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One juvenile Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) with a cutaneous cyst of Collyriclum faba under its beak was observed in Israel on 13 October 2016. Another Red-backed shrike (adult female) with multiple cutaneous cysts around the vent was observed in Průhonice, Czech Republic on 19 June 2017. A third Red-backed shrike (adult male) with three cutaneous cysts around the vent was observed in Mariánské Radčice, Czech Republic on 16 July 2017. In the Israeli case, two adult trematodes C. faba were found in the cutaneous cyst. In the two Czech cases, C. faba was identified indirectly by analysing the cutaneous cyst morphology. C. faba had never been recorded previously in Israel.

Wild passerine birds (Passeriformes) from the northeastern part of the Czech Republic were examined for ectoparasites during the pre-breeding period in 2007. Two species of fleas of the genera Ceratophyllus and Dasypsyllus (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae), and 23 species of chewing lice belonging to the genera Ricinus, Myrsidea, Menacanthus (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), Brueelia, Penenirmus, and Philopterus (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) were found on 108 birds of 16 species. Distribution of insect ectoparasites found on wild birds during pre-breeding was compared with previous data from the post-breeding period. There was no difference in total prevalence of chewing lice in prebreeding and post-breeding periods. Higher prevalence of fleas and slightly higher mean intensity of chewing lice were found on birds during the pre-breeding period. There was a significant difference in total prevalence but equal mean intensity of chewing lice on resident and migrating birds.

Wild passerine birds (Passeriformes) from northeastern part of the Czech Republic were examined for ectoparasites. Three species of louse-flies of the genus Ornithomya (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), two species of fleas of the genera Ceratophyllus and Dasypsyllus (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae), and 15 species of chewing lice belonging to the genera Myrsidea, Menacanthus (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), Brueelia, Penenirmus, Philopterus (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) were found on 82 birds of 23 species. New chewing louse-host records are Hippolais icterina for Menacanthus currucae; Motacilla cinerea for Menacanthus pusillus; Turdus philomelos and Motacilla cinerea for Brueelia merulensis; and Sylvia atricapilla for Menacanthus eurysternus. Brueelia neoatricapillae is cited for the first time for the Czech Republic. Parasitological parameters such as prevalence, intensity and abundance are also discussed.

A permanently high virulence was found in tachyzoites of T. gondii K24 after serial passage in mice (90 passages during 324 days). Virulence tests revealed that a single tachyzoite of the 50th passage represented LD100 for mice. Analysis of genotype of K24 isolate was done by PCR/RFLP with ROP1/DdeI, SAG1/DdeI, 850/RsaI and IGS/RsaI and by RFLP/DNA with TGR 1E sequence and PstI enzyme. K24 isolate had an atypical genotype, with an association of type II (for ROP1, SAG1 genes and TGR1 E sequence) and type I (for 850 gene) alleles, and a new pattern observed for IGS. All tested PCR/RFLP did not change through 2, 10, 20, 28, 40, 50, 60, 70, 81 and 90 tested passages. In RFLP/DNA with PstI enzyme and TGR1 E probe, K24 isolate produced a pattern with seven fragments of the size ranging from one to 23 kb and did not change through 7, 56, 70 and 83 tested passages. K24 T. gondii isolate is a hybrid and has the virulence of lineage I isolates.

It is well understood that Salmonella is carried by animals and in majority of cases as asymptomatic hosts. Surveillance efforts have focused on the role of agriculture and contamination points along the food chain as the main source of human infection; however, very little attention has been paid to the contribution of wildlife in the dissemination of Salmonella and what effect anthropogenic sources have on the circulation of antibiotic resistant Salmonella serovars in wildlife species. A purposive survey was taken of large corvids roosting yearly between November and March in Europe and North America. Two thousand and seven hundred and seventy-eight corvid faecal specimens from 11 countries were submitted for Salmonella spp. culture testing. Presumptive positive isolates were further serotyped, susceptibility tested and analysed for antibiotic resistance genes. Overall, 1.40% (39/2778) ( CI = 1.01, 1.90) of samples were positive for Salmonella spp. Salmonella Enteritidis was the most prevalent serovar followed by S. Infantis, S. Montevideo and S. Typhimurium. No significant difference ( P > 0.05) was found in the proportion of Salmonella recovered in Europe versus North America. The most variability of serovars within a site was in Kansas, USA with five different serovars recovered. European sites were significantly more likely to yield Salmonella resistant to more than one antibiotic ( OR 71.5, P < 0.001, CI = 3.77, 1358) than North American sites, where no resistance was found. Resistance to nalidixic acid, a quinolone, was recovered in nine isolates from four serovars in four different sites across Europe. Large corvids contribute to the transmission and dissemination of Salmonella and resistance genes between human and animal populations and across great distances. This information adds to the knowledge base of zoonotic pathogen prevalence and antibiotic resistance ecology in wild birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]