Parasite diseases constitute a tremendous danger for human life all over the world, hence there is an urgent need for the recognition of the defense mechanisms of our body against these protozoan pathogens. The aim of this review has been to present the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as constituents of innate immunity engaged in the fight against parasites, mainly protozoan, that are the cause of illness among people and animals. This review also shows the means by which the protozoan can control the immunological response to extend their survival inside the host.
In 943 933 pigs the following parasitic invasion were confirmed: trichinellosis in 10 animals (0.0014%), echinococcosis — 21 748 (2.47%), sarcosporidiosis — 118 (0.02%) and ascaridosis — 7 244 (0.77%). In 216 900 cattle cysticercosis was confirmed in 409 animals (0.14%) and fasciolosis in 14 635 (7.16%), liver echinococcosis was not noted. In 16 912 sheep 636 (2.71%) were found to have fasciolosis and 58 (0.31%) had echinococcosis, cysticercosis was not discovered. The analysis showed the considerable decrease of incidence of pig trichinellosis in comparison with the years 1947—1965. The incidence of bovine cysticercosis, however, is regular.
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of endoparasite infections in dogs taken care of in clinics in Olsztyn. Determining the prevalence of infections was based on faecal examination using standard coprological methods. Only nematode eggs were found. Of 157 faecal samples, 27% were positive. Among females, 40% of samples were positive, whereas among males -14%. All infected animals were over 18 months old. The most prevalent nematodes were Ancylostoma caninum (18%) and Toxocara canis (7%). In dogs dewormed during the year preceeding investigation, the prevalence of infection was 7%, while in unwormed ones – 33%.
New and traditional techniques of electron microscopy, and successful attempts at an experimental infection of fish with cocidia provided a base for a considerable taxonomic revision within the group of the fish coccidia. The authors present contemporary views on the biology of these protozoans (life cycles, host specifity) and new systems of taxonomic classification according to Dykova and Lom (1983), Levine (1983) and, the most recent, according to Overstreet et al. (1984). The list of the fish coccidia described from Poland, in agreement with the system of Overstreet, is also presented.