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The study was aimed to obtain basic information about the distribution of intestinal parasites of mammals and birds in Svalbard. Faeces of different species were used to detect intestinal parasites. All samples were collected during two seasons and examined by microscopic methods and molecular diagnostic was used for detection of microsporidia, cryptosporidia, coccidia and giardiae.

This thesis presents the most comprehensive historical overwiev of reptile parasites living in Europe, including basic taxonomic information, the known geographic range, host range and important references. Data needed to create a host-parasite list was obtained from scientific articles. In the present work are recorded parasites of the Eropean reptiles throughout their entire range. Moreover was created a comprehensive list of the European herpetofauna that were still incomplete, including threat status and endemic species.

In total, 76 birds, mainly breeding females, were captured in years 2007-2009. Birds were inspected for the presence of avian influenza (AI) viruses and the AI antibodies. They were inspected as well for the presence of bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum and protozoan Leucocytozoon simondi in blood. The feces were examined for the oocysts and eggs of intestinal parasites. AI viruses were found in 4 cases, while over 80% of inspected birds had AI antibodies. Bacteria B. burgdorferi s. l. and A. phagocytophilum were found in 2 and 1 case respectively. Protozoan L. simondi was not found in any blood smear. The oocysts from protozoan genera Eimeria and Tyzzeria and eggs from roundworm genera Capillaria, Amidostomum and Echinuria were observed in feces. Statistical analyses were due to the small size of our data set inconclusive.

The aim of this thesis was to examine the archeological material from medieval site in Prague and identify human or animal intestinal parasite eggs or cysts. The concetration methods were used for parasite identification and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detection of parasitic protist DNA. In comparision with the results of most of similar research, the occurrence of parasites was low.

The aim of this thesis was to search for and identify human and/or animal intestinal parasite eggs in archeological material from medieval period in Brno and Prague. Concentration methods - sedimentation and flotation were used for parasite identification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of parasite DNA. The results were put into context with other data published in similar studies and research.

A total of 587 faecal samples were collected from 98 horses of different age from three farms with various breeding system (pasture, stable and combination) in the South Bohemia, Czech Republic during three consecutive years (from 2009 to 2011), and screened for the presence of endoparasites, especially these inhabiting gastrointestinal tract and lung, using standard parasitological methods including flotation, sedimentation and staining methods. Moreover presence of Encephalitozoon spp. was detected using genus specific nested PCR. Small strongyles were the most common nematodes among studied horses. The age of animals was evaluated as a risk factor in relation to Eimeria leuckarti, Strongyloides westeri and Parascaris equorum infection in foals. The resistance of small strongyles (Cyathostominae) to benzimidazol anthelmintics has been revealed only on one of the visited farm. Most of examined animals were mono-infected. The breeding of horses in the stable represent management system with lowest risk in relation to parasitic infection of animals. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of human pathogenic Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I in horses.

Major Urinary Proteins (MUP) are pheromonal transmitters involved in chemical communication in rodents. Complexes of MUPs and ligands mediate information about genetical background of an individual and co-create individual scent profile. They play a significant role in kinship determination, the crucial factor in the choice of a mating partner. It is assumed that the MUP production is energetically demanding due to the pressure of sexual selection, and the transmitted signal is thus supposed to be honest. This theory hasn't yet been experimentally tested, neither was proven the effect of another intense selection pressure- a parasitic infection. In my thesis, I describe the effect of an infection of a parasite Toxoplasma gondii on MUP production. The results suggest that the production is altered in both sexes, the production decreasing in males to the level of male castrates (or the female level). Considering the results of more detailed analysis of the infection we assume that the energetical demands of the MUP production doesn't allow the production of ordinary amounts if MUPs during the first phase of the infection as the energy is primarily devoted to the infection control. The increased production in latter phase can be attributed to the importance of scent communication. Decreased levels of...

This thesis reviews knowledge about diversity of blood parasites of fish. Blood smears of fish used in this study were obtained in Billefjorden (Svalbard archipelago, Arctic). Desseria myoxocephali, the type species of Desseria, is the only one parasite that was found in the smears. A partial 18S rDNA sequence of D. myoxocephali was prepared and phylogenetic analyses were computed. D. myoxocephali forms a lineage together with Dactylosoma ranarum and Babesiosoma stableri within adeleorinid clade.