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Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic spirochetal disease with global importance, which continues to have a major impact on public health in developing countries. The prevalence of the disease is much higher in males. The objectives of this study were: to give some data and to share our experience with human leptospirosis in Albania; to describe the prevalence regarding to the role of gender in the prevalence of human leptospirosis; to make a gender specific analysis of the clinical manifestations in patients diagnosed and treated for leptospirosis in our service and to make a review of literature related to this hypothesis., Methodology: We reviewed the epidemiologic data, risk factors and differences in clinical presentation between males and females' patients with leptospirosis. These data are analysed from hospitalized patients. Diagnosis of leptospirosis was established based on clinical presentation, epidemiological data and subsequently confirmed serologically by Anti-Leptospira IgM antibodies through ELISA test., Results: Between 2005-2016, 233 cases of confirmed leptospirosis were analysed. Males were 208 (89.27%) and 25 of patients (10.72%) were females in ratio 9:1 p < 0.001. The highest prevalence was observed in the 45-64 age groups. Overall mortality was found to be 8.58%, 19 were males and one female p < 0.001., Conclusions: There is a much higher prevalence of leptospirosis in middle aged men. Mortality rate seems to be similar in males and females. While the difference in prevalence may be related to exposure to risk factors, further investigation is necessary to study gender-based genetic and immunological predisposition.

Introduction: Pancreatitis is a rare complication of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The causative agents of HFRS are hantaviruses, which belong to the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cases of acute pancreatitis (AP) in patients with HFRS at the Service of Infectious Diseases, Tirana, Albania., Methodology: In this retrospective study, clinical and laboratory data was obtained from 36 patients with confirmed HFRS, between January 2011 and December 2016. The diagnosis had been confirmed by a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgM or IgG antibodies to hantavirus., Results: The average patient age was 39.7 ± 14.1 years with a range of 15-59 years. From 36 HFRS patients, four (11.1%) were found to have AP, all were male. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom and an increase in amylase and lipase was observed in all four patients. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) indicated pancreatitis with surrounding edema, necrosis and hemorrhage. In this study, the total mortality was 11.1% (4/36), while mortality in patients with AP was 25% (1/4)., Conclusions: The results indicate that AP is a serious complication of HFRS, with a poor prognosis. Increased awareness of AP in clinicians and assessment of amylasemia or lipasemia in patients with HFRS should be considered, especially in endemic areas where a rapid diagnosis is crucial for a positive outcome., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2017 Edmond Puca, Arjan Harxhi, Pellumb Pipero, Elda Qyra, Gentian Stroni, Ermira Muco, Zhenisa Hysenaj, Elvana Rista, Gjok Tosku, Silvia Bino.)

Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain matter, very often associated with viral infections, but it can also be caused by non-viral pathogens such as leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a systemic disease caused by bacteria of the Leptospira genus. Leptospiral infection has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from subclinical or mild illness to a fulminant life-threatening illness. In this case report we describe a young patient from Southern Albania with isolated encephalitis caused by Leptospira, where acute encephalitis was the initial presentation of the disease.