From cestodes to nematodes: 15 years of scientific collaboration between the Parasitological Institute SAS and the Section of Parasitology of the Sapienza University of Rome

Abstract

have had a long term collaboration within several projects, starting with the first visiting fellowships in 1992 in Rome. Since then, the collaboration between the two institutions has continuously developed and has been focused mainly on the systematics of cestodes, starting in particular with the studies on the genetic polymorphism of fish Proteocephalus tapeworms in different host populations examined by enzyme electrophoresis. Some molecular studies have been later carried out on Eubothrium spp. and Echinococcus multilocularis, and most of our joint interest has been focused on Echinococcus granulosus and more recently, on Ascaris nematodes. The major achievements obtained during these years of collaboration are herein reported.The achievement of relevant scientific data is the result of a combination of positive factors that include a series of different aspects in the life of each researcher. It is obvious that strong motivation, a robust scientific background, the capacity to acquire sufficient funds to cover the expenses related to research and the ability to create an effective and motivated research team in a well-established institution are needed prerequisites for successful completion of a good project. This is particularly true in the recent period, when the competition for receiving grants is dramatically insistent and the necessity of giving a significant degree of innovation to the researches carried out is particularly important. Especially in the last decades the life of a scientist has considerably changed and we should not imagine the researcher locked in the "ivory tower", where scientists engage in pursuits that are disconnected from the everyday life of other scientists. Moreover, the amount of commit-….ments requested in terms of data collection, innovation and scientific skills are being continuously increasing so that researchers have been forced to gather together their efforts in order to reach a sufficient critical mass for the achievement of significant scientific results. In this complex contest, the implementation of scientific collaboration between scientific groups appears to be a needed strategy. The fruitful collaboration between the the Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Section of Parasitology (formerly Institute of Parasitology) of the Department of Public Health Sciences of the Sapienza University of Rome has been continually prosecuted since 1992 in frame of collaborative projects (UNESCO fellowships in biotechnology, the SlovakItalian Science and Technology Co-operation, etc.), being mainly focused on cestode taxonomy and geographically and/or host induced changes on fish parasites. Allozyme studies on the genetic variability of Proteocephalus exiguus and P. percae in different host populations were undertaken, that contributed to the synonymization of some Proteocephalus taxa and better knowledge of their host specificity. Some studies were carried out also on Eubothrium spp. and Echinococcus multilocularis (e.g., Šnábel et al., 2006), ...

The First Finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in Dogs in Slovakia: An Emerging Risk for Spreading of Infection

“…(2003) revealed the occurrence of G7 (pig) strain on our territory. Recent data of D′Ammelio and Šnábel (2007) also report only the occurrence of G7 strain in Slovakia.…”

“…Examination of cystic material from pigs, cattle and human patients by Turčeková et al (2003) revealed the occurrence of G7 (pig) strain on our territory. Recent data of D¢Ammelio and Šnábel (2007) also report only the occurrence of G7 strain in Slovakia.…”