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The objective of this study was to obtain primary information on the occurrence of blood parasites and intensity of infection in the Dunnock Prunella modularis in the montane region of Slovakia. Altogether 109 birds were examined during the years 2006-2010. The occurrence of Haemoproteus sp., Leucocytozoon fringillinarum and Trypanosoma sp. was documented. Blood parasite prevalences of 45% by microscopic examination and 55% by PCR diagnostics were found. The prevalence of Leucocytozoon sp. was found to be dependent on host sex with males showing a significantly higher intensity of infection with Leucocytozoon. Adult birds showed significantly higher infection prevalence than subadults. The prevalences of both Leucocytozoon sp. and Haemoproteus sp. were significantly dependent on bird age. The intensity of infection with Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon was positively correlated and higher intensity of infection was confirmed in adult birds then in subadults birds. The prevalence of blood parasites in our samples was significantly higher in comparison to most other studies from different countries of Europe conducted at lower altitudes, indicating that the montane zone is especially favourable for the transmission of Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus species.

The study presents the prevalence of Yersinia species in dunnok Prunella modularis from the sub-alpine zone of the Western Carpathians. Bacteria were detected from cloacal and pharyngeal swabs from 97 specimens using PCR assay. Yersinia enterocolitica showed the highest prevalence (47.4%) from among the determined Yersinia species. Yersinia species (except Y frederiksenii) were detected more frequently in pharyngeal than cloacal samples. The highest prevalence of yersiniosis was detected in April (Yersinia spp. - 80%, Y. enterocolitica - 70%). No statistically differences were observed in the prevalence of Yersinia spp. between males and females and between juveniles and adult birds. Bacterial contamination did not affect body weight or tarsus length.

Orendáš P., I. Ahlers, P. Kubatka, E. Ahlersová, B. Bojková, M. Kassayová, L. Friedmanová, J. Kisková, I. Ďatelinka, M. Starostová: Etoricoxib in the Prevention of Rat Mammary Carcinogenesis. Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: 613-618. Several experimental studies suggest that non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs have chemopreventive effects in mammary carcinogenesis. In this study, tumour suppressive effects of a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) etoricoxib in the prevention of N-methyl-Nnitrosourea (NMU)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated. Etoricoxib was administered in the diet, at two concentrations: 1) 0.01 mg/g (ETO 0.001%) and 2) 0.025 mg/g (ETO 0.0025%). Although the chemopreventive effects were not statistically significant, remarkable tumour suppressive effects with the concentration of ETO 0.0025% were recorded. The incidence decreased by 4.31% and tumour frequency per group decreased by 6.67% when compared to the control group. Latency (the period from carcinogen administration to the first tumour appearance) increased by 7.28% in dose-dependent manner. The results of our experiments point to dose-dependent tumour suppressive effects of a higher concentration of etoricoxib (ETO 0.0025%) when compared to the control group. They suggest that higher etoricoxib concentrations may enhance its tumour suppressive effects.

The goal of this work was to establish the effects of irradiation of the head with gamma-rays on selected forms of innate behavior, as well as on the habituation process to new environment in the open field test in rats. During a 5-day control period behavioral parameters reflecting motoric and explorative activities, as well as anxiety (6 parameters in total) were followed daily in 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats in an open field. Fourteen animals were repeatedly tested after irradiation of the head with a single dose of 10 Gy of gamma-rays. The results showed statistically significant depression of motoric and explorative activities during the first 3 days after irradiation in comparison with the control period. After irradiation the level of anxiety was elevated. Habituation to a new environment was observed in non-irradiated, but not in irradiated animals. These results suggest that the applied dose of ionizing radiation influenced the brain centers involved in control of innate behavioral functions connected with response to a new environment in rats.

The genus Acidithiobacillus comprises 7 species of Gram-negative obligatory acidophilic chemolithotrophic bacteria that derive energy mainly from the oxidation of reduced sulphur compounds. Four of the species also catalyse the dissimilatory oxidation of ferrous iron while three (A. thiooxidans, A. albertensis, and A. caldus) do not. Bacteria from the genus Acidithiobacillus are often associated with mineral biotechnologies (biomining) and acid mine drainage. While acceleration of mineral solubilisation is a positive aspect in environmental biotechnologies, it is undesirable in acid mine drainage with strong negative ecological impact and there is profound interest in genetics and genomics of these bacteria. Representatives of Acidithiobacillus genus occur world-wide, however there are limited data on Acidithiobacillus spp. variability from Slovakia. In our work the variability of Acidithiobacillus spp., from Slovakia was analysed and the presence of A ferrooxidans was detected. In addition, for the first time we report here on the occurrence of A. albertensis as well. Comparative analyses confirmed pronounced genetic and genomic diversity within the genus, especially within A. ferrooxidans and A. thioxidans complexes. Based on data presented, several Acidithiobacillus species could be considered as a complex species and the description of several new species is very probable in the near future.

Populations of the European brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) differ substantially in size, degree of geographic isolation and level of genetic diversity. Present patterns result from phylogeographic processes and profound human intervention. We assessed the genetic variability of a subpopulation of brown bears near the periphery of their range in the Western Carpathian Mountains and compared their genetic properties with those of bears in the core of the same population and elsewhere. Samples were collected non-invasively in 2007-2008 and 2010 in Strážovské Vrchy Protected Landscape Area (PLA) in Slovakia (included in the NATURA 2000 networking programme). Seven polymorphic microsatellite loci (UaMU26, UaMU64, G10B, G1D, G10L, UaMU50 and UaMU51) were amplified using a nested PCR in order to assess the following parameters: variability, allelic combinations, heterozygosity, number of alleles and inbreeding coefficient. Sufficient brown bear DNA for analysis was obtained from 57 out of 140 samples (41%), among which 45 different genotypes were identified. Loci had a mean of 2.71 ± 0.76 alleles. Average observed heterozygosity was 0.59. The inbreeding coefficient was negative for all but one of the analysed loci (2007-2008). In the year 2010 was negative three of seven loci. These results imply that gene flow with other parts of the population has been maintained in the reduced level and the isolation level of bears in the study area was not so low. Nevertheless, the genetic variability of bears in Strážovské Vrchy PLA was lower than that reported from other localities in the Carpathian Mountains. The results are discussed in the context of behavioural ecology and conservation genetics.

Brown mud, as a waste product of the industrial process of aluminum production, represents a great environmental burden due to its toxicity to living organisms. However, some microorganisms are able to survive in this habitat, and they can be used in bioremediation processes. Traditional cultivation methods have a limited capacity to characterize bacterial composition in environmental samples. Recently, next-generation sequencing methods have provided new perspectives on microbial community studies. The aim of this study was to analyze the bacterial community in the drainage water of brown mud disposal site near Žiar nad Hronom (Banská Bystrica region, Slovakia) using 454 pyrosequencing. We obtained 9964 sequences assigned to 163 operational taxonomic units belonging to 10 bacterial phyla. The phylum Proteobacteria showed the highest abundance (80.39%) within the bacterial community, followed by Firmicutes (13.05%) and Bacteroidetes (5.64%). Other bacterial phyla showed an abundance lower than 1%. The classification yielded 85 genera. Sulfurospirillum spp. (45.19%) dominated the bacterial population, followed by Pseudomonas spp. (13.76%) and Exiguobacterium spp. (13.02%). These results indicate that high heavy metals content, high pH, and lack of essential nutrients are the drivers of a dramatic reduction of diversity in the bacterial population in this environment.