article

Integration of the Topic of Dangerous Animals into Primary School Education

Kateřina Kročáková, Radim Kuba, Jan Křivánek

information

volume: 35
year: 2026
issue: 2
fulltext: PDF

online publishing date: 19/8/2026
DOI: 10.14712/25337556.2026.2.2
ISSN (Online): 2533-7556

Licence Creative Commons
Toto dílo podléhá licenci Creative Commons Uveďte původ 4.0 Mezinárodní License.

abstract

This paper addresses the issue of dangerous animals occurring in the Czech Republic, and explores the possibilities of incorporating this topic into primary school education. It focuses on four selected groups of animals – ticks, the common European viper, hymenopteran insects, and dogs – and describes their biology, potential health risks to humans, preventive measures, and first aid guidelines. Based on the Framework Educational Program for Basic Education, the article examines how this topic is represented in the curriculum and highlights the gap between the framework requirements and actual educational needs. It also offers suggestions for integrating these topics into science and health education. Teaching about dangerous animals can significantly contribute not only to the prevention of injury and disease, but also to developing responsible attitudes toward nature in students. The paper concludes by suggesting that this educational area could be further expanded to include other species and ethical aspects of human–animal relationships.


keywords

dangerous animals, health, prevention, first aid, biology education, Framework Educational Program, tick, viper, bee, dog, primary education

fulltext (PDF )

PDF

References

Almeida, A., Fernández, B. G., & Silva, T. (2017). Changing negative perceptions of animals through teaching practice: Aresearch in primary education. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 16(4), 446–458. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/17.16.446

Ananjeva, N. B., Tsinenko, O., & Societas Europaea Herpetologica (Ed.). (2005). Herpetologia petropolitana: Proceedings of the 12th ordinary general meeting of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica, 12-16 August 2003, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Societas Europaea Herpetologica.

Anděra, M., & Sovák, J. (2018). Atlas fauny České republiky (Vydání 1.). Academia.

Bartosik, K., Kubrak, T., Olszewski, T., Jung, M., & Buczek, A. (2008). Prevention of tick bites and protection against tick-borne diseases in south-eastern Poland. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 15(2), 181–185.

Bellairs, A. (1969). The Life of Reptiles, 2 Vol.: The Weidenfeld and Nicolson Natural History. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 590 pp.

Blackburn, D. G. (1985). Evolutionary Origins of Viviparity in the Reptilia. II. Serpentes, Amphisbaenia, and Ichthyosauria. Amphibia-Reptilia, 6(3), 259–291.

Bogovic, P., Lotric-Furlan, S., & Strle, F. (2010). What tick-borne encephalitis may look like: Clinical signs and symptoms. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8(4), 246–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.05.011

Brunker, K., & Mollentze, N. (2018). Rabies Virus. Trends in Microbiology, 26(10), 886–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2018.07.001

Cardak, O. (2009). Students’ ideas about dangerous animals. Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching,.

Clutton-Brock, J. (1995). Origins of the dog: Domestication and early history. In The domestic dog: Its evolution, behaviour and interactions with people (s. 8–20). Cambridge University Press.

Coleman, N., & Coleman, S. (2017). Methods of Tick Removal: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Australasian Medical Journal, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.21767/AMJ.2017.2804

Daniel, M., Danielová, V., Fialová, A., Malý, M., Kříž, B., & Nuttall, P. A. (2018). Increased Relative Risk of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Warmer Weather. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 8, 90. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2018.00090

Davies, H. D. (2000). When your best friend bites: Anote on dog and cat bites. Paediatr Child Health, 5(1), 9–12.

De Haro, L., Robbe-Vincent, A., Saliou, B., Valli, M., Bon, C., & Choumet, V. (2002). Unusual neurotoxic envenomations by Vipera aspis aspis snakes in France. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 21(3), 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1191/0960327102ht226oa

Dire, D. J., Hogan, D. E., & Riggs, M. W. (1994). A Prospective Evaluation of Risk Factors for Infections from Dog‐bite Wounds. Academic Emergency Medicine, 1(3), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.1994.tb02442.x

Dobaja Borak, M., Babić, Ž., Caganova, B., Grenc, D., Karabuva, S., Kolpach, Z., Krakowiak, A., Kolesnikova, V., Lukšić, B., Pap, C., Puljiz, I., Piekarska-Wijatkowska, A., Radenkova-Saeva, J., Vučinić, S., Zacharov, S., Eddleston, M., & Brvar, M. (2023). Viper envenomation in Central and Southeastern Europe: Amulticentre study. Clinical Toxicology, 61(9), 656–664.

Efimov, R. V., Zav’yalov, E. V., Velikov, V. A., & Tabachishin, V. G. (2008). Genetic divergence of Vipera berus and Vipera nikolskii (Reptilia: Viperidae, Vipera) populations in lower Volga and adjacent territories assessed according to the sequences of cytochrome oxidase III and 12S ribosome RNA genes. Russian Journal of Genetics, 44(2), 240– 243. https://doi.org/10.1134/S102279540802018X

Eisen, L. (2018). Pathogen transmission in relation to duration of attachment by Ixodes scapularis ticks. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 9(3), 535–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.01.002

Eisen, L. (2022). Personal protection measures to prevent tick bites in the United States: Knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 13(4), 101944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101944

Fry, B. G. (2018). Snakebite: When the Human Touch Becomes a Bad Touch. Toxins, 10(4), 170. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10040170

Gaisler, J., & Zima, J. (2018). Zoologie obratlovců (3., přepracované vydání). Academia.

Garcia-Alvarez, L., Palomar, A. M., & Oteo, J. A. (2013). Prevention and prophylaxis of tick bites and tick-borne related diseases. American Journal of Infectious Diseases, 9(3), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2013.104.116

Gold, M. S., & Sainsbury, R. (2000). First aid anaphylaxis management in children who were prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector device (EpiPen). Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 106(1), 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1067/mai.2000.106041

Gutiérrez, J. M., León, G., & Burnouf, T. (2011). Antivenoms for the treatment of snakebite envenomings: The road ahead. Biologicals, 39(3), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biologicals.2011.02.005

Habermann, E. (1972). Bee and Wasp Venoms: The biochemistry and pharmacology of their peptides and enzymes are reviewed. Science, 314–322.

Hankins, D. G., & Rosekrans, J. A. (2004). Overview, Prevention, and Treatment of Rabies. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 79(5), 671–676. https://doi.org/10.4065/79.5.671

Hönig, V., Svec, P., Halas, P., Vavruskova, Z., Tykalova, H., Kilian, P., Vetiskova, V., Dornakova, V., Sterbova, J., Simonova, Z., Erhart, J., Sterba, J., Golovchenko, M., Rudenko, N., & Grubhoffer, L. (2015). Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in South Bohemia (Czech Republic) – Spatial variability in Ixodes ricinus abundance, Borrelia burgdorferi and tick-borne encephalitis virus prevalence. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 6(5), 559–567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.04.010

Chippaux, J.-P. (2012). Epidemiology of snakebites in Europe: A systematic review of the literature. Toxicon, 59(1), 86– 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.10.008

Jalongo, M. R. (2008). Beyond a Pets Theme: Teaching Young Children to Interact Safely with Dogs. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(1), 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-008-0272-1

Jeřábek, J., & Tupý, J. (2017). Rámcový vzdělávací program pro základní vzdělávání. MŠMT.

Kolibáč, J., Hudec, K., Laštůvka, Z., & Peňáz, M. (2019). Příroda České republiky: Průvodce faunou (Druhé, upravené a doplněné vydání). Academia.

König, R. (2022). Včelí jed: Charakteristika, složení a účinky bioaktivních složek [Bakalářská práce]. Masarykova univerzita, Přírodovědecká fakulta.

Kročáková, K. (2025). Nebezpečná zvířata v České republice a jejich dopad na lidské zdraví [Bakalářská práce]. Univerzita Karlova, Přírodovědecká fakulta, Katedra učitelství a didaktiky biologie.

Kuba, R., Dvořáková, R. M., Hubínková, Z., Křivánek, J., Matajová, K., Melounová, K., & Sekeřasová, I. (2021). První pomoc: Metodická příručka pro výuku II (Univerzita Karlova, Přírodovědecká fakulta).

Kullberg, B. J., Vrijmoeth, H. D., Van De Schoor, F., & Hovius, J. W. (2020). Lyme borreliosis: Diagnosis and management. BMJ, m1041. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1041

Kyncl, J., Angulo, F. J., Orlikova, H., Zhang, P., Vlckova, I., Maly, M., Krivohlavkova, D., Harper, L. R., Edwards, J., Bender, C., Pilz, A., Erber, W., Madhava, H., & Moïsi, J. C. (2024). Effectiveness of Vaccination Against Tick-Borne Encephalitis in the Czech Republic, 2018−2022. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 24(9), 607–613. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2023.0166

Macek, J., Straka, J., Bogusch, P., Dvořák, L., Bezděčka, P., & Tyrner, P. (2017). Blanokřídlí České republiky. Academia.

Mejlon, H. A., & Jaenson, T. G. T. (1997). Questing behaviour of Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Experimental & Applied Acarology.

Michael, G. C., Aliyu, I., & Grema, B. (2019). Primary prevention of snakebite envenoming in resource-limited settings: A narrative review. Environmental Disease, 4(2), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_11_19

Michael, G. C., Grema, B. A., Aliyu, I., Alhaji, M. A., Lawal, T. O., Ibrahim, H., Fikin, A. G., Gyaran, F. S., Kane, K. N., Thacher, T. D., Badamasi, A. K., & Ogwuche, E. (2018). Knowledge of venomous snakes, snakebite first aid, treatment, and prevention among clinicians in northern Nigeria: A cross-sectional multicentre study. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 112(2), 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/try028

Mikulica, V. (2001). Poznej svého psa (3. rozšířené). Dialog.

Moravec, J. (1986). Společná zimoviště zmijí. Živa, 33.

Morey, D. F. (1994). The early evolution of the domestic dog. American Scientist, 82, 336–347.

Mussen, E. C. (2011). Bee and Wasp Stings.

Orlandi, G., Rossi, N., Chiarelli, F., & Di Filippo, P. (2025). Vipera Snakebite in Children: A Focus on Europe. Children, 12(3), 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12030393

Polanecký, V. (2017). Globalizace a epidemiologické souvislosti – člověk, klíště, domácí zvířata. Veterinární lékař, 15.

Popoff, M. R. (2020). Tetanus in animals. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 32(2), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638720906814

Presutti, R. J. (2001). Prevention and Treatment of Dog Bites. American Family Physician, 63(8), 1567–1572.

Randolph, S. E. (2004). Tick ecology: Processes and patterns behind the epidemiological risk posed by ixodid ticks as vectors. Parasitology, 129(S1), S37–S65. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182004004925

Reading, C. J. (1996). Incidence, pathology, and treatment of adder (Vipera berus L.) bites in man. Emergency Medicine Journal, 13(5), 346–351. https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.13.5.346

Reed, H. C., & Landolt, P. J. (2019). Ants, Wasps, and Bees (Hymenoptera). In Medical and Veterinary Entomology (s. 459–488). Academic Press.

Reid, H. A., & Theakston, R. D. G. (1983). The management of snake bite. Bulletin of the World Health Organization,.

Richtrová, E., Míchalová, P., Lukavská, A., Navrátil, J., & Kybicová, K. (2022). Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in Ixodes ricinus ticks in urban green areas in Prague. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 13(6), 102053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102053

Rizzoli, A., Hauffe, H. C., Carpi, G., Vourc’h, G. I., Neteler, M., & Rosà, R. (2011). Lyme borreliosis in Europe, 16(27),.

Řehák, Z. (with Dungel, J.). (2011). Atlas ryb, obojživelníků a plazů České a Slovenské republiky (Vyd. 2.). Academia.

Serpell, J. A., & Duffy, D. L. (2014). Dog Breeds and Their Behavior. In A. Horowitz (Ed.), Domestic Dog Cognition and Behavior (s. 31–57). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-53994-7_2

Schalamon, J., Ainoedhofer, H., Singer, G., Petnehazy, T., Mayr, J., Kiss, K., & Höllwarth, M. E. (2006). Analysis of Dog Bites in Children Who Are Younger Than 17 Years. Pediatrics, 117(3), e374–e379. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-1451

Smrž, J. (2014). Základy biologie, ekologie a systému bezobratlých živočichů. Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Press.

Smrž, J., Horáček, I., & Švátora, M. (2004). Biologie živočichů pro gymnázia (1. vyd.). Fortuna.

Speybroeck, J., Beukema, W., Bok, B., Van Der Voort, J., & Velikov, I. (2016). Field guide to the amphibians & reptiles of Britain and Europe. Bloomsbury.

Steere, A. C., Strle, F., Wormser, G. P., Hu, L. T., Branda, J. A., Hovius, J. W. R., Li, X., & Mead, P. S. (2016). Lyme borreliosis. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2(1), 16090. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.90

Suchomelová, K., & Šebánková, M. (2022). Hodnocení incidence kousnutí nebo úderu psem u dětí v České republice v letech 2010–2017. Ochrana zvířat a welfare 2022, 29. mezinárodní konference, 423–424.

Špitalská, E., Boldišová, E., Štefanidesová, K., Kocianová, E., Majerčíková, Z., Tarageľová, V. R., Selyemová, D., Chvostáč, M., Derdáková, M., & Škultéty, Ľ. (2021). Pathogenic microorganisms in ticks removed from Slovakian residents over the years 2008–2018. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 12(2), 101626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101626

Tan, J. W., & Campbell, D. E. (2013). Insect allergy in children. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 49(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.12178

Taylor, B. W. P., Ratchford, A., Van Nunen, S., & Burns, B. (2019). Tick killing in situ before removal to prevent allergic and anaphylactic reactions in humans: Across-sectional study. Asia Pacific Allergy, 9(2), e15. https://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2019.9.e15

Tracy, J. M. (2011). Insect Allergy. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine, 78(5), 773–783. https://doi.org/10.1002/msj.20286

Valenta, J. (2011). Co dělat při uštknutí zmijí obecnou. Interní medicína, 13(5).

Vetter, R. S., Visscher, P. K., & Camazine, S. (1999). Mass Envenomations by Honey Bees and Wasps. Western Journal of Medicine, 170(4), 223–227.

Warrell, D. A. (2010). Snake bite. The Lancet, 375(9708), 77–88.

Zavadska, D., Anca, I., Andre, F., Bakir, M., Chlibek, R., Čižman, M., Ivaskeviciene, I., Mangarov, A., Mészner, Z., Pokorn, M., Prymula, R., Richter, D., Salman, N., Šimurka, P., Tamm, E., Tešović, G., Urbancikova, I., & Usonis, V. (2013). Recommendations for tick-borne encephalitis vaccination from the Central European Vaccination Awareness Group (CEV AG). Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 9(2), 362–374. https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.22766

Zwach, I. (2009). Obojživelníci a plazi České republiky. Praha: Grada Publishing, 496 s. ISBN 978-80-247-2509-3.


We use cookies to analyse our traffic. More information