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15. Laboratory capability and surveillance testing for middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in the who European region, June 2013

Author

Pereyaslov, D., Rosin, P., Palm, D., Zeller, H., Gross, D., Brown, C. S., Struelens, M. J., Robo, A., Hatibi, I. H., Alis, J. C., Sargsyan, S., Gurbanov, S., Gribkova, N., Ranst, M., Ieven, G., Patteet, S., Tomic, S., Korsun, N., Drazenovic, V., Pieridou-Bagkatzouni, D., Jirincova, H., Havlickova, M., Fomsgaard, A., Rae, K., Lappalainen, M., Ikonen, N., Lina, B., Sylvie van der WERF, Manuguerra, J. -C, Machablishvili, A., Eickmann, M., Wolff, T., Dobler, G., Schmidt-Chanasit, J., Drosten, C., Papa, A., Mentis, A. F., Kis, Z., Löve, A., Coughlan, S., Mandelboim, M., Capobianchi, M. R., Landini, M. P., Baldanti, F., Palu, G., Ghisetti, V., Donatelli, I., Nusupbayeva, G., Tokhtabakiyeva, Z., Kasymbekova, K., Storozenko, J., Erne, S., Griskevicius, A., Opp, M., Barbara, C., Vratnica, Z., Reusken, C., Dudman, S. G., Hungnes, O., Pancer, K., Guiomar, R., Eder, V., Lupulescu, E., Yatsyshina, S., Pisareva, M., Buzitskaya, Z., Sergeev, A., Nedeljković, J., Staroňová, E., Županc, T. A., Petrovec, M., Korva, M., Prosenc, K., Casas, I., Gaines, H., Cherpillod, P., Zakirova, N., Bosevska, G., Altas, B., Ciblak, M., Mironenko, A., Dykhanovska, T., Demchyshyna, I., Bermingham, A., Rakhimov, R., Organisation Mondiale de la Santé / World Health Organization Office (OMS / WHO), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control [Stockholm, Sweden] (ECDC), Experts of the MERS-CoV Working Group Members of this working group who provided survey data: Albania: Alma Robo, Iris Hasibra (Hatibi), Institute of Public Health, Tirana Andorra: Josep Casals Alis, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour, Andorra la Vella Armenia: Shushan Sargsyan, Virology Laboratory, Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Yerevan Austria: Stephan Aberle, Department of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna Azerbaijan: Sadraddin Gurbanov, National Virology Laboratory, National Anti-Plague Station, Baku Belarus: Natalia Gribkova, Laboratory for Influenza and Influenza-like Diseases, Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk Belgium: Marc Van Ranst, Greet Ieven and Sophie Patteet, National Reference Centre of Respiratory Viruses, University Hospital Leuven and UZA Antwerpen, Antwerpen Bosnia and Herzegovina: Stanka Tomic, Microbiology Department, Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka Bulgaria: Neli Korsun, National Laboratory 'Influenza and ARD', Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia Croatia: Vladimir Drazenovic, National Influenza Centre, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb Cyprus: Despo Pieridou-Bagkatzouni, Microbiology Department, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia Czech Republic: Helena Jirincova, Martina Havlickova, National Reference Laboratory for Influenza, National Institute for Public Health, Prague Denmark: Anders Fomsgaard, Virus Research and Development Laboratory, Department Microbiology Diagnostic and Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen Estonia: Külli Rae, Laboratory of Communicable Diseases, Health Board, Tallinn Finland: Maija Lappalainen, Department of Virology and Immunology, Helsinki University Hospital, Laboratory Services (HUSLAB) and Niina Ikonen, Virology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki France: Bruno Lina, Centre National de Référence des Virus Influenza – HCL, Lyon and Sylvie van der Werf, Unit of Molecular Genetics of RNA viruses, Institut Pasteur and Jean-Claude Manuguerra, Cellule d’Intervention Biologique d’Urgence (CIBU), Institut Pasteur, Paris Georgia: Ann Machablishvili, National Influenza Centre, National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi Germany: Markus Eickmann, Institut für Virologie der Philipps-Universität in Marburg and Thorsten Wolff, Div of Influenza and other Respiratory viruses, Robert Koch-Institut, and Dr. Gerhard Dobler, Bundeswehr Instittue of Microbiology, and Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, WHOCC for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, and Christian Drosten, Virology Institute, Bonn Greece: Anna Papa, National Reference Laboratory for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever viruses, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki and Andreas F. Mentis, National Influenza Reference Laboratory of Southern Greece/Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens Hungary: Zoltan Kis, Department for Respiratory Viruses / National Biosafety Laboratory, B. Johan National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest Iceland: Arthur Löve, Department of Virology, Landspitali- National University Hospital, Reykjavik Ireland: Suzie Coughlan, National Virus Reference Laboratory/University College Dublin, Dublin Israel: Michal Mandelboim, Central Virology Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer Italy: Maria R. Capobianchi, Laboratory of Virology/National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, and Maria Paola Landini, Regional Center for Emerging Infections (CRREM)/ Unit of Clinical Microbiology, St. Orsola General Hospital, Bologna, and Fausto Baldanti, Molecular Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Virology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, and Giorgio Palu, Microbiology and Virology/Padova University Hospital, and Valeria Ghisetti, Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Torino, and Isabella Donatelli, National Influenza Centre, Instituto Superiore di Sanita, Kazakhstan: Gaukhar Nusupbayeva, Zarina Tokhtabakiyeva, National Reference Laboratory on Control of Viral Infections, Scientifical-Practical Center of Sanitary and Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty Kyrgyzstan: Kaliya Kasymbekova, Centre of Molecular-Genetic and Microbiological Investigations, Department of State Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance, Bishkek Latvia: Jelena Storozenko, Riga East University Hospital, Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases, National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Riga Liechtenstein: Sabine Erne, Office of Public Health, Country Administration of Principality of Liechtenstein Lithuania: Algirdas Griskevicius, National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory, Vilnius Luxembourg: Matthias Opp, Laboratoire National de Santé, Luxembourg Malta: Christopher Barbara, Pathology Department, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida Montenegro: Zoran Vratnica, Centre for Medical Microbiology, Public Health Institute of Montenegro, Podgorica Netherlands: Chantal Reusken, Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Diagnostics and Screening, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven Norway: Susanne Gjeruldsen Dudman and Olav Hungnes, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo Poland: Katarzyna Pancer, National Institute of Public Health- National Institute of Hygiene, Department of Virology, Warsaw Portugal: Raquel Guiomar, National Influenza Reference Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health, Lisboa Republic of Moldova: Veronica Eder, Laboratory of Viral Respiratory Infections, National Center for Public Health, Chisinau Romania: Emilia Lupulescu, Laboratory for Respiratory Viruses/ NIRDMI Cantacuzino, Bucharest Russian Federation: Svetlana Yatsyshina, Reference Centre for Infection Agents, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology (CRIE), Rospotrebnadzor, Moscow, and Maria Pisareva and Zhanna Buzitskaya, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Genetic Engineering, Research Institute of Influenza, St Petersburg, and Alexander Sergeev, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Novosibirsk Serbia: Jasminka Nedeljković, Respiratory Department, Torlak Institute of Immunology and Virology, Belgrade Slovakia: Edita Staroňová, National Influenza Center/Public Health Authority, Bratislava Slovenia: Tatjana Avšič Županc, Miroslav Petrovec, Miša Korva, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, and Katarina Prosenc, Laboratory for Virology, National Public Health Institute Slovenia, Ljubljana Spain: Inmaculada Casas, Influenza National Reference Laboratory, National Influenza Center-Madrid, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid and Ramon Cisterna Clinical microbiology and infection control, Hospital Basurto Bilbao Spain Sweden: Hans Gaines, Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Stockholm Switzerland: Pascal Cherpillod, National Reference Centre for Emerging Viral Infections, Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva Tajikistan: Niginamo Zakirova, Virology Laboratory, State Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance, Dushanbe The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Golubinka Bosevska, Laboratory for Virology and Molecular Diagnostics, Institute of Public Health, Skopje Turkey: Basak Altas, National Influenza Centre, Virology Reference and Research Laboratory, Public Health Institutions of Turkey, Ankara, and Meral Ciblak, National Influenza Reference Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Istanbul, Istanbul Turkmenistan: Central Reference Laboratory, Sanitary Epidemiologic Service, Ashgabat Ukraine: Alla Mironenko, National Influenza Centre, L.V.Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology & Infectious diseases NAMS, and Tetiana Dykhanovska and Iryna Demchyshyna, Centre of influenza and ARVI, Central Sanitary and Epidemiological Station, Kiev United Kingdom: Alison Bermingham, Respiratory Virus Unit, Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London Uzbekistan: Ravshan Rakhimov, National Influenza Centre, Institute of Virology, Tashkent., and We thank the ECDC National Microbiology Focal Points in EU/EEA countries, focal points from laboratories of the EuroFlu and ENIVD networks for coordinating data collection and for dedicated and rapid responses to the surveys.

Subjects
Epidemiology, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], SARS (Disease), MERS (Disease), medicine.disease_cause, World Health Organization, Communicable Diseases, Emerging, World health, Viral genetics, Coronavirus infections -- Laboratory manuals, Environmental protection, Virology, Environmental health, medicine, media_common.cataloged_instance, Humans, European Union, European union, Coronavirus, media_common, Middle East, business.industry, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Reference Standards, European region, Health Surveys, Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, RNA, Viral, Disease prevention, business, Coronavirus Infections, Laboratories, Sentinel Surveillance, Sequence Analysis
Abstract

Since September 2012, over 90 cases of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, now named Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), have been reported in the Middle East and Europe. To ascertain the capabilities and testing experience of national reference laboratories across the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region to detect this virus, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe conducted a joint survey in November 2012 and a follow-up survey in June 2013. In 2013, 29 of 52 responding WHO European Region countries and 24 of 31 countries of the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) had laboratory capabilities to detect and confirm MERS-CoV cases, compared with 22 of 46 and 18 of 30 countries, respectively, in 2012. By June 2013, more than 2,300 patients had been tested in 23 countries in the WHO European Region with nine laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases. These data indicate that the Region has developed significant capability to detect this emerging virus in accordance with WHO and ECDC guidance. However, not all countries had developed capabilities, and the needs to do so should be addressed. This includes enhancing collaborations between countries to ensure diagnostic capabilities for surveillance of MERS-CoV infections across the European Region., peer-reviewed

Published
2014
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24. A follow-up study on newly recognized spotted fever group Rickettsiae in ticks collected in southern Croatia

Author

Duh, D., Petrovec, M., Trilar, T., Punda-Polić, V., Bradarić, N., Klismanić, Z., and TATJANA AVŠIČ ŽUPANC

Subjects
ticks, Rickettsiae, molecular biology, climate, Croatia, parasitic diseases, bacterial infections and mycoses
Abstract

The aim was to study the impact of environmental conditions on seasonal population dynamics of tick species found in southern Croatia with the consequence on rickettsiae vectored by them. Efficiency of DNA extraction from individual ticks was verified by amplifying the portion of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene of tick origin. By using PCR assays and subsequent sequence analysis of the portion of four rickettsial genes ; gltA, ompA, ompB and gene for 17-kDa protein, the presence and identity of rickettsiae were determined.A total of 192 ticks belonging to five species (Haemaphysalis punctata, D. marginatus, H. marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa and Rh. turanicus) were collected in May 2001. Comparing the results from the collection in autumn 2000, a major decline was noticed in the adult H. punctata population with no rickettsial DNA detected in this species. Rh. bursa ticks were not competent vectors for SFG rickettsiae. Three of 33 (9.1 %) Rh. turanicus, a newly recognized species in the region, were infected with R. rhipicephali. As previously determined, D. marginatus and H. marginatum ticks were repeatedly infected with R. slovaca and R. aeschlimannii, respectively. An increase in population of adult D. marginatus and H. marginatum ticks was detected over the follow up. However, the percent of infection in ticks was lower (64.7 % in October 2000 and 26.1 % in May 2001) for R. aeschlimannii and higher (36.8 % in October 2000 and 60.0 % in May 2001) for R. slovaca.In conclusion, importance of the climatic impact on seasonal population dynamics of ticks in southern Coratia with consequence on SFG rickettsiae vectored by them was shown in this study.

Published
2003

25. Distinct host species correlate with Anaplasma phagocytophilum ankA gene clusters

Author

Scharf, W, Schauer, S, Freyburger, F, Petrovec, M, Schaarschmidt-Kiener, D, Liebisch, G, Runge, M, Ganter, M T, Kehl, A, Dumler, J S, García-Pérez, A L, Jensen, J, Fingerle, V, Meli, M L, Ensser, A, Stuen, S, von Loewenich, F D, Scharf, W, Schauer, S, Freyburger, F, Petrovec, M, Schaarschmidt-Kiener, D, Liebisch, G, Runge, M, Ganter, M T, Kehl, A, Dumler, J S, García-Pérez, A L, Jensen, J, Fingerle, V, Meli, M L, Ensser, A, Stuen, S, and von Loewenich, F D

Abstract

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative, tick-transmitted, obligate intracellular bacterium that elicits acute febrile diseases in humans and domestic animals. In contrast to the United States, human granulocytic anaplasmosis seems to be a rare disease in Europe despite the initial recognition of A. phagocytophilum as the causative agent of tick-borne fever in European sheep and cattle. Considerable strain variation has been suggested to occur within this species, because isolates from humans and animals differed in their pathogenicity for heterologous hosts. In order to explain host preference and epidemiological diversity, molecular characterization of A. phagocytophilum strains has been undertaken. Most often the 16S rRNA gene was used, but it might be not informative enough to delineate distinct genotypes of A. phagocytophilum. Previously, we have shown that A. phagocytophilum strains infecting Ixodes ricinus ticks are highly diverse in their ankA genes. Therefore we sequenced the 16S rRNA and ankA genes of 194 A. phagocytophilum strains from humans and several animal species. Whereas the phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences was not meaningful, we showed that distinct host species correlate with A. phagocytophilum ankA gene clusters.

Published
2011

27. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the Dolenjska region of Slovenia--a 10-year survey.

Author

Avsic-Zupanc, T, Petrovec, M, Furlan, P, Kaps, R, Elgh, Fredrik, Lundkvist, A, Avsic-Zupanc, T, Petrovec, M, Furlan, P, Kaps, R, Elgh, Fredrik, and Lundkvist, A

Abstract

This report describes the first investigation of clinical findings for a larger series of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) who were infected with Dobrava virus. From 1985 to 1995, 38 patients with serologically confirmed HFRS were hospitalized at the regional hospital in Novo mesto in the Dolenjska region of Slovenia. On the basis of results of serological examination, 24 patients had Dobrava virus infection, and 14 patients had Puumala virus infection. Complete clinical data were available for 31 patients. Eleven patients underwent hemodialysis for treatment of acute oliguric or anuric renal failure. Four patients, all infected by Dobrava virus, had signs of shock and severe bleeding. Three severely ill Dobrava virus-infected patients died of hemorrhagic complications. We have demonstrated that Dobrava and Puumala viruses coexist in a single region of endemicity and are capable of causing HFRS with significant differences in severity.

Published
1999
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36. Prevalenza dell'incontinenza urinaria e della riabilitazione pelvi-perineale nel postpartum in una coorte di pazienti primipare e secondipare.

Author

Driul, L., Del Neri, C., Bertozzi, S., Londero, A. P., Petrovec, M. M., Di Benedetto, P., and Marchesoni, D.

Subjects
URINARY incontinence, PSYCHOLOGY of puerperium, PELVIC floor, PERINEUM, DIAGNOSIS
Abstract

The article presents a study on the prevalence of pelviperineal rehabilitation and urinary incontinence in postpartum patients. The said urinary incontinence is the childbirth-related perineal trauma classical sign, wherein the estimated prevalence ranges from 10%-50%. It notes that the pelviperineal rehabilitation within the observed patients has a quite low occurrence versus the high disturbances prevalence related to pelvic floor dysfunctions during postnatal pregnancies.

Published
2009

37. Prevention of congenital taxoplasmosis in Slovenia by serological screening of pregnant women.

Author

Logar J, Petrovec M, Novak-Antolic Z, Premru-Srsen T, Cizman M, Arnez M, and Kraut A

Abstract

A programme for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis in Slovenia involving the screening of pregnant women for Toxoplasma infection is presented. Of 21,270 pregnant women screened for toxoplasmosis between, 1996 and the end of 1999, 13,987 (66%) were seronegative, 7,151 (34%) seropositive and 132 had primary infection; 9/1,000 women were at risk of acquiring the primary infection. One hundred live-born infants of primary infected women were available for follow-up. Nine infected but asymptomatic children were born to mothers who were screened and treated in time and two congenitally infected babies were born to mothers in whom infection was detected too late in pregnancy and who therefore received no adequate treatment. It is suggested that the results obtained in this study outweigh the cost of screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. Pregnant women should always be tested at the beginning of pregnancy and, in cases of seronegativity, should be re-tested in the second and third trimesters of the pregnancy. Toxoplasma primary infected pregnant women and neonates should be treated as soon as possible. However, long-term follow-up of children born to primary infected women would be necessary for an accurate evaluation of the effectiveness of the screening because of the possibility of late onset of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2002
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39. The molecular evidence of <e1>Babesia microti</e1> infection in small mammals collected in Slovenia

Author

DUH, D., PETROVEC, M., and TRILAR, T.

Abstract

In Europe, the zoonotic cycle of Babesia microti has not been determined so far. Recently, B. microti was detected in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Slovenia by using molecular methods. In order to investigate the mammalian hosts of B. microti in Slovenia we collected 261 small mammals representing 11 species. They were tested for the presence of babesial parasites with a PCR assay based on the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (nss-rDNA). The bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) and yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) were infected with B. microti. The prevalence rate was 15·9% for C. glareolus and 11·8% for A. flavicollis. Nucleotide sequences of amplified portions of B. microti nss-rDNA from C. glareolus and A. flavicollis were indistinguishable from each other and identical with those previously described in I. ricinus ticks collected in Slovenia. The results of this study represent molecular evidence of B. microti in small mammals in Europe.

Published
2003

40. Clinical and serological follow-up of patients with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Slovenia.

Author

Lotric-Furlan, S, Avsic-Zupanc, T, Petrovec, M, Nicholson, W L, Sumner, J W, Childs, J E, and Strle, F

Abstract

An evaluation of the clinical outcome and the duration of the antibody response of patients with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) was undertaken in Slovenia. Adult patients with a febrile illness occurring within 6 weeks of a tick bite were classified as having probable or confirmed HGE based on the outcome of serological or PCR testing. Thirty patients (median age, 44 years) were enrolled, and clinical evaluations and serum collection were undertaken at initial presentation and at 14 days, 6 to 8 weeks, and 3 to 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. An indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed, and reciprocal titers of > or =128 were interpreted as positive. Patients presented a median of 4 days after the onset of fever and were febrile for a median of 7.5 days; four (13.3%) received doxycycline. Seroconversion was observed in 3 of 30 (10.0%) patients, and 25 (83.3%) showed >4-fold change in antibody titer. PCR results were positive in 2 of 3 (66.7%) seronegative patients but in none of 27 seropositive patients at the first presentation. IFA antibody titers of > or =128 were found in 14 of 29 (48.3%), 17 of 30 (56.7%), 13 of 30 (43.4%), and 12 of 30 (40.0%) patients 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after presentation, respectively. Patients reporting additional tick bites during the study had significantly higher antibody titers at most time points during follow-up. No long-term clinical consequences were found during follow-up.

Published
2001
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41. Sequence analysis of the ank gene of granulocytic ehrlichiae.

Author

Massung, R F, Owens, J H, Ross, D, Reed, K D, Petrovec, M, Bjoersdorff, A, Coughlin, R T, Beltz, G A, and Murphy, C I

Abstract

The ank gene of the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) codes for a protein with a predicted molecular size of 131.2 kDa that is recognized by serum from both dogs and humans infected with granulocytic ehrlichiae. As part of an effort to assess the phylogenetic relatedness of granulocytic ehrlichiae from different geographic regions and in different host species, the ank gene was PCR amplified and sequenced from a variety of sources. These included 10 blood specimens from patients with confirmed human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (three from New York, four from Wisconsin, two from Slovenia, and one from Sweden). Also examined was a canine granulocytic ehrlichia sample obtained from Minnesota, Ehrlichia equi from California, Ehrlichia phagocytophila from Sweden, and the granulocytic ehrlichia isolate USG3. The sequences showed a high level of homology (>95.5% identity), with the lowest homology occurring between a New York HGE agent and the Swedish E. phagocytophila. Several 3-bp deletions and a variable number of 51- and 81-bp direct repeats were noted. Although the North American HGE sequences showed the highest conservation (>98.1% identity), phylogenetic analyses indicated that these samples represent two separate clades, one including the three New York HGE samples and the USG3 strain and another with the Wisconsin HGE and Minnesota canine sequences. Two of the New York samples and the USG3 strain showed 100% identity over the entire 3,696-bp product. Likewise, three of the Wisconsin human samples and the Minnesota dog sample were identical (3,693 bp). Whereas phylogenetic analysis showed that the E. equi sequence was most closely related to the Upper Midwest samples, analysis of the repeat structures showed it to be more similar to the European samples. Overall, the genetic analysis based on the ank gene showed that the granulocytic ehrlichiae are closely related, appear to infect multiple species, and can be grouped into at least three different clades, two North American and one European.

Published
2000

42. Zika: an old virus with a new face

Author

Avšic Županc Tatjana and Petrovec Miroslav

Subjects
zika virus, emerging infection, microcephaly, neurological complication, sexual transmission, virus zika, porajajoča se okužba, mikrocefalija, nevrološki zapleti, spolni prenos, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
Abstract

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that represents a public health emergency at the ongoing epidemic. This obscure virus was limited to sporadic cases in Africa and Asia, until the emergence of Zika virus in Brazil in 2015, when it rapidly spread throughout the Americas. Most Zika virus infections are subclinical or characterized by mild febrile illness. However, neurological complications, including Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, and congenital anomalies, including microcephaly in babies born to infected mothers, raised a grave concern. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available for Zika virus infection. Thus, international public health response is primarily focused on preventing infection, particularly in pregnant women, and on providing up-to-date recommendations to reduce the risk of non-vector transmission of Zika virus.

Published
2016
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43. Diversity of Babesia Infecting European sheep ticks (Ixodes ricinus).

Author

Duh, D, Petrovec, M, and Avsic-Zupanc, T

Abstract

Questing Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) adult and nymphal ticks collected in various parts of Slovenia were tested for the presence of babesial parasites with a PCR assay based on the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (nss-ribosomal DNA [rDNA]). Thirteen of 135 ticks were found to contain babesial DNA. Sequence determination and analysis of amplified portions of nss-rDNA revealed their identity with Babesia microti and a high degree of homology with Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens. The results of this study represent the first genetic evidence of B. microti and B. divergens-like parasites in I. ricinus ticks in Europe.

Published
2001

47. Randomized trial of azithromycin in the prophylaxis of mediterranean spotted fever

Author

Dželalija, B., Petrovec, M., TATJANA AVŠIČ ŽUPANC, Strugar, J., and Milić, T. A.

Subjects
azithromycin, Croatia, Mediterranean spotted fever, prophylaxis, ticks
Abstract

A randomized clinical trial was undertaken to compare clinical and serologic parameters of the efficacy of one-dose azithromycin in the prophylaxis of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF)in 122 persons with a tick bite history. Antibodies to R. conorii were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay in 55 (45.1%)of 122 subjects. Positive result was obtained in 19 (31.1%) of 61 subjects with azithromycin prophylaxis and in 36 (59.0%) of 61 subjects without prophylaxis. In subjects with prophylaxis clinical signs of the disease were not recorded at all, whereas asymptomatic infection was detected in 19(31.1%) of 61 subjects. Based on the results obtained in our study, we assume that a single dose of azithromycin is promising in MSF prevention.

48. Coronavirus infections in hospitalized pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract disease

Author

Jevšnik Monika, Uršič Tina, Žigon Nina, Lusa Lara, Krivec Uroš, and Petrovec Miroslav

Subjects
Hospitalized children, Human coronavirus, Respiratory viral infection, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

Abstract Background Acute viral respiratory infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. The etiological backgrounds of these infections remain unconfirmed in most clinical cases. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of human coronavirus infections in a series of children hospitalized with symptoms of acute respiratory tract disease in a one-year period in Slovenia. Methods The 664 specimens from 592 children under six years of age hospitalized at the University Children’s Hospital in Ljubljana were sent for the routine laboratory detection of respiratory viruses. Respiratory viruses were detected with a direct immunofluorescence assay and human coronaviruses were detected with a modified real-time RT–PCR. Results HCoV RNA was detected in 40 (6%, 95% CI: 4.3%–8.1%) of 664 samples. Of these specimens, 21/40 (52.5%) were identified as species HKU1, 7/40 (17.5%) as OC43, 6/40 (15%) as 229E, and 6/40 (15%) as NL63. Infection with HCoV occurred as a coinfection with one or more other viruses in most samples (70%). Of the HCoV-positive children, 70.3% had lower respiratory tract infections. Conclusion The results of our study show that HCoV are frequently detected human pathogens, often associated with other respiratory viruses and acute respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children. An association between age and the viral load was found. The highest viral load was detected in children approximately 10 months of age.

Published
2012
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49. The complete genome sequence of a Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus isolated from an endemic region in Kosovo

Author

Dedushaj Iusuf, Petrovec Miroslav, Hafner-Bratkovič Iva, Saksida Ana, Khristova Marina L, Nichol Stuart T, Duh Darja, Ahmeti Salih, and Avšič-Županc Tatjana

Subjects
Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

Abstract The Balkan region and Kosovo in particular, is a well-known Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) endemic region, with frequent epidemic outbreaks and sporadic cases occurring with a hospitalized case fatality of approximately 30%. Recent analysis of complete genome sequences of diverse CCHF virus strains showed that the genome plasticity of the virus is surprisingly high for an arthropod-borne virus. High levels of nucleotide and amino acid differences, frequent RNA segment reassortment and even RNA recombination have been recently described. This diversity illustrates the need to determine the complete genome sequence of CCHF virus representatives of all geographically distinct endemic areas, particularly in light of the high pathogenicity of the virus and its listing as a potential bioterrorism threat. Here we describe the first complete CCHF virus genome sequence of a virus (strain Kosova Hoti) isolated from a hemorrhagic fever case in the Balkans. This virus strain was isolated from a fatal CCHF case, and passaged only twice on Vero E6 cells prior to sequence analysis. The virus total genome was found to be 19.2 kb in length, consisting of a 1672 nucleotide (nt) S segment, a 5364 nt M segment and a 12150 nt L segment. Phylogenetic analysis of CCHF virus complete genomes placed the Kosova Hoti strain in the Europe/Turkey group, with highest similarity seen with Russian isolates. The virus M segments are the most diverse with up to 31 and 27% differences seen at the nt and amino acid levels, and even 1.9% amino acid difference found between the Kosova Hoti and another strain from Kosovo (9553-01). This suggests that distinct virus strains can coexist in highly endemic areas.

Published
2008
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50. Identity of Ehrlichial DNA Sequences Derived from Ixodes ricinusTicks with Those Obtained from Patients with Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Slovenia

Author

Petrovec, M., Sumner, J. W., Nicholson, W. L., Childs, J. E., Strle, F., Barlic?, J., Lotric?-Furlan, S., and Avs?ic?Z?upanc, T.

Abstract

ABSTRACTAdult Ixodes ricinus(Acari: Ixodidae) ticks collected near Ljubljana, Slovenia, were tested for the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) by using PCR assays based on the 16S rRNA gene. Three (3.2%) of 93 ticks were found to contain granulocytic ehrlichiae. Nucleotide sequences of portions of the bacterialgroESLheat shock operon amplified from these ticks were identical or nearly (99.8%) identical to those previously determined for human patients with HGE from Slovenia, providing additional evidence that the ticks were infected with the HGE agent. This study identified I. ricinusas the likely vector for these ehrlichial pathogens of humans in this part of Europe.

Published
1999
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