The purpose of this study was to describe Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection of three cats in Poland showing signs of fever, swollen and painful joints, pale mucous membranes and epistaxis. Morulae consistent with A phagocytophilum were present within the neutrophils of two of the cats. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was found targeting the 16S rRNA gene amplified DNA consistent with A phagocytophilum in the blood of all three cats. The sequence of the PCR product obtained showed 99.6-100% homology with the sequence of A phagocytophilum, gene number EU 090186 from Genbank. Applied therapy (including administration of tetracyclines for 3 weeks) resulted in a gradual clinical recovery.

The aim of this study was to assess cardiac disorders in dogs infected with B. canis. The study included 50 dogs with babesiosis and 20 healthy control animals. All the animals had haematological tests, ECG, echocardiography and serum troponin I and CK-MB levels checked. The haematology in the group of dogs with babesiosis confirmed thrombocytopaenia in 100% of dogs, decreased haematocrit in 52% and anaemia in 46%. The most common abnormalities in ECG and echocardiography in dogs infected with protozoa included: change in appearance and/or amplitude of the T-wave (34%), increased fractional shortening (24%), an increased sinus rhythm (14%) and heart axis deviation (10%). In 19 of the 50 dogs with babesiosis, the level of serum troponin I was elevated. In 2 dogs that died from babesiosis, the troponin level I was very high. The ECG confirmed sinus tachycardia and interpolated ventricular beat in these animals. In all dogs with babesiosis that were used in the study, the serum CK-MB was high or very high and was within limits of 23.17 U/L -369.62 U/L. The highest kinase concentration (367.33 U/L and 369.62 U/L) was observed in dogs that died due to the disease. The presented results prove that cardiac changes are common in canine babesiosis, but that most changes are nonspecific and appear to have little clinical significance. Cardiovascular assessment should be based on the assessment of the level of troponin I and CK-MB in the serum of sick animals. High concentrations of these factors might be indicators of poor prognosis.

-Typical European propolis is an antibiotic substance derived from the resin of poplar, birch, and aspen buds. Here, we tested the ability of propolis originating from the resins of these plants to inhibit the in vitro growth of Paenibacillus larvae , the organism that causes American foulbrood, a fatal honeybee larval disease. The study involved GC-MS analysis of extracts from nine samples of propolis gathered from the temperate climate zone of Europe. The extracts showed noticeable differences in the content of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. Despite the differences in chemical composition, all tested extracts inhibited the growth of P. larvae , with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 7.8 to 62.4 μg mL −1. It was found that not only did the content of flavonoids affect the strength of antimicrobial activity, but other phenolics, such as the phenylpropenoids hydroxycinnamyl sesquiterpenols, glycerides and benzoates also had an effect. This is the first report on the comparative activity of different types of European propolis against P. larvae.Paenibacillus larvae / American foulbrood / Apis mellifera / propolis / antibacterial action

The present study focuses on the antibacterial activity of selected plant extracts against Paenibacillus larvae , the causal agent of American foulbrood disease of honey bees. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to analyze six diethyl ether extracts of two white birch species, black poplar and common aspen buds, as well as n-hexane, diethyl ether, and methanol extracts of young twigs from downy and silver birches. Among the identified extract constituents were flavonoids, phenylpropenoids, triterpenoids, and glucosides. In spite of significant differences in qualitative and quantitative composition, all tested in vitro extracts demonstrated high anti-P. larvae activity at minimal inhibitory concentration levels between < 1.0 and 125 μg/mL. To examine the cause of such disparity, the anti-P. larvae activity of some individual constituents naturally present in plant extract compounds was determined. A higher susceptibility of P. larvae (ERIC I) to relatively poorly polar triterpenoid levels compared to polar compounds, flavonoids, and glucosides was demonstrated.

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Cattle babesiosis is a dangerous and economically important tick–borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The vector of the disease are ticks from Ixodidae family. Symptoms of disease are fever, anorexia, lethargy, anemia, jaundice and hemoglobinuria.The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of Babesia spp. in cattle in Lublin region. The PCR technique revealed the presence of 18S RNA Babesia spp. genetic material in the blood of 20 from 192 examined animals (10.4%). Our study showed that the bovine babesiosis occur in Poland with asymptomatic form and does not reduce milk production significantly. The diagnosis depends only on the basis of detection of the genetic material of parasite, and the direct microscopic examination of blood smears is not useful in the identification of Babesia spp. in erythrocytes.The comparison of PCR products showed low homology level between isolates with present study and other Babesia sequences obtained around the world.Moreover, the study showed the prevalence of piroplasms in ticks from Lublin region is low (0,63%).

Summary Objective: Bovine piroplasmoses are tick-borne protozoan diseases caused by parasites of the genus Theileria and Babesia. The aim of this work was to study the epizootic situation of babesiosis in the cattle population in eastern Poland and possibly to determine which species of protozoa infects Polish cattle. Material, methods and results: Blood samples for molecular analysis (real time PCR) were collected from 192 dairy cattle from various farms located in eastern Poland. The infection was detected in 10.4 % of the samples. All animals were infected with Babesia occultans which sequence of the 18S RNA gene fragment showed a 92.8 % homology with the sequence of B. occultans EU 376017. Conclusion and clinical relevance: This is the first report about the detection of B. occultans DNA in asymptomatic cattle in eastern Poland. The results obtained indicate that the range of these parasites is increasing and that continuous monitoring of babesiosis in cattle in Europe and in Poland is necessary.

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