The objective of this study was to monitor the quality of ground water supplied to animal farms and 2 villages and of surface water (rivers) in the same area (Košice basin, eastern Slovakia) with the aim to assess contamination of water by potential sources in this area. Samples for physico-chemical and microbiological examination were collected at 12 sampling points (6—surface water; 6—ground water) from May 2014 up to March 2015, covering all four seasons. The examination and evaluation of individual parameters was carried out according to relevant Slovak legislation compatible with EU Drinking water directive. The physico-chemical evaluation focused on parameters that indicate pollution of water resulting from human activities and farming. Microbiological examination included determination of counts of bacteria cultivated at 22°C and 37°C (BC22 and BC37), total coliforms, E. coli and fecal streptococci. Ground water intended for mass consumption (farms, villages) is abstracted from wells, collected in storage reservoirs and disinfected before brought to consumers. Some families in the villages use their own wells. Water for individual consumption (individual households) originates directly from individual wells. Examination of potable water used on agricultural farms showed some possibility of contamination of sources by runoff and inappropriate manipulation with excrements. Surface water in in the area close to both farms was polluted with organic substances (COD_Mn), however they did not exceed the limit set for surface water. At many samplings we detected in surface water presence of total coliforms, E. coli and occasionally also fecal enterococci indicating fecal pollution that could eventually affect ground water in individual wells. Our investigations showed that protection zones of water sources were not always sufficient. There were considerable variations in the quality of surface water during the year but no clear relationship between microbial contamination and seasons was observed. Quality of ground water supplied for mass consumption complied with legislative regulations except for BC 22 (heterotrophic count at 22°C) in summer and autumn). Water from individual wells contained occasionally presence of total coliforms, E. coli and enterococci and higher heterotrophic counts.

Dogs serve as the vectors of serious parasitic diseases with a zoonotic character. In a one-year-study, we collected and examined 752 faeces of dogs. In these faecal samples, 11 different species of intestinal endoparasites were detected, as follows: Toxocara spp. eggs (21.9 %), eggs from the family Ancylostomatidae (18.4 %), coccidia oocysts (10.4 %), eggs of Trichuris spp. (10.0 %), Toxascaris leonina (7.3 %), Capillaria spp. (5.9 %), Taenia type eggs (3.2 %) and Giardia spp. cysts (1.6 %). Echinococcus multilocularis was detected in one sample. Toxocara spp. eggs were dominant in all dog categories, but in hunting dogs they occurred at the highest rate (45.1 %). Faecal samples of dogs from rural ecosystems showed 66.0 % prevalence of intestinal helminths. Presence of Toxocara spp. eggs was found in 25.0 % of sand samples.

Giardiasis is one of the most common gastrointestinal infections of humans and animals attributable to complex of eight morphologically identical genetic assemblages, further divided into sub-assemblages. Disease is common for a wide range of hosts and genetic characterization is needed for better understanding of multifaceted epidemiology for this protozoan parasite. The aim of this study was to identify genetic heterogeneity in assemblages and sub-assemblages of Giardiaduodenalis circulating among the children population living in deprived socioeconomic conditions. A total of 333 stool samples from children in eastern Slovakia were collected during the period of 2015-2016 and analysed by molecular methods. Molecular characterization of G. duodenalis was performed by sequence analysis of triose phosphate isomerase gene (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh). G. duodenalis DNA was detected in 21 samples (6.3%), out of which 14 isolates (66.7%) belonged to assemblage B, 4 isolates (19.0%) to sub-assemblage AII and 3 isolates (14.3%) corresponded to assemblage F. As regards the determination of sub-assemblages of assemblage B, 4 isolates were characterized as sub-assemblage BIII and 6 isolates as sub-assemblage BIV. This study is the first finding of cat specific assemblage F in man not only in Slovakia, but also in Europe. The absence of molecular data about G. duodenalis in companion animals in Slovakia establishes a strong need for further investigation for potential sources of giardiasis and understanding the epidemiology will help to improve the preventive strategies in eradication of infection in this population.

Wastewater and wastewater treatment plants serve as urban reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms. Wastewaters frequently contain bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and developmental stages of parasites with significant zoonotic potential. Five wastewater treatment plants in the central part of Slovakia were investigated to determine the effect of treatment on bacterial community, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the occurrence of helminth eggs. Although all monitored chemical factors (chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, N-NH4, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus) in the effluent were in line with the legislative standards for discharge into public waterways, the results of minimal inhibitory concentrations show that reclaimed water harbors E. coli resistant to several commonly used antibiotics (ampicillin, piperacillin, and tazobactam, combine ampicillin and sulbactam, cefotaxime, tetracycline). The presence of endoparasite developmental stages in wastewater and sludge (Ascaris spp., Hymenolepis nana, eggs from the Ancylostomatidae family, Giardia duodenalis) indicates potential health risks for humans and workers at these sites. Treatment such as composting before applying sludge to land is necessary to reduce human pathogens.

Five composts (C1: fresh olive pomace, straw, chicken manure, urea; C2: fresh olive pomace, lettuce residues, cow manure, straw, sawdust; C3: sewage sludge, municipal green residues; C4: grass, leaves, tree branches, soil; C5: by-product from penicillin production (mycelium), straw and sawdust) were tested in a pot experiment to investigate their short-term effect on the nematode community of a grassland soil. Composts were mixed with soil at the rates of 10, 25, 50 and 100 g (kg soil)–1 and barley was sown in each potting mixture after a 2-month decomposition period. Nematodes were extracted from each pot 5 months after barley sowing, identified at genus level and grouped into bacterial, fungal and root fungal feeders, predators, omnivores and plant parasites. Bacterial feeders, predators and omnivores were favoured by amendments with composted penicillin substrate and partly by compost from olive pomace, whereas composts from green wastes and sewage sludge suppressed these trophic groups except for predators. All compost treatments suppressed fungal feeders as well as significantly reducing the density of plant-parasitic nematodes compared with non-amended soil. The highest suppressiveness on plant-parasitic nematodes was found for the composts from urban green residues, penicillin substrate and olive pomace plus cow manure. Suppressive effect was hypothesised to be related to ammoniacal nitrogen content of the composts. Composts from fungal mycelium or olive pomace seem to be the most suitable for application in nematode management strategies due to their low impact on beneficial trophic groups.