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Background/Aim. It is estimated that about 230 million refugees and asylum seekers circulates worldwide. Parasitosis are diagnosed in recent years with increasing frequency both in Europe and other developed countries. International migration of population, as an inalienable part and a result of the process of globalization, has an increasing impact on health of the population of countries through which migrants pass or settle. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of intestinal parasitic diseases in asylum seekers on the territory of Belgrade. Methods. The study group included 97 asylum seekers from the Centre for Asylum seekers in Obrenovac, in the period December 2013– January 2014. Stool samples were taken less than seven days after arriving to the Center and sent to the Laboratory for Parasitological Diagnosis of the Public Health Institute of Belgrade. Detection of parasites in stool samples was performed by a direct native slide made of fresh sample and direct slide made after stool concentration applying "Mini Parasep" technique. Statistical analysis included application of χ2-test of matching and χ2-test of independence. Results. The study showed that the parasites were detected in 9.3% of cases, in the group of 15–24 years of age. Protozoa were found in 6.2% and helminthes in 3.1% of the samples. Conclusion. Most intestinal parasitosis were found in asylum seekers from Bangladesh. All parasitosis were found in males and the most frequently detected parasite was Giardia lamblia.

Background/Aim. Bronchiolitis in early childhood caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is considered to be important risk factor of the recurrent wheezing and asthma development. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of RSV infection and atopy in children up to two years of age and to determine their correlation with bronchial hyperreactivity. Methods. The study included 175 children aged 5-24 months. The presence of RSV infection was identified by serum levels of IgA and IgG determined by ELISA. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) has been defined as the existence of chronic bronchial disease and/or three or more previous suspected diagnosis of acute bronchial disease. Atopy was confirmed by detection of the specific serum IgE using quantitative multitest Phadiatop infant (cut off ≥ 0.35 kUA/L). Results. The children with atopy were more frequently infected with RSV (43.3%) than those without atopy (22.8%; p = 0.02). The higher frequency of RSV infection was found in children with BHR in comparison with those without it but only in the group who also had atopy (77.8% vs 28.6%, p = 0.018). In the female children, BHR and RSV infection were associated in 62.5% of cases, regardless the atopy. In the male children with atopy, RSV infection was associated with BHR in 83.3% of the cases, while in those without atopy, RSV infection with BHR was found in only 17.4% of the cases. Conclusion. Children up to two years of age with atopy are more frequently infected with RSV (43.3%) than non-atopic children. Every third child with atopy develops BHR and 77.8% of them also have RSV infection. Atopic children are at higher risk for development of BHR when infected with RSV also.

Background/Aim. Norovirus (NoV), formerly Norwalk-like virus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans of all ages. It is known that 90% of viral gastroenteritis and about 60-85% of all outbreaks of gastroenteritis, especially in the territory of United States of America, Europe and Japan are caused by this virus. For the countries of the northern hemisphere, individual cases and outbreaks of acute NoV gastroenteritis appear in seasonal pattern, mainly during the winter months. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of acute gastroenteritis with the established NoV etiology in Serbia. Methods. The study group included 88 patients with the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, throughout the year 2010 and 2011. From all the patients, stool samples were taken less than three days from the onset of symptoms. Detection of NoV in stool samples was performed by commercial qualitative immuno-chromatography assay. Statistical analysis included application of χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis's test, Spearman’s rank correlation test and logistic regression analysis. Results. Outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis caused by NoV were recorded to be the most common in children with the incidence of infection of 50% in the age group 0-15 years. Analysis of individual symptoms in the NoV proven infection, showed that diarrhea was the most common symptom, followed by vomiting especially in small children, while abdominal pain was most common in elderly (≥ 65 years). The presence of frequent vomiting, more than 4 times/day, indicated NoV infection in the women, while for men the infection was always presented with diarrhea. Conclusion. The obtained results confirmed that small children and elderly are the most susceptible to NoV infection and that out-breaks are more frequent in the winter months. Those who consumed food in restaurants and other public facilities were not at higher risk for NoV infection.