This study was conducted with the aim of the molecular identification of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium spp. in calves in the early stage of their development on a dairy farm in Eastern Slovakia. Twenty-five Holstein and Holstein cross calves were included in the study and monitored from their birth to the fifth week of life (1–5 weeks). Fresh fecal samples were collected from the same group of calves each week, except during the fourth week, and with the exception of Sample 8. All samples were analyzed using the Ziehl–Neelsen staining method and coproantigen was tested using the ELISA test as the screening method. Using the ELISA method, the highest incidence of cryptosporidiosis was observed in the second week of life of the calves, while the antigen was detected in 21 (91.6%) calves. Using the Ziehl–Neelsen staining method, the highest incidence was also observed in the second week, with an incidence rate of 62.5%. Positive isolates confirmed by the ELISA test were molecularly characterized. The species and subtypes of Cryptosporidium in the positive isolates were identified using PCR and the sequence analysis of the small subunit of the ribosomal 18S RNA (ssu rRNA) and the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes of the parasite. The sequence analysis of 29 isolates at the 18S rRNA loci confirmed the presence of two species—Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium ryanae. Out of 29 isolates, 25 were assigned to the species C. parvum, with the gp60 locus identified as genotype IIaA17G1R1. Among the individual animal groups, calves are the most common reservoirs of the C. parvum zoonotic species. This disease has significant public health implications as contact with livestock and their feces and working with barn manure are major sources of infection, not only for other animals but also for humans.

Microsporidia are single-celled, fungi-related eukaryotic intracellular parasites able to infect a wide diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Among them, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. (including Enc. cuniculi, Enc. hellem, and Enc. intestinalis) are known causative agents of infectious diseases in immunocompromised individuals, including HIV/AIDS patients and organ transplant recipients. Additionally, asymptomatic microsporidial infections seem more frequent than initially anticipated and might represent an overlooked public health threat. Here, we provide novel data on the occurrence and genetic diversity of microsporidial infections in individual stool samples (n = 247) collected from apparently healthy schoolchildren (age range: 5–18 years; male/female ratio: 1.1) in Lusaka, Zambia. Stool DNA samples were analysed by PCR and Sanger sequencing methods. A basic epidemiological questionnaire was used to retrieve data on variables potentially linked with higher odds of harbouring E. bieneusi infections. A high prevalence rate was found for E. bieneusi (9.3%, 23/247; 95% CI: 6.0–13.6), whereas Enc. intestinalis was much less frequent (0.4%, 1/247; 95% CI: 0.01–2.2). Four known (D, S2, S6, and Type IV) and three novel (HhZbEb1, HhZbEb2, and HhZbEb3) genotypes were identified within E. bieneusi. Genotype D was the predominant genotype found (30.8%, 4/13), followed by genotypes Type IV, HhZbEb2, and HhZbEb3 (15.4%, 2/13 each), and genotypes S2, S6, and HhZbEb1 (7.7%, 1/13 each). The only Encephalitozoon-positive sample was identified as Enc. intestinalis. Subclinical infections by E. bieneusi were common in the investigated paediatric population. Infected children could act as disregarded spreaders of microsporidial pathogens at the community level, thus representing a potential public health concern.

Canine hookworms represent some of the most globally prevalent parasitic nematodes affecting dogs and pose a significant zoonotic risk to humans, in whom they can induce cutaneous larva migrans. Infection with these parasites may lead to blood loss, anaemia, and, in severe cases, mortality—particularly in young puppies. The present study reports a confirmed case of Ancylostoma caninum infection in a 15-month-old dog in the Slovak Republic. The infected dog presented with severe, persistent diarrhoea, and haematological examination revealed a decrease in erythrocyte and haemoglobin levels, as well as mild eosinophilia. Coprological examination confirmed the presence of nematodes belonging to the family of Ancylostomatidae. Following the initiation of anthelmintic therapy, adult individuals were recovered from the faeces. Based on distinct morphological characteristics, the parasites were presumptively attributed to the species A. caninum. Subsequent molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COX1) and the ribosomal ITS regions definitively confirmed the species A. caninum. Our findings confirm that this is the first molecularly confirmed case of this species in Central Europe. This hookworm is predominantly found in warm and humid climatic regions. Its recent detection in Slovakia, a country characterised by a temperate climate, may suggest a northward expansion of its geographic range, potentially facilitated by ongoing climatic shifts associated with global climate change.

Chronic wounds and the failure of conventional treatment are relatively common in veterinary medicine. Recently, there has been a growing interest in alternative therapeutic approaches and the utilization of biodegradable materials. Their potential application in wound therapy may offer a novel and more suitable option compared to conventional treatment methods. Biodegradable materials can be classified into two main categories: natural, synthetic, and a combination of both, which have the potential to have synergistically enhanced properties. In this study, four domestic dogs with clinical symptoms of chronic wounds were enrolled. These wounds underwent treatment utilizing a novel biodegradable composite material composed of gelatin sponge combined with two electrospun layers of polycaprolactone (PCL) along with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers containing povidone-iodine complex (PVP-I). The initial phase of the study was dedicated to evaluating the antibacterial properties of iodine against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. On average, wound healing in domestic dogs took 22 days from the initial treatment, and iodine concentrations demonstrated a significant antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Based on the favorable outcomes observed in wound management, we believe that the utilization of a blend of natural and synthetic biodegradable materials holds promise as an effective wound therapy option.