Working group (Miroslava Soldánová)

Our research group within the Laboratory of Helminthology is concerned with the ecology of digenean trematodes, focusing on trematodes parasitising freshwater molluscs. We study trematode taxonomy, systematics, diversity, life cycles, transmission strategies, interactions in food webs as well as the spatio-temporal infection dynamics and species composition of trematode communities. Using a combination of morphological and molecular approaches, we aim to better understand the evolutionary relationships between trematodes, the interactions with hosts, the environmental factors that influence trematode dispersal and the impact of trematodes on ecosystem dynamics and functioning.

Graduated students

Former MSc students:

• Pavla Heinclová (MSc.) (2019). The effect of direct predation by fish on cercarial populations of selected trematode species (Digenea). [in English]

• Tereza Vyhlídalová (MSc.) (2020). Production and periodicity in the emergence of cercariae of Diplostomum spp. (Digenea) from snails Radix lagotis (Lymnaeidae). [in English]

Former BSc students

• Petra Šarounová (BSc.) (2011) Effect of temperature on emergence of cercariae of model freshwater trematodes. [in English]
• Tereza Vyhlídalová (BSc.) (2017). Složení společenstev larválních stádií motolic (Digenea) u vybraných zástupců plicnatých plžů čeledi Planorbidae. [Community composition of the larval stages of trematodes (Digenea) in selected snail hosts of the family Planorbidae]. [in Czech]
• Kristýna Janovcová (BSc.) (2024). Molekulární charakterizace druhů rodu Plagiorchis parazitující první mezihostitelské plže. [Molecular characterization of selected species of trematodes parasitizing snails of the genus Radix]. [in Czech]
• Šárka Kreslová (BSc.) (2024). Denní produkce a rytmy ve vyplouvání cerkárií dvou druhů motolic Opisthioglyphe ranae a Echinoparyphium recurvatum z prvních mezihostitelských plžů. [Daily output rates and emergence rhythms of cercariae of two trematode species, Opisthioglyphe ranae and Echinoparyphium recurvatum, from first snail intermediate hosts]. [in Czech]

Research projects

• 2024–2026: P.I. of the standard project (24-11738S) of the Czech Science Foundation – Invisible players on the host-parasite battlefield.
• 2024–2026: team member of the project IMPACT (P.I.: Rachel Paterson) – Integrated Monitoring of PArasites in Changing EnvironmenTs.
• 2022–2025: team member of the project (LUASK22045, P.I.: Tomáš Scholz) of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic – One Health concept & water-borne parasitic diseases in Central Europe: next-generation monitoring
• 2017–2019: P.I. of the junior project (17-20936Y) of the Czech Science Foundation – Neglected role of parasites: does biomass of trematode cercariae matter in subarctic freshwater ecosystems?
• 2012–2017: external team member of the project (213610, P.I.: Per-Arne Amundsen) of the Research Council of Norway – The role of parasites in food-web topology and dynamics of subarctic lakes.
• 2015–2017: team member of the project (15-14198S, P.I.: Tomáš Scholz) of the Czech Science Foundation – Species boundaries and microevolutionary patterns in parasites with high dispersal abilities: a model study of two flatworm systems
• 2012–2018: team member of the European Centre of Ichthyoparasitology. Centre of Excellence (P505/12/G112, P.I.: Milan Gelnar, Co-P.I.: Tomáš Scholz).
• 2012–2013: team member of the “Safe Ruhr” project (02WRS1283, P.I.: Bernd Sures) as part of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) program Sustainable Water Management.
• 2010–2013: team member of the project (P505/10/1562, P.I.: Anna Faltýnková) – Trematode communities in molluscs as a model system to forecast the impact of climate change in freshwater ecosystems in Central Europe.