be used to obtain suitable chromosomal markers. We expect that the FISH mapping of these markers in ecologically diverse populations will provide original information that can answer questions about the likely impact of high anthropogenic pollution on the chromosomes of the parasitic organisms studied, with potential use as sensitive bioindicators. |
The influence of the presence of parasitic wasps Ixodiphagus spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) on the ecology of selected tick-borne pathogens and the dynamics of infectious diseases
Vplyv prítomnosti parazitických osičiek Ixodiphagus spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) na ekológiu vybraných kliešťami prenášaných patogénov a dynamiku infekčných ochorení
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2/0051/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Víchová Bronislava PhD. |
| Annotation: | Global changes bring challenges related to vectors, pathogens, and the need to develop control methods and measures. The fight against vectors often consists only of the use of acaricides, and alternative approaches based on biological control remain in the background. One of the methods of combating vectors is the use of parasitoid wasps (Ixodiphagus spp.). Monitoring the occurrence and host preference of wasps in areas with sympatric occurrence of several tick species that transmit specific pathogens and parasites is of indisputable importance from the point of view of protecting human and animal health. The study of the interactions between the tick, the parasitoid, and the components of their microbiome, and the assessment of possible correlations with the occurrence of pathogenic agents, is essential for understanding the dynamics of vector-borne diseases. The project is focused on the study of the potential role of parasitic wasps and selected species of symbionts in the control of infectious diseases. |
Projects total: 24