prof. RNDr. Ivo Rudolf Ph.D.

Position full-time researcher

Direction eco-epidemiology of microbial pathogens

Workplace Research facility Valtice

+420 519 352 961

rudolf@ivb.cz

Research interests

isolation and identification of microorganisms,
research on emerging infections,
molecular diagnostics of zoonotic pathogens in haematophagous arthropods and vertebrate hosts.

Running Projects

Tick-borne microsporidiosis: ticks as a neglected source of human microsporidian infection? (2024–2026)

Finished projects

Hidden zoonoses - uncovering new pathogenic agents from wildlife (2021–2024)

Preparedness for introduction of exotic mosquito-borne viral fevers – One Health approach (2019–2022)

EU COST Action CA17108 Aedes Invasive Mosquitoes (AIM) (2018–2022)

Monitoring of mosquitoes on West Nile virus (2019–2019)

Diversity of cultivable microorganisms of ixodid ticks, recognized vectors of vertebrate pathogens (2006–2008)

Publications and Applied outputs

Kejíková R, Rudolf I (2021). Borrelia miyamotoi - další emergentní patogen přenášený klíšťaty. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 70: 118-130.

Křížová E, Lejdarová H, Rudolf I (2021). Západonilská horečka na pozadí pandemie onemocnění COVID-19. Transfuze a hematologie dnes, 27: 316-321.

Rozsypal J, Moos M, Rudolf I, Košťál V (2021). Do energy reserves and cold hardiness limit winter survival of Culex pipiens?. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 110912.

Rudolf I, Kejíková R, Vojtíšek J, Mendel J, Peňázziová K, Hubálek Z, Šikutová S, Estrada-Peňa A (2021). Probable overwintering of adult Hyalomma rufipes in Central Europe. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 101718.

Šebesta O, Šikutová S, Vojtíšek J, Kejíková R, Rudolf I (2021). Dlouhodobý monitoring invazních druhů komárů na jižní Moravě z pohledu rizika přenosu exotických virových nákaz. Hygiena.

Švec P, Šikutová S, Rudolf I (2021). Mapování klíšťaty a komáry přenosných onemocnění. Geografické rozhledy, 31: 38-41.

Zelená H, Kleinerová J, Šikutová S, Straková P, Kocourková H, Stebel R, Husa P, Husa jr. P, Tesařová E, Lejdarová H, Šebesta O, Juráš P, Ciupek R, Mrázek J, Rudolf I (2021). First autochthonous West Nile lineage 2 and Usutu virus infections in humans, July to October 2018, Czech Republic. Pathogens, 651.

2020

Graña‑Miraglia L, Šikutová S, Vancová M, Bílý T, Fingerle V, Sing A, Castillo‑Ramírez S, Margos G, Rudolf I (2020). Spirochetes isolated from arthropods constitute a novel genus Entomospira genus novum within the order Spirochaetales. Scientific Reports, 17053.

Hubálek Z, Sedláček P, Estrada-Peña A, Vojtíšek J, Rudolf I (2020). First record of Hyalomma rufipes in the Czech Republic, with a review of relevant cases in other parts of Europe. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 101421.

Margos G, Castillo-Ramirez S, Cutler S, Dessau RB, Eikeland R, Estrada-Peña A, Gofton A, Graña-Miraglia L, Hunfeld KP, Krause A, Lienhard R, Lindgren P, Oskam C, Rudolf I, Schwartz I, Sing A, Stevenson B, Wormser GP, Fingerle V (2020). Rejection of the name Borreliella and all proposed species comb. nov. placed therein. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 004149.

Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Malenovský I, Kampen H, Medlock J, Schaffner F (2020). Overwintering of Culex modestus and other mosquito species in a reedbed ecosystem, including arbovirus findings. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association.

Rudolf I, Blažejová H, Mendel J, Straková P, Šebesta O, Rettich F, Čabanová V, Miterpáková M, Betášová L, Peško J, Barbušinová E, McKee C, Osikowicz L, Šikutová S, Hubálek Z, Kosoy M (2020). Bartonella species in medically important mosquitoes, Central Europe. Parasitology Research.

Šikutová S, Dočkal P, Straková P, Mendel J, Šebesta O, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2020). First record of mosquito-borne Kyzylagach virus in Central Europe. Viruses, 1445.

2019

Ciupek R, Juráš P, Šebesta O, Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Zelená H (2019). Západonilská horečka – autochtonní výskyt na jižní Moravě v roce 2018 z pohledu epidemiologa. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 68: 159-167.

Čabanová V, Šikutová S, Straková P, Šebesta O, Vichová B, Zubríková D, Miterpáková M, Mendel J, Hurníková Z, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2019). Co-circulation of West Nile and Usutu flaviviruses in mosquitoes in Slovakia, 2018. Viruses, 639.

Eyer L, Fojtiková M, Nencka R, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Růžek D (2019). Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitor 7-Deaza-2 '-C-Methyladenosine Prevents Death in a Mouse Model of West Nile Virus Infection. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, e02093-18.

Hamšíková Z, Silaghi C, Takumi K, Rudolf I, Gunár K, Sprong H, Kazimírová M (2019). Presence of roe deer affects the occurrence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes in questing Ixodes ricinus in different habitat types of Central Europe. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 4725.

Hönig V, Palus M, Kašpar T, Zemanová M, Majerová K, Hofmannová L, Papezik P, Šikutová S, Rettich F, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I, Votýpka J, Modrý D, Růžek D (2019). Multiple Lineages of Usutu Virus (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) in Blackbirds (Turdus merula) and Mosquitoes (Culex pipiens, Cx. modestus) in the Czech Republic (2016-2019). Microorganisms, 568.

Hubálek Z, Tomešek M, Kosina M, Šikutová S, Straková P, Rudolf I (2019). West Nile virus outbreak in captive and wild raptors, Czech Republic, 2018. Zoonoses and Public Health.

Jaarsma RI, Sprong H, Takumi K, Kazimírová M, Silaghi C, Mysterud A, Rudolf I, Beck R, Földvári G, Tomassone L, Groenevelt M, Everts RR, Rijks JM, Ecke F, Hörnfeldt B, Modrý D, Majerová K, Votýpka J, Estrada-Peña A (2019). Anaplasma phagocytophilum evolves in geographical and biotic niches of vertebrates and ticks. Parasites & Vectors, 328.

Rudolf I, Rettich F, Betášová L, Imrichová K, Mendel J, Hubálek Z, Šikutová S (2019). West Nile virus (linie 2) poprvé detekován v komárech v jižních Čechách: nová endemická oblast?. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 68: 150-153.

Zelená H, Straková P, Heroldová M, Mrázek J, Kastl T, Žákovská A, Růžek D, Smetana J, Rudolf I (2019). Molecular epidemiology of hantaviruses in the Czech Republic. Emerging Infectious Diseases.

2018

Blažejová H, Šebesta O, Rettich F, Mendel J, Čabanová V, Miterpáková M, Betášová L, Peško J, Hubálek Z, Kampen H, Rudolf I (2018). Cryptic species Anopheles daciae (Diptera: Culicidae) found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Parasitology Research.

Čabanová V, Miterpáková M, Valentová D, Blažejová H, Rudolf I, Stloukal E, Hurníková Z, Dzidová M (2018). Urbanization impact on mosquito community and the transmission potential of filarial infection in central Europe. Parasites & Vectors, 261.

Haviernik J, Štefánik M, Fojtíková M, Kali S, Tordo N, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Eyer L, Růžek D (2018). Arbidol (Umifenovir): A broad-spectrum antiviral drug that inhibits medically important arthropod-borne flaviviruses. Viruses, 184.

Hubálek Z, Kosina M, Rudolf I, Mendel J, Straková P, Tomešek M (2018). Mortality of Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) due to West Nile virus lineage 2. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

Rosà R, Andreo V, Tagliapietra V, Baráková I, Arnoldi D, Hauffe HC, Manica M, Rosso F, Blaňarová L, Bona M, Derdáková M, Hamšíková Z, Kazimírová M, Kraljik J, Kocianová E, Mahríková L, Minichová L, Mošanský L, Slovák M, Stanko M, Špitalská E, Ducheyne E, Neteler M, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I, Venclíková K, Silaghi C, Overzier E, Farkas R, Földvári G, Hornok S, Takács N, Rizzoli A (2018). Effect of climate and land use on the spatio-temporal variability of tick-borne bacteria in Europe. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 732.

Rudolf I, Blažejová H, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Peško J, Betášová L, Straková P, Šikutová S, Hubálek Z (2018). West Nile virus (linie 2) v komárech na jižní Moravě – očekávání prvních autochtonních lidských případů. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 67: 44-46.

Rudolf I, Blažejová H, Straková P, Šebesta O, Peško J, Mendel J, Šikutová S, Hubálek Z, Kampen H, Schaffner F (2018). The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Czech Republic: Repetitive introduction events highlight the need for extended entomological surveillance. Acta Tropica.

Straková P, Kubánková M, Vašíčková P, Juřicová Z, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z (2018). Hepatitis E virus in archived sera from wild boars (Sus scrofa), Czech Republic. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

2017

Hubálek Z, Juřicová Z, Straková P, Blažejová H, Betášová L, Rudolf I (2017). Serological survey for West Nile virus in wild artiodactyls, Southern Moravia (Czech Republic). Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2017). Francisella tularensis prevalence and load in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in an endemic area in Central Europe. Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Rudolf I, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Venclíková K, Straková P, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Bakonyi T, Schaffner F, Nowotny N, Hubálek Z (2017). West Nile virus in overwintering mosquitoes, central Europe. Parasites & Vectors, 452.

2016

Bakonyi T, Gaydon GK, Schwing R, Vogl W, Häbich A, Thaller D, Weissenböck H, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Nowotny N (2016). Chronic West Nile virus infection in kea (Nestor notabilis). Veterinary Microbiology.

Duscher GG, Hodžić A, Weiler M, Vaux AGC, Rudolf I, Sixl W, Medlock JM, Versteirt V, Hubálek Z (2016). First report of Rickettsia raoultii in field collected Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from Austria. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases.

Hamšíková Z, Silaghi C, Rudolf I, Venclíková K, Mahríková L, Slovák M, Mendel J, Blažejová H, Berthová L, Kocianová E, Hubálek Z, Schnittger L, Kazimírová M (2016). Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Hepatozoon spp. in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks and rodents from Slovakia and Czech Republic. Parasitology Research.

Rudolf I, Betášová L, Bischof V, Venclíková K, Blažejová H, Mendel J, Hubálek Z, Kosoy M (2016). Molecular survey of arthropod-borne pathogens in sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), Central Europe. Parasitology Research.

Rudolf I, Venclíková K, Blažejová H, Betášová L, Mendel J, Hubálek Z, Parola P (2016). First report of Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia helvetica in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from the Czech Republic. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases.

Venclíková K, Mendel J, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Jedličková P, Straková P, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2016). Neglected tick-borne pathogens in the Czech Republic, 2011–2014. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases.

2015

Kolodziejek J, Seidel B, Jungbauer C, Dimmel K, Kolodziejek M, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Allerberger F, Nowotny N (2015). West Nile Virus positive blood donation and subsequent entomological investigation, Austria, 2014. PLoS ONE.

Rudolf I, Bakonyi T, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Peško J, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Venclíková K, Straková P, Nowotny N, Hubálek Z (2015). Co-circulation of Usutu virus and West Nile virus in a reed bed ecosystem. Parasites & Vectors.

Rudolf I, Šebesta O, Straková P, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Venclíková K, Seidel B, Tóth S, Hubálek Z, Schaffner F (2015). Overwintering of Uranotaenia unguiculata adult females in central Europe: a possible way of persistence of the putative new lineage of West Nile virus?. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association.

Straková P, Šikutová S, Jedličková P, Sitko J, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z (2015). The common coot as sentinel species for the presence of West Nile and Usutu flaviviruses in Central Europe. Research in Veterinary Science.

Venclíková K, Mendel J, Betášová L, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2015). First evidence of Babesia venatorum and Babesia capreoli in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine.

Vrbovská V, Chalupa P, Straková P, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2015). Onemocnění člověka způsobená hantaviry – stále opomíjené zoonózy?. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 64: 188-196.

2014

Hubálek Z, Rudolf I, Čapek M, Bakonyi T, Betášová L, Nowotny N (2014). Usutu Virus in Blackbirds (Turdus merula), Czech Republic, 2011-2012. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

Hubálek Z, Rudolf I, Nowotny N (2014). Arboviruses pathogenic for domestic and wild animals. Advances in Virus Research.

Hubálek Z, Šebesta O, Peško J, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Venclíková K, Rudolf I (2014). Isolation of Tahyna virus (California Encephalitis Group) from Anopheles hyrcanus (Diptera, Culicidae), a mosquito species new to, and expanding in, Central Europe. Journal of Medical Entomology.

Pachler K, Lebl K, Berer D, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Nowotny N (2014). Putative New West Nile virus lineage in Uranotaenia unguiculata mosquitoes, Austria, 2013. Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Rizzoli A, Silaghi C, Obiegala A, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Földvári G, Plantard O, Vayssier-Taussat M, Bonnet S, Špitalská E, Kazimírová M (2014). Ixodes ricinus and its transmitted pathogens in urban and peri-urban areas in Europe: new hazards and relevance for public health. Frontiers in Public Health.

Rudolf I, Bakonyi T, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Peško J, Betášová L, Blažejová H, Venclíková K, Straková P, Nowotny N, Hubálek Z (2014). West Nile virus lineage 2 isolated from Culex modestus mosquitoes in the Czech Republic, 2013: expansion of the European WNV endemic area to the North?. Eurosurveillance.

Rudolf I, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Betášová L, Bocková E, Jedličková P, Venclíková K, Blažejová H, Šikutová S, Hubálek Z (2014). Zoonotic Dirofilaria repens (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in Aedes vexans mosquitoes, Czech Republic. Parasitology Research.

Straková P, Rudolf I, Pavlis O, Hubálek Z (2014). The use of immunoenzymatic method for detection of antibodies against zoonotic diseases in Czech soldiers returning from Afghanistan. Military Medical Science Letters.

Straková P, Kříž B, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z (2014). Seroprevalence study of hepatitis E virus infection in two districts of the Czech Republic. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 63: 92-94.

Šikutová S, Buňková L, Krejčí E, Halouzka J, Sanogo YO, Rudolf I (2014). Selected phenotypic features of BR91, a unique spirochaetal strainisolated from the Culex pipiens mosquito. Microbiological Research.

Venclíková K, Rudolf I, Mendel J, Betášová L, Hubálek Z (2014). Rickettsiae in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases.

Venclíková K, Betášová L, Šikutová S, Jedličková P, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2014). Human pathogenic borreliae in Ixodes ricinus ticks in natural and urban ecosystem (Czech Republic). Acta Parasitologica.

2013

Bakonyi T, Kolodziejek J, Rudolf I, Berčič R, Nowotny N, Hubálek Z (2013). Partial genetic characterization of Sedlec virus (Orthobunyavirus, Bunyaviridae). Infection, Genetics and Evolution.

Bocková E, Rudolf I, Kočišová A, Betášová L, Venclíková K, Mendel J, Hubálek Z (2013). Dirofilaria repens microfilariae in Aedes vexans mosquitoes in Slovakia. Parasitology Research.

Hubálek Z, Ludvíková E, Jahn P, Treml F, Rudolf I, Svobodová P, Šikutová S, Betášová L, Bíreš J, Mojžíš M, Tinák M, Boldižár M, Citsoňová G, Staššíková Z (2013). West Nile virus equine serosurvey in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

Sedláček I, Holochová P, Mašlaňová I, Kosina M, Spröer C, Bryndová H, Vandamme P, Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Švec P (2013). Enterococcus ureilyticus sp. nov. and Enterococcus rotai sp. nov., two urease-producing enterococci from the environment. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

2012

Hubálek Z, Rudolf I (2012). Tick-borne viruses in Europe. Parasitology Research.

Konvalinová J, Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Hubálek Z, Svobodová V, Svoboda M (2012). Contribution to canine babesiosis in the Czech Republic. Acta veterinaria Brno.

Šebesta O, Rudolf I, Betášová L, Peško J, Hubálek Z (2012). An invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus found in the Czech Republic, 2012. Eurosurveillance.

2010

Hubálek Z, Rudolf I, Bakonyi T, Kazdová K, Halouzka J, Šebesta O, Šikutová S, Juřicová Z, Nowotny N (2010). Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) surveillance for arboviruses in an area endemic for West Nile (Lineage Rabensburg) and Ťahyňa viruses in central Europe. Journal of Medical Entomology.

Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Kopecký J, Hubálek Z (2010). Salivary gland extract from engorged Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) stimulates in vitro growth of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Journal of Basic Microbiology.

Šebesta O, Halouzka J, Hubálek Z, Juřicová Z, Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Svobodová P, Reiter P (2010). Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna in an area endemic for West Nile virus. Journal of Vector Ecology.

Šikutová S, Halouzka J, Mendel J, Knoz J, Rudolf I (2010). Novel spirochetes isolated from mosquitoes and black flies in the Czech Republic. Journal of Vector Ecology.

2009

Jarošová V, Rudolf I, Halouzka J, Hubálek Z (2009). Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. v klíšťatech na ostravských haldách. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 58: 90-97.

Rudolf I, Mendel J, Šikutová S, Švec P, Masaříková J, Nováková D, Buňková L, Sedláček I, Hubálek Z (2009). 16S rRNA gene-based identification of cultured bacterial flora from host-seeking Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna ticks, vectors of vertebrate pathogens. Folia Microbiologica.

Šebesta O, Rettich F, Minář J, Halouzka J, Hubálek Z, Juřicová Z, Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Gelbič I, Reiter P (2009). Presence of the mosquito Anopheles hyrcanus in South Moravia, Czech Republic. Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Šikutová S, Hornok S, Hubálek Z, Doležálková I, Juřicová Z, Rudolf I (2009). Serological survey of domestic animals for tick-borne encephalitis and Bhanja viruses in northeastern Hungary. Veterinary Microbiology.

2008

Buňková L, Švec P, Halouzka J, Rudolf I, Němec M (2008). Ribotyping and whole-cell protein analysis of spirochetes isolated from arthropods in the Czech Republic. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine.

Hubálek Z, Wegner E, Halouzka J, Tryjanowski P, Jerzak L, Šikutová S, Rudolf I, Kruszewicz AG, Jaworski Z, Włodarczyk R (2008). Serologic survey of potential vertebrate hosts for West Nile Virus in Poland. Viral Immunology.

Hubálek Z, Halouzka J, Juřicová Z, Šikutová S, Rudolf I, Honza M, Janková J, Chytil J, Marec F, Sitko J (2008). Serologic survey of birds for West Nile Flavivirus in Southern Moravia (Czech Republic). Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

Meister T, Lussy H, Bakonyi T, Šikutová S, Rudolf I, Vogl W, Winkler H, Frey H, Hubálek Z, Nowotny N, Weissenböck H (2008). Serological evidence of continuing high Usutu virus (Flaviviridae) activity and establishment of herd immunity in wild birds in Austria. Veterinary Microbiology.

Rudolf I, Hubálek Z, Šikutová S, Švec P (2008). Opomíjené virové infekce přenášené hematofágními členovci v České republice. Epidemiologie, Mikrobiologie, Imunologie, 57: 80-89.