Department of Medical Zoology

Klášterní 2
691 42 Valtice

How to find us

Head

prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Hubálek, DrSc.  <zhubalekbrno.cas.cz> - ecology of zoonotic pathogens and their vertebrate hosts

Research scientists

RNDr. Zinočka Juřicová, Ph.D.  <juricovabrno.cas.cz> - serosurveys for zoonotic pathogens
Mgr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D.  <rudolfbrno.cas.cz> - molecular-biology methods for detection of zoonotic pathogens
Mgr. Silvie Šikutová, Ph.D.  <sikutovabrno.cas.cz> - serology of zoonotic diseases, vector biology

Research workers

Mgr. Petra Svobodová  
RNDr. Oldřich Šebesta  <oldrich.sebestatiscali.cz> - ecology of mosquitoes

Technician

Martin Girgaš  
Juraj Peško  <juraj.peskoseznam.cz>
Ladislava Ševčíková  

Research priorities

Research is focused on the ecology of zoonotic microbial pathogens, the causative agents of human and animal infections, including (re)emerging diseases. The role of wild endotherm vertebrates (hosts or reservoirs of the zoonotic agents) and haematophagous arthropods (vectors of some pathogens) is studied in natural foci of diseases under the effect of changing environmental conditions, including anthropogenic influences.

Main research topics:

  • ecology of arboviruses, i.e. viruses transmitted by ixodid ticks, mosquitoes and other haematophagous arthropods (e.g., West Nile, Ťahyňa, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses)
  • ecology of spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme borreliosis) and some other bacterial arthropod-borne agents
  • circulation of these pathogens in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems under changing environmental conditions (including human activity impacts)
  • use and optimization of molecular-biological methods for detection and characterization of the zoonotic pathogens studied
  • proposals for control of the zoonotic pathogens and for prevention of free-living vertebrates and humans − as a contribution to preventive human and veterinary medicine, environmental protection, and nature conservation.