Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health

Scientific research activity

The scientific and research activities of the department are aimed at solving current problems of bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases of animals, including zoonoses. Problems with the occurrence of infectious and parasitic diseases are solved in a complex way – from the analysis of the epidemiological situation on farms and in the field through the isolation of microorganisms to the study of the infectious agent – host interaction by integrating the classic approaches of detection with the modern and medical research methods. Another important scientific and research activity of the workplace is the protection of productive and social animals from dangerous diseases, which contributes to a significant economic growth of breeding and improvement of animal welfare. In the case of zoonoses, the workplace contributes significantly to ensuring the public health.
Workplace of epizootiology focuses its scientific research activities on the study of bacterial and viral diseases in animals. Part of the team focuses on the epidemiological analysis of viral infections in livestock and wildlife using molecular epidemiology methods. In the diagnostics of infectious diseases, it uses the latest molecular-genetic methods, methods of identification of microorganisms, analysis of viral genomes and genetic typing of viruses. Pestiviruses, PRRSV, PCV2, lyssavirus, herpesvirus, campylobacter and enteral infections as infectious agents that infect animals and humans are particularly of concern. In addition to classical methodological approaches, the workplace also uses methods of genomics and proteomics.
The priorities of the workplace of parasitology in science and research are defined for the field of protozoology by monitoring the epizootiological and epidemiological relationships of zoonotic protozoa infections and protozoa transmitted vectors. In the field of helminthology, we analyze the occurrence and spread of filariasis of carnivores as well as helminths in birds of prey in Slovakia; we monitor the occurrence of severe parasitozoonoses in wild and domestic carnivores (echinococcosis, alveococosis, toxocarosis) as well as the occurrence of tissue helminthoses (cysticercosis, trichinellosis). In the area of arachnoenthomology, we record changes in arachno-entomofauna with an emphasis on the diagnostics of hematopoietic arthropods in relation to the total global changes. We improve methodical procedures for laboratory detection of ectoparasites.

Projects:

• OPENMED
  Open scientific community for modern interdisciplinary research in medicine (OPENMED)
  Operational Programme: Integrated Infrastructure. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
• Operational Programme: Research and Development, code ITMS 26220120022, IINFEKTZOON – Centre of Excellence for Animal Infections and Zoonoses, Operational. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund and state budget of the Slovak Republic.
• Foreign Grant: COST Action CA17110
  „Standardizing OUtput-based surveillance to controlNon-regulated Diseases of cattle in the EU“ (SOUND control). Implementation: 2018 – 2022. Principal investigator: Dr. Inge Santman-Berends, Royal GD, Deventer, Holandsko; Principal investigator (Slovak Republic): Prof. Štefan Vilček, Ing., DrSc.
• APVV-19-0440: Emerging zoonotic pathogens transmitted by neglected arthropod species in Slovakia. Implementation: 2020 – 2024. Principal investigator: Assoc. Prof. Branislav Peťko, DVM, DrSc.
• APVV-15-0415: Virome of gastrointestinal tract of pigs and wild boars: Identification and analysis of viral agents. Implementation: 2016 – 2020. Principal investigator: Prof. Štefan Vilček, Ing., DrSc.
• VEGA 1/0429/20: Molecular-genetic characterization of hepatitis E virus in food animals and risks for human population. Implementation: 2020 – 2022. Principal investigator: Assoc. Prof. Anna Jacková, DVM, PhD.
• VEGA 1/0043/19: Molecular epidemiology and risk of spreading game parasites in current ecological conditions of Slovakia. Implementation: 2019 – 2022. Principal investigator: Prof. Alica Kočišová, DVM, PhD.
• VEGA 1/0536/18: New aspects of animal and human intestinal parasitary infections circulation. Implementation: 2018 – 2021. Principal investigator: Gabriela Štrkolcová, DVM, PhD.
• KEGA 014UVLF-4/2019: Tropical veterinary medicine. Implementation: 2019 – 2021. Principal investigator: Marián Prokeš, DVM, PhD.
• KEGA 009UVLF-4/2018: Technical equipment modernization of parasitological laboratory and creation of permanent preparation and study materials for e-learning. Implementation: 2018 – 2020. Principal investigator: Miloš Halán, DVM, PhD.