Anamaria Plesko

Dr. Anamaria Plesko

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 October 2025 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
APAnamaria Plesko
Anamaria Plesko
TSTiana Suici
Tiana Suici
Mirela ImreMirela Imre
Mirela Imre
Diana HoffmanDiana Hoffman
Diana Hoffman
IDIoan Cristian Dreghiciu
Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu
SMSORIN MORARIU
SORIN MORARIU
Canine leishmaniasis is an emerging threat in Europe shaped by ecological, climatic, and socio-economic factors. This systematic review examines the prevalence of Leishmania spp. infection in dogs, based on information collected from studies published between 2015 and 2024 across 14 European countries. Available data was compiled and analyzed following PRISMA guidelines, revealing pronounced geographical variability. Prevalence was highest in southern European countries such as Portugal, Italy, and Greece, while substantially lower rates were reported in Central and Northern Europe. Despite differences in diagnostic approaches and surveillance intensity across countries, overall patterns point to endemic transmission in southern regions and a growing epidemiological risk in areas traditionally considered non-endemic. These findings underscore the need for harmonized diagnostic protocols and a strengthened surveillance network, consistent with the One Health framework, to enable effective responses to climate change and the shifting landscape of vector-borne diseases in Europe.

13 May 2025 in Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Diana HoffmanDiana Hoffman
Diana Hoffman
IDIoan Cristian Dreghiciu
Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu
IOIon Oprescu
Ion Oprescu
Mirela ImreMirela Imre
Mirela Imre
TSTiana Suici
Tiana Suici
Marius Stelian IlieMarius Stelian Ilie
Marius Stelian Ilie
Vector-borne diseases play a significant role in veterinary health, impacting both wild and domestic animals and posing a major constraint on the development of animal husbandry worldwide. The current study aimed to highlight some of the factors involved in the appearance and dissemination of these emerging and re-emerging diseases, as well as the prevalence rate of certain species of pathogens, in cattle throughout Europe. Considering the complexity of vector–host systems, ticks can be mentioned as the first and most common vector involved in the transmission of pathogens in cattle. The highest prevalence was reported for two vector species: Ixodes ricinus and Haemaphysalis punctata. Another factor that contributes to the rapid identification of these diseases is the employed diagnostic method; thus, the most frequently employed techniques in Europe are: PCR, ELISA, and phylogenetic analysis of sequences. The prevalence of tick-borne infections in cattle is continuously increasing. The most frequent associations are Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Theileria spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi. Overall, this study highlights a rising occurrence and prevalence of vector-borne diseases in European cattle, underscoring the need for thorough monitoring of farms and vector hotspots—ideally within a “One Health” framework.

20 June 2025 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IDIoan Cristian Dreghiciu
Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu
Diana HoffmanDiana Hoffman
Diana Hoffman
TSTiana Suici
Tiana Suici
IOIon Oprescu
Ion Oprescu
Simona DumitruSimona Dumitru
Simona Dumitru
Marius Stelian IlieMarius Stelian Ilie
Marius Stelian Ilie
The wild boar (Sus scrofa) has experienced significant population growth as well as geographic expansion across Europe over the past 15 years, leading to increased concerns regarding its role in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Among these, Babesia spp. and Anaplasma spp. are of particular importance due to their impact on both wildlife and domestic animals. This study systematically reviews the prevalence and distribution of Babesia and Anaplasma spp. in wild boars and associated tick vectors across multiple European countries, synthesizing data from literature published between 2010 and 2024. A comprehensive search of Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases was conducted using predefined keywords related to babesiosis, anaplasmosis, wild boars, Europe, and tick-borne diseases. A total of 281 studies were initially retrieved, of which 19 met the inclusion criteria following relevance assessment. Data extraction focused on pathogen identification, diagnostic methods, sample type, host species, and prevalence rates. Molecular detection methods, primarily PCR and sequencing, were the most used diagnostic tools. Results indicate substantial regional variations in the prevalence of Babesia and Anaplasma spp. A. phagocytophilum was detected in wild boar populations across multiple countries, with the highest prevalence rates observed in Slovakia (28.2%) and Poland (20.34%). Conversely, lower prevalence rates were recorded in France (2%) and Portugal (3.1%). Babesia spp. showed higher prevalence rates in Italy (6.2%), while its detection in other regions such as Romania and Spain was minimal or absent. Notably, spleen and multi-organ samples (spleen/liver/kidney) exhibited higher positivity rates compared to blood samples, suggesting an organotropic localization of these pathogens. The findings underscore the role of wild boars as reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens and highlight their potential to contribute to the epidemiological cycle of these infections. The increasing distribution of wild boars, coupled with climate-driven shifts in tick populations, may further facilitate pathogen transmission. Future studies should focus on integrating molecular, serological, and ecological approaches to improve surveillance and risk assessment. Standardized methodologies across different regions will be essential in enhancing comparative epidemiological insights and informing targeted disease management strategies.

27 July 2025 in Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IDIoan Cristian Dreghiciu
Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu
Diana HoffmanDiana Hoffman
Diana Hoffman
Mirela ImreMirela Imre
Mirela Imre
IOIon Oprescu
Ion Oprescu
Simona DumitruSimona Dumitru
Simona Dumitru
Marius Stelian IlieMarius Stelian Ilie
Marius Stelian Ilie
Wild boars (Sus scrofa) and their associated ticks represent important reservoirs and vectors for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, particularly Anaplasma spp. and Babesia spp. The aim of this review is to highlight the diagnostic methods employed throughout the past two decades to detect these pathogens in wild boars and their associated ticks, focusing especially on PCR methods (conventional and real-time), on sample origin (host or vector), and on specific primers. This review compiles data from studies conducted between 2005 and 2024, providing a comparative overview of targeted genes, such as groEL, msp2, and 16S rRNA for Anaplasma, and 18S rRNA for Babesia. Despite the prevalence of molecular diagnostic techniques, serological methods like ELISA have not been applied to wild boar or tick samples in this context. The review also analyzes geographical trends, with a higher research output noted in Central and Eastern Europe, Japan, and the United States. The performance of the methods is discussed based on reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, pathogen prevalence, and technical variables. By synthesizing these findings, the review identifies methodological gaps and offers a reference framework for improving diagnostic accuracy in wildlife disease surveillance.

30 July 2024 in Romanian Journal of Veterinary Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ACAlesia Ciaocă
Alesia Ciaocă
Diana HoffmanDiana Hoffman
Diana Hoffman
IDIoan Cristian Dreghiciu
Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu
MJMircea Jifcu
Mircea Jifcu
ZFZeulenreuth 3 Tierarztpraxis Frankenpfalz
Zeulenreuth 3 Tierarztpraxis Frankenpfalz
Marius Stelian IlieMarius Stelian Ilie
Marius Stelian Ilie
Common gastrointestinal parasites in pigs are Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum spp., Trichuris suis, Cystoisospora suis and Eimeria spp. The consequences of parasitic infections can be significant even in subclinical forms, so gastrointestinal parasites can have negative effects on animal welfare as well as on farm sustainability and productivity. To the authors' knowledge, there are no up-to-date studies on the prevalence of parasites in pigs, not only in Romania but also in general. As the consequences of increasing herd size and increased animal welfare requirements should be of general interest, the aim of this paper was to conduct a study investigating the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in conventionally reared pigs and to explore possible risk factors for parasite occurrence. During the study, 105 pigs of the Duroc, Landrace, Pietran, and Great White breeds and their half-bred, both male and female, reared in an extensive system in households in Mehedinți County were investigated. Examination of the samples was carried out by the Willis method, and the samples were directly examined in Lugol's solution. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infestation in pigs in the household system in Mehedinți County was 68%. Gastrointestinal parasitism has evolved into both mono- and polyparasitism, with protozoa and nematodes being associated. The most prevalent species was Balantidium coli, followed by Oesophagostomum spp., Ascaris suum, Trichocephalus suis, Eimeria/Isospora spp. and Hyostrongylus/Globocephalus. There were no significant differences in positivity according to age category.

30 July 2024 in Romanian Journal of Veterinary Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
TSTiana Suici
Tiana Suici
APAnamaria Plesko
Anamaria Plesko
Marius Stelian IlieMarius Stelian Ilie
Marius Stelian Ilie
Mirela ImreMirela Imre
Mirela Imre
Diana HoffmanDiana Hoffman
Diana Hoffman
SMSORIN MORARIU
SORIN MORARIU
Sebaceous adenitis (SA) is a chronic, idiopathic inflammatory condition targeting the sebaceous glands, leading to their destruction and subsequent glandular dysfunction in dogs. Clinically, SA is characterized by alopecia, scaling, follicular casting, and secondary bacterial infections, significantly impacting quality of life and representing a therapeutic challenge for veterinarians. Traditional management strategies, including antibiotics, antifungals, and topical treatments, have often proven inadequate, primarily addressing symptomatic relief without altering the underlying immunopathogenic mechanisms. Cyclosporine, a potent immunosuppressant widely used in human medicine for organ transplant rejection prevention and autoimmune disease treatment, has shown promise as an alternative therapeutic option for sebaceous adenitis in dogs. Cyclosporine exerts its effects by inhibiting calcineurin, thereby preventing T-lymphocyte activation and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2). This immunomodulatory action targets the autoimmune component of SA, potentially offering more sustained clinical remission and improved dermatologic outcomes compared to conventional therapies. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed evaluation of cyclosporine as a treatment modality for sebaceous adenitis in dogs as well as to provide a critical review on the available clinical evidence regarding its efficacy and safety on long term use. Three canine patients with histopathologically confirmed granulomatous sebaceous adenitis received treatment with cyclosporine for 12 months. Overall, cyclosporine therapy resulted in clinical improvements in dogs with sebaceous adenitis, with initial benefits observed within the first four months of treatment and more notable outcomes evident after 12 months of continuous therapy.