One hundred cats at different levels of habituation, house kept and free living, from Czech republic were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium, Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi to consider the risk of close human - cat contact on cryptosporidial and microsporidial infections. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Encephalitozoon, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in cats was determined from fecal specimens by genus-specific PCR. All PCR-positive specimens were sequenced to determine the genotype present. Out of 100 cats, three (3 %) were positive for Cryptosporidium, namely C. felis. Nine cats (9 %) were infected with E. bieneusi genotype D. None out of 35 house kept cats was infected with any tested parasites. No effect of age of animals on occurrence both Cryptosporidium and microsporidia was proved. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of zoonotic species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium, and E. bieneusi in cats in the Czech republic.

The cryptosporidia and microsporidia are worldwide spread opportunistic parasites. With regard to their wide host spectra and zoonotic potential there is a significant risk for immunocompromised humans, especially AIDS patients. Natural Cryptosporidium infections in pigs are widespread but generally apathogenic. A total of 411 faecal samples, 39 of sows, 127 of pre-weaned, 122 of post-weaned piglets and 123 of pre-growers from three farms were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. infection using the aniline-carbol-methyl violet staining method and positive molecular characterized (direct sequencing of partial SSU rRNA partial genes and PCR-RFLP at the SSU rRNA). Overall, infections were detected in 84 out of 411 animals (20 %), with highest infection rates among post-weaners (27 %). All positive samples were genotyped based on SSU rRNA sequence analysis. C. suis, Cryptosporidium pig genotype II, and C. muris were detected. The microsporidial infections are very frequent in breeds of pigs. Pigs have been frequently reported to be infected with E. bieneusi. Spores were detected in 258 samples of 342 (75 %). The high prevalence was determined in pre-growers (86 %). Genotyping based on the ITS regions of the rRNA gene identified that most pigs were infected with the species-specific genotype F, while two animals had the zoonotic genotype D and two had genotype Peru 9.

In two years of observation, (spring 2006, autumn 2006, spring 2007 and autumn 2007) were being screened for parasites in total 495 faecal samples coming out of three farms from Ceske Budejovice (285 samples of sucking pigs not older then 28 days and 174 samples of piglets not older then 8 weeks). The method used to examine those samples was a flotation-concentrating method (Sheather{\crq}s carbohydrate fusion) and in the year of 2007 was also used a specific aniline-carbol-methyl violet staining method to detect the Cryptosporidium spp. followed by positive molecular characterized (direct sequencing of partial SSU rRNA partial genes and PCR-RFLP at the SSU rRNA). In screened samples were mainly detected parasites named Cryptosporidium spp., found in 4,1% of faecal samples in 2006 and in 2007 in 32,8% faecal samples, out of which 14,4% was found in pre-weaned piglets samples and 26,4% in post-weaned piglets. Based on genotyping provided on positive samples out of the year 2007, using method of sequensing analysis SSU rRNA, was the occurence of C. suis, Cryptosporidium pig genotype II aC. Muris described. High prevalence of Isosporou suis 13,9 % (64/459) was also detected with its appearance, in particular, in pre-weaned piglets 21,4 % (61/285). Further on, some of other identified group was Eimerie spp. 5,7 % (26/459) infecting, in the main, post-weaned piglets 10,9% (19/174) and Giardia intestinalis 2,4 % (10/459). Most of the samples mentioned occured in conditioned faeces and there is no seasonal relationship to the parasital occurance.