40 results on '"Sakkas H"'
Search Results
2. Evaluation of procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker of bacteraemia: P1604
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Levidiotou, S., Papantoniou, E., Charitou, A., Charitou, V., Sakkas, H., and Papamichael, D.
- Published
- 2005
3. Identification of a KPC-9-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 cluster among KPC-2-producing isolates of an ongoing outbreak in Northwestern Greece: a retrospective study
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Gartzonika, K., Rossen, J.W.A., Sakkas, H., Rosema, S., Priavali, E., Friedrich, A.W., Levidiotou, S., and Bathoorn, E.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
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4. Determination of minerals in infant milk formulae by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
- Author
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Papachristodoulou, C., primary, Tsiamou, M.-C., additional, Sakkas, H., additional, and Papadopoulou, C., additional
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- 2018
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5. Serum procalcitonin as a diagnostic tool of bacteremia
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Gartzonika, C, primary, Priavali, E, additional, Zotos, N, additional, Kallinteri, A, additional, Katsoula, I, additional, Sakkas, H, additional, Papapetrou, E, additional, Kapsali, E, additional, Vrioni, G, additional, Mavridis, A, additional, Nakos, G, additional, and Levidiotou, S, additional
- Published
- 2010
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6. Chemical investigation and antimicrobial properties of mastic water and its major constituents
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Paraschos, S, primary, Magiatis, P, additional, Skaltsounis, AL, additional, Economou, V, additional, Gousia, P, additional, Sakkas, H, additional, and Papadopoulou, C, additional
- Published
- 2009
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7. Antifungal activity of plant essential oils against wild strains of Candida spp. isolated from hospitalized patients
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Sakkas, H, primary, Gousia, P, additional, Economou, V, additional, Arvanitidou, M, additional, Levidiotou, S, additional, and Papadopoulou, C, additional
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- 2009
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8. The antimicrobial activity of origanum oil, basil oil, chamomile blue oil, tea tree oil and thyme oil against Gram-positive bacterial strains
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Papadopoulou, C, primary, Sakkas, H, additional, Arvanitidou, M, additional, and Leveidiotou, S, additional
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- 2007
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9. Chapter 47 - Why Cryptosporidium Research for Large Water Supplies: Investigations in the Lake Mornos, the Big Water Reservoir of Greater Athens, Greece
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Karanis, P., Papadopoulou, C., Kimura, A., Economou, E., Kourenti, C., and Sakkas, H.
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- 2003
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10. Zika virus infection: Past and present of another emerging vector-borne disease
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Sakkas, H., Vangelis Economou, and Papadopoulou, C.
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Mosquito Control ,Zika Virus Infection ,Disease Transmission, Infectious ,Microcephaly ,Humans ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,Aedes ,Brazil ,Flavivirus Polynesia ,Yap ,Mosquito Vectors ,Global Health ,Guillain-Barre Syndrome ,Communicable Diseases, Emerging ,Zika virus ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases - Abstract
Zika virus infection is an emerging mosquito-borne disease, first identified in Uganda in 1947. It is caused by the Zika arbovirus, and transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. For almost half a century, the Zika virus was reported as the causative agent of sporadic human infections. In 2007, the Zika virus emerged outside Asia and Africa causing an epidemic on the Island of Yap in Micronesia. The manifestation of the newly acquired human infection varies from asymptomatic to self-limiting acute febrile illness with symptoms and clinical features similar to those caused by the Dengue virus (′Dengue-like syndrome′). The real-time PCR and serological methods have been successfully applied for the diagnosis of the disease. The treatment is symptomatic, since there is no specific antiviral treatment or a vaccine. During the recent outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil, incidents of Guillain-Barrι syndrome and microcephaly were associated with Zika virus infection, giving rise to fears of further global spread of the virus. Prevention and vector control strategies have to be urgently implemented by national health authorities in order to contain future outbreaks in vulnerable populations. This review summarizes the existing information on Zika virus characteristics, pathogenesis and epidemiology, the available methods for the diagnosis of Zika virus infection and recent approaches for prevention and control.
11. Impact of enterococcal urinary tract infections in immunocompromised – neoplastic patients
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Giannakopoulos, X., Sakkas, H., Vasileios Ragos, Tsiambas, E., Bozidis, P., Evangelou, A. M., Papadopoulou, C., Petrogian-Nopoulos, L., and Sofikitis, N.
12. Unusual N Gene Dropout and Ct Value Shift in Commercial Multiplex PCR Assays Caused by Mutated SARS-CoV-2 Strain.
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Bozidis P, Tsaousi ET, Kostoulas C, Sakaloglou P, Gouni A, Koumpouli D, Sakkas H, Georgiou I, and Gartzonika K
- Abstract
Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged and early detection for monitoring their prevalence is crucial. Many identification strategies have been implemented in cases where sequencing data for confirmation is pending or not available. The presence of B.1.1.318 among prevalent variants was indicated by an unusual amplification pattern in various RT-qPCR commercial assays. Positive samples for SARS-CoV-2, as determined using the Allplex SARS-CoV-2 Assay, the Viasure SARS-CoV-2 Real Time Detection Kit and the GeneFinder COVID-19 Plus RealAmp Kit, presented a delay or failure in the amplification of the N gene, which was further investigated. Whole-genome sequencing was used for variant characterization. The differences between the mean Ct values for amplification of the N gene vs. other genes were calculated for each detection system and found to be at least 14 cycles. Sequencing by WGS revealed that all the N gene dropout samples contained the B.1.1.318 variant. All the isolates harbored three non-synonymous mutations in the N gene, which resulted in four amino acid changes (R203K, G204R, A208G, Met234I). Although caution should be taken when the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants is based on viral gene amplification failure, such patterns could serve as a basis for rapid and cost-effective screening, functioning as indicators of community circulation of specific variants, requiring subsequent verification via sequencing.
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- 2022
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13. Pathophysiological Aspects of Ocular Toxoplasmosis: Host-parasite Interactions.
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Kalogeropoulos D, Kalogeropoulos C, Sakkas H, Mohammed B, Vartholomatos G, Malamos K, Sreekantam S, Kanavaros P, and de-la-Torre A
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- Host-Parasite Interactions, Humans, Phylogeny, Retina, Toxoplasma, Toxoplasmosis, Ocular drug therapy
- Abstract
Purpose: This review aims to present the state of the art to understand the pathophysiology of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT), providing further foundations that would help to improve the future treatment and prognosis of this potentially blinding disease., Methods: A thorough literature search was performed in PubMed database. An additional search was made in Google Scholar to complete the collected items., Results: Toxoplasma gondii ocular infection is one of the most frequent causes of posterior uveitis. Despite the ocular barriers, the parasite reaches the eye through different mechanisms. Once inside, it remains encysted livelong within the retina, and recurrences cannot be completely avoided. The complexity of host-parasite interactions, leading to the success of this parasite, encompasses host factors such as genetic predisposition, immune status, and age; and parasite factors such as strain diversity, virulence, phylogenetic origin, and geographical distribution. These factors influence the clinical presentation, course, and progression of the disease. Additional elements, such as pregnancy, eating behavior, and environmental, social, and cultural factors may also contribute to this complex balance., Conclusions: The host-parasite interaction in OT is a complex and multifactorial relationship, with the parasite always on the driving edge of the game. There are still multiple incompletely understood fields to be investigated. Future research would permit further insight into the immune-biology of the parasite and recognition of the host-parasite interplay to improve the diagnostic and management performance.
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- 2022
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14. Ocular toxoplasmosis: a review of the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Kalogeropoulos D, Sakkas H, Mohammed B, Vartholomatos G, Malamos K, Sreekantam S, Kanavaros P, and Kalogeropoulos C
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- Eye, Humans, Chorioretinitis diagnosis, Chorioretinitis drug therapy, Toxoplasma, Toxoplasmosis, Ocular diagnosis, Toxoplasmosis, Ocular drug therapy, Toxoplasmosis, Ocular epidemiology, Uveitis, Posterior
- Abstract
Purpose: This review aims to summarize the current knowledge concerning the clinical features, diagnostic work-up and therapeutic approach of ocular toxoplasmosis focusing mainly on the postnatally acquired form of the disease., Methods: A meticulous literature search was performed in the PubMed database. A supplementary search was made in Google Scholar to complete the collected items., Results: Ocular toxoplasmosis is one of the most frequent infectious etiologies of posterior uveitis. It typically presents with retinochoroiditis. Setting an accurate diagnosis depends to a considerable degree on detecting characteristic clinical characteristics. In addition to the evaluation of clinical features, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis relies at a large degree on serologic testing. The detection of the parasite DNA in the aqueous or vitreous humor can provide evidence for a definitive diagnosis. The current mainstay for the treatment, if necessary, is the use of oral antibiotic with systemic corticosteroids. Recent evidence suggests other therapeutic approaches, such as intravitreal antibiotics can be used., Conclusion: Recent developments in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach have contributed to preventing or limiting vision loss of patients suffering from ocular toxoplasmosis. Further studies are required to provide a better understanding of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment with a significant impact on the management of this challenging clinical entity., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)
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- 2022
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15. Modeling microbial ethanol production by S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and E. faecalis under aerobic/anaerobic conditions - applicability to laboratory cultures and real postmortem cases.
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Velivasi G, Kourkoumelis N, Sakkas H, and Boumba VA
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- 1-Butanol analysis, 1-Propanol analysis, Aerobiosis, Anaerobiosis, Autopsy, Blood Alcohol Content, Butanols analysis, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Pentanols analysis, Blood microbiology, Enterococcus faecalis chemistry, Ethanol analysis, Klebsiella pneumoniae chemistry, Staphylococcus aureus chemistry
- Abstract
A quite intriguing subject being intensively researched in the forensic toxicology field is the source of postmortem determined blood ethanol concentration: antemortem ingestion or postmortem microbial production. Our previous research on microbial ethanol production has reported a quantitative relationship between the ethanol and the higher alcohols and 1-butanol produced by Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfrigens, and Clostridium sporogenes. In this contribution, we continue our research reporting on the following: (i) the patterns of ethanol, higher alcohols, and 1-butanol production by the microbes Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis (all being aerobic/facultative anaerobic species, common corpse's colonizers, and ethanol producers), under controlled laboratory conditions, (ii) the mathematical modeling, with simple mathematical equations, of the correlation between ethanol concentration and the other studied alcohols' concentrations, by performing multiple linear regression analysis of the results, and (iii) the applicability of the constructed models in microbial cultures developed under different temperature than that used to build the models, in denatured blood cultures and in real postmortem cases. The aforementioned alcohols were proved to be all indicators of ethanol production, both in qualitative and quantitative terms. 1-Propanol was the most significant alcohol in modeling microbial ethanol production, followed by methyl-butanol. The K. pneumoniae's models achieved the best scoring in applicability (E < 40%) compared to the S. aureus and E. faecalis models, both at laboratory microbial cultures at 37 °C and real postmortem cases. Overall, a noteworthy accuracy in estimating the microbial ethanol in cultures and autopsy blood is achieved by the employed simple linear models., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2021
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16. Correction to: Modeling microbial ethanol production by S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and E. faecalis under aerobic/anaerobic conditions - applicability to laboratory cultures and real postmortem cases.
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Velivasi G, Kourkoumelis N, Sakkas H, and Boumba VA
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- 2021
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17. Modeling postmortem ethanol production by C. albicans: Experimental study and multivariate evaluation.
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Velivasi G, Sakkas H, Kourkoumelis N, and Boumba VA
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- 1-Butanol metabolism, 1-Propanol metabolism, Blood Glucose, Butanols metabolism, Culture Techniques, Humans, Pentanols metabolism, Specimen Handling, Temperature, Candida albicans metabolism, Ethanol metabolism, Models, Theoretical, Postmortem Changes
- Abstract
In previous research, we modeled the ethanol production by certain bacteria under controlled experimental conditions in an attempt to quantify the production of microbial postmortem ethanol in cases where other alcohols were co-detected. This contribution on the modeling of postmortem ethanol production by Candida albicans is complementary to these previous studies. Τhis work aimed to study ethanol, higher alcohols (1-propanol, isobutanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol), and 1-butanol production by Candida albicans: (i) in different culture media (Brain Heart Infusion, BHI and, Sabouraud Dextrose Broth, SDB), (ii) under mixed aerobic/anaerobic or strict anaerobic conditions, and (iii) at different temperatures (37 °C, 25 °C and, 4 °C), and develop simple mathematical models, resulted from fungal cultures at 25 °C, to predict the microbially produced ethanol in correlation with the other alcohols. The applicability of the models was tested in the C. albicans cultures in BHI and SDB media at 37 °C, in denatured human blood at 25 °C, acidic and neutral with different concentrations of additional glucose, in acidic denatured blood diluted with dextrose solution and in blood from autopsy cases. The received results indicated that the C. albicans models could apply in cases where yeasts have been activated in blood with elevated glucose levels. Overall, the in vitro ethanol production by C. albicans in blood depended on temperature, time, glucose (or carbohydrate) content, pH of the medium and endogenous changes in the medium composition through time. Our results showed that methyl-butanol is the most significant indicator of fungal ethanol production, followed by the equally important isobutanol and 1-propanol in qualitative and quantitative terms., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest for this contribution., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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18. Rapid Detection of bla KPC-9 Allele from Clinical Isolates.
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Gartzonika K, Bozidis P, Priavali E, and Sakkas H
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The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) nosocomial outbreaks related to specific bla
KPC gene variants dictates the need for applicable diagnostic methods for allele discrimination. We report here a simple method of blaKPC-9 allele recognition based on a combination of endonuclease digestion analysis and PCR amplification using unique primers. K. pneumoniae isolates carrying the blaKPC gene were tested. Digestion with RsaI restriction endonuclease was found to efficiently differentiate the blaKPC-2 from the blaKPC-9 variants into two distinct groups of digestion patterns named KPC-2-like and KPC-9-like, respectively. An additional procedure, the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) method, was applied to identify the variant within the same group. The principles of this procedure could be developed to identify several blaKPC gene variants, as well as monitoring the spread and evolution of specific KPC variants within local geographical regions.- Published
- 2021
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19. Evaluating Infectious, Neoplastic, Immunological, and Degenerative Diseases of the Central Nervous System with Cerebrospinal Fluid-Based Next-Generation Sequencing.
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Tsamis KI, Sakkas H, Giannakis A, Ryu HS, Gartzonika C, and Nikas IP
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- Central Nervous System pathology, Central Nervous System Diseases immunology, Central Nervous System Diseases pathology, Central Nervous System Neoplasms immunology, Central Nervous System Neoplasms pathology, Humans, Immune System Diseases immunology, Immune System Diseases pathology, Mutation genetics, Neurodegenerative Diseases immunology, Neurodegenerative Diseases pathology, Central Nervous System Diseases genetics, Central Nervous System Neoplasms genetics, Immune System Diseases genetics, Neurodegenerative Diseases genetics
- Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear and paucicellular fluid that circulates within the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space of the central nervous system (CNS), and diverse CNS disorders can impact its composition, volume, and flow. As conventional CSF testing suffers from suboptimal sensitivity, this review aimed to evaluate the role of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the work-up of infectious, neoplastic, neuroimmunological, and neurodegenerative CNS diseases. Metagenomic NGS showed improved sensitivity-compared to traditional methods-to detect bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections, while the overall performance was maximized in some studies when all diagnostic modalities were used. In patients with primary CNS cancer, NGS findings in the CSF were largely concordant with the molecular signatures derived from tissue-based molecular analysis; of interest, additional mutations were identified in the CSF in some glioma studies, reflecting intratumoral heterogeneity. In patients with metastasis to the CNS, NGS facilitated diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic management, and monitoring, exhibiting higher sensitivity than neuroimaging, cytology, and plasma-based molecular analysis. Although evidence is still rudimentary, NGS could enhance the diagnosis and pathogenetic understanding of multiple sclerosis in addition to Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. To conclude, NGS has shown potential to aid the research, facilitate the diagnostic approach, and improve the management outcomes of all the aforementioned CNS diseases. However, to establish its role in clinical practice, the clinical validity and utility of each NGS protocol should be determined. Lastly, as most evidence has been derived from small and retrospective studies, results from randomized control trials could be of significant value.
- Published
- 2021
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20. Molecular Analysis of Dirofilaria repens Isolates from Eye-Care Patients in Greece.
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Bozidis P, Sakkas H, Pertsalis A, Christodoulou A, Kalogeropoulos CD, and Papadopoulou C
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- Animals, Greece, Humans, Phylogeny, RNA, Ribosomal, 18S genetics, Zoonoses, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens genetics, Dirofilariasis
- Abstract
Purpose: Human ocular dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by several species of filarioid helminths of the genus Dirofilaria. The aim of this study was to further re-examine five preserved specimens previously isolated from patients with ocular dirofilariasis by molecular means., Methods: Four of the examined helminths had been stored in unbuffered formaldehyde solution for more than eight years; whereas, the fifth helminth was stored in ethanol buffer for more than two years. For the four specimens stored in formaldehyde, different methods of DNA recovery and amplification were applied and investigated for their efficiency in DNA extraction and PCR amplification. However, the DNA extraction and PCR amplification were successful only for the ethanol-preserved helminth., Results: The genetic identification of the ethanol-preserved specimen as Dirofilaria repens (D. repens) and its phylogenetic position based on the analysis of mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA, nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one sequences are reported in the present paper. To our knowledge, these are the only deposited sequences related to D. repens that have been isolated in Greece., Conclusions: Routine laboratory diagnosis is based on phenotypic characteristics of the helminthic parasites, but more accurate diagnosis requires molecular identification. Although the specimens preserved in formalin buffers may be a potential source for the enrichment of parasite genome databases, the DNA recovery of such samples is a challenging task.
- Published
- 2021
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21. Onychomycosis in Northwestern Greece Over a 7-Year Period.
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Sakkas H, Kittas C, Kapnisi G, Priavali E, Kallinteri A, Bassukas ID, and Gartzonika K
- Abstract
Onychomycosis is considered as one of the major public health problems with a global distribution associated with geographic, demographic and environmental factors, underlying comorbidities and immunodeficiency disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the etiological agents of onychomycosis, in Northwestern Greece during a 7-year period. The study population included 1095 outpatients with clinically suspected onychomycosis that presented to the University Hospital of Ioannina, NW Greece (2011-2017). Samples were examined for causative fungi, and mycological identification was established using standard mycological methods. Demographic data of each patient, comorbidities, localization of infection and history of previous fungal infection were collected. Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 317 of the 1095 suspected cases (28.9%) and the most frequently isolated pathogens were yeasts (50.8%) followed by dermatophytes (36.9%) and non-dermatophyte molds (NDMs) (12.3%). Dermatophytes were mostly involved in toenail onychomycosis (90.6%) and more commonly affected males than females (57.3% vs. 42.7%), while the predominantly isolated pathogen was Τrichophyton rubrum (74.4%) followed by Τrichophyton interdigitale (21.4%). Candida albicans was the most prevalent isolated yeast (82%), whereas among the cases with onychomycosis due to NDMs, Aspergillus spp. were isolated as the principal species (59%). Continuous monitoring should be performed in order to identify possible trends and shifts in species isolation rates and to evaluate the impact of onychomycosis among the general population and high-risk groups.
- Published
- 2020
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22. Detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in foods of plant origin in North-Western Greece.
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Sakkas H, Economou V, Bozidis P, Gousia P, Papadopoulou C, and Karanis P
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- Animals, Cryptosporidiosis, Food Analysis, Giardiasis, Greece, Oocysts, Cryptosporidium, Food Contamination analysis, Giardia
- Abstract
Giardia and Cryptosporidium are recognized as leading causes of waterborne and foodborne diarrhoeal disease with worldwide distribution. The study aimed to determine the protozoan contamination of various foods of plant origin. A total of 72 samples from 27 different varieties of fresh vegetables and fruits were collected from supermarkets and open markets in North-Western Greece and were examined using conventional diagnostic methods. Two out of 72 (2.8%) samples were found positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts, while no sample was found to be positive for Giardia cysts. The results show the presence of protozoan contamination in foods of plant origin, which may constitute a potential health hazard.
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- 2020
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23. Nutritional Status and the Influence of the Vegan Diet on the Gut Microbiota and Human Health.
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Sakkas H, Bozidis P, Touzios C, Kolios D, Athanasiou G, Athanasopoulou E, Gerou I, and Gartzonika C
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- Diet, Vegan statistics & numerical data, Gastrointestinal Tract microbiology, Humans, Diet, Vegan adverse effects, Diet, Vegan standards, Gastrointestinal Microbiome physiology, Nutritional Status
- Abstract
The human gut microbiota is considered a well-known complex ecosystem composed of distinct microbial populations, playing a significant role in most aspects of human health and wellness. Several factors such as infant transitions, dietary habits, age, consumption of probiotics and prebiotics, use of antibiotics, intestinal comorbidities, and even metabolic diseases may continously alter microbiota diversity and function. The study of vegan diet-microbiota interactions is a rapidly evolving field, since plenty of research has been focused on the potential effects of plant-based dietary patterns on the human gut microbiota. It has been reported that well-planned vegan diets and their associated components affect both the bacterial composition and metabolic pathways of gut microbiota. Certain benefits associated with medical disorders but also limitations (including nutritional deficiencies) have been documented. Although the vegan diet may be inadequate in calorific value, it is rich in dietary fiber, polyphenols, and antioxidant vitamins. The aim of the present study was to provide an update of the existing knowledge on nutritional status of vegan diets and the influence of their food components on the human gut microbiota and health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2020
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24. Impact of enterococcal urinary tract infections in immunocompromised - neoplastic patients.
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Giannakopoulos X, Sakkas H, Ragos V, Tsiambas E, Bozidis P, M Evangelou A, Papadopoulou C, Petrogiannopoulos L, and Sofikitis N
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- Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Enterococcus drug effects, Enterococcus immunology, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections drug therapy, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections epidemiology, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections immunology, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Humans, Incidence, Neoplasms epidemiology, Opportunistic Infections drug therapy, Opportunistic Infections epidemiology, Opportunistic Infections immunology, Prevalence, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Urinary Tract Infections drug therapy, Urinary Tract Infections epidemiology, Urinary Tract Infections immunology, Enterococcus pathogenicity, Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections microbiology, Immunocompromised Host, Neoplasms immunology, Opportunistic Infections microbiology, Urinary Tract Infections microbiology
- Abstract
Infections in immunocompromised-neoplastic patients represent a severe complication. Among bacteria, Enterococcus species constitute a common causative pathogen of urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially among hospitalized patients with or without urinary tract carcinoma, related commonly to urinary tract abnormalities, urinary catheters or prolonged antibiotic treatment. Although enterococci have been considered more commonly as colonization bacteria in the intestine than virulent agents, they are frequently implicated in UTIs. The high incidence of enterococcal UTIs is associated with several risk factors including age, female gender, previous UTI, diabetes, pregnancy, immunosuppression due to cancer development and progression, renal transplantation and spinal cord injury. Clinical manifestations are usually absent or mild in enterococcal UTIs, which may also become an important source for both bacteremia and endocarditis. Over the last years, the prevalence of multidrug resistant enterococci, particularly vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and E. faecalis has significantly risen worldwide, associated with increased morbidity, limited treatment options and increased health-care costs. In this review, the current knowledge on enterococcal UTIs epidemiology and influence in the corresponding immunocompromised patients is highlighted.
- Published
- 2019
25. Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens and Detection of Carbapenemases in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Hospital Wastewater.
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Sakkas H, Bozidis P, Ilia A, Mpekoulis G, and Papadopoulou C
- Abstract
During a six-month period (October 2017-March 2018), the prevalence and susceptibility of important pathogenic bacteria isolated from 12 hospital raw sewage samples in North Western Greece was investigated. The samples were analyzed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CKP), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the agar diffusion method according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The diversity of carbapenemases harboring K. pneumoniae was examined by two phenotyping screening methods (modified Hodge test and combined disk test), a new immunochromatographic rapid assay (RESIST-4 O.K.N.V.) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results demonstrated the prevalence of MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), VRE, and CKP in the examined hospital raw sewage samples. In addition, the aforementioned methods which are currently used in clinical laboratories for the rapid identification and detection of resistant bacteria and genes, performed sufficiently to provide reliable results in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
- Published
- 2019
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26. An Update on Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus.
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Sakkas H, Bozidis P, Giannakopoulos X, Sofikitis N, and Papadopoulou C
- Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the arthropod-borne flaviviruses (arboviruses) which are mainly transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. ZIKV infection has been known to be rather asymptomatic or presented as febrile self-limited disease; however, during the last decade the manifestation of ZIKV infection has been associated with a variety of neuroimmunological disorders including Guillain⁻Barré syndrome, microcephaly and other central nervous system abnormalities. More recently, there is accumulating evidence about sexual transmission of ZIKV, a trait that has never been observed in any other mosquito-borne flavivirus before. This article reviews the latest information regarding the latter and emerging role of ZIKV, focusing on the consequences of ZIKV infection on the male reproductive system and the epidemiology of human-to-human sexual transmission.
- Published
- 2018
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27. Shelf-life of smoked eel fillets treated with chitosan or thyme oil.
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El-Obeid T, Yehia HM, Sakkas H, Lambrianidi L, Tsiraki MI, and Savvaidis IN
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- Animals, Time Factors, Chitosan chemistry, Cooking, Eels, Food Preservation methods, Plant Oils chemistry, Seafood, Thymus Plant chemistry
- Abstract
The present study examined the effect of natural antimicrobials: Chitosan, thyme oil and their combination, on the shelf-life of smoked eel fillets stored under vacuum packaging (VP) at 4°C. Based on sensory odor data smoked eel fillets had a shelf-life of 35 (control), 42 (thyme treated and>49 (thyme, chitosan-thyme treated) days. The thiobarbituric acid value (TBA) value of the control eel sample was significantly higher than the chitosan-thyme-treated eel samples. The use of chitosan singly, or in combination with thyme oil reduced lipid oxidation (TBA) of the smoked eel samples. A trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) value of 10mgN/100g, could be suggested as an indication of smoked eel spoilage initiation. Control and treated eel reached total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) values of 13.1-31.5mgN/100g below the maximum permissible level of TVB-N in fish and fishery products. Eel samples reached the value of 7.0logcfu/g (Total Plate Count, TPC) on days 35 (smoked) and 42 (thyme treated), whereas both chitosan and chitosan-thyme treated eel samples never reached this limit value. Results of our study show thyme or chitosan (singly, or in combination) inhibit the growth of mesophilic bacteria and extend the shelf-life of smoked eel., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
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28. Oropouche Fever: A Review.
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Sakkas H, Bozidis P, Franks A, and Papadopoulou C
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- Animals, Arbovirus Infections diagnosis, Arbovirus Infections transmission, Arthropod Vectors virology, Central America epidemiology, Communicable Diseases, Emerging diagnosis, Communicable Diseases, Emerging transmission, Disease Management, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, South America epidemiology, Arbovirus Infections epidemiology, Arbovirus Infections virology, Arboviruses classification, Arboviruses genetics, Arboviruses pathogenicity, Communicable Diseases, Emerging epidemiology, Communicable Diseases, Emerging virology, Zoonoses
- Abstract
Oropouche fever is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arthropod transmitted Orthobunyavirus circulating in South and Central America. During the last 60 years, more than 30 epidemics and over half a million clinical cases attributed to OROV infection have been reported in Brazil, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago. OROV fever is considered the second most frequent arboviral febrile disease in Brazil after dengue fever. OROV is transmitted through both urban and sylvatic transmission cycles, with the primary vector in the urban cycle being the anthropophilic biting midge Culicoides paraensis . Currently, there is no evidence of direct human-to-human OROV transmission. OROV fever is usually either undiagnosed due to its mild, self-limited manifestations or misdiagnosed because its clinical characteristics are similar to dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever, including malaria as well. At present, there is no specific antiviral treatment, and in the absence of a vaccine for effective prophylaxis of human populations in endemic areas, the disease prevention relies solely on vector control strategies and personal protection measures. OROV fever is considered to have the potential to spread across the American continent and under favorable climatic conditions may expand its geographic distribution to other continents. In view of OROV's emergence, increased interest for formerly neglected tropical diseases and within the One Health concept, the existing knowledge and gaps of knowledge on OROV fever are reviewed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2018
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29. Viability of and Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in a delicatessen appetizer (yogurt-based) salad as affected by citrus extract (Citrox © ) and storage temperature.
- Author
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Tsiraki MI, Yehia HM, Elobeid T, Osaili T, Sakkas H, and Savvaidis IN
- Subjects
- Escherichia coli O157 isolation & purification, Food Contamination analysis, Food Storage, Listeria monocytogenes growth & development, Listeria monocytogenes isolation & purification, Microbial Viability drug effects, Temperature, Citrus chemistry, Escherichia coli O157 drug effects, Escherichia coli O157 growth & development, Food Contamination prevention & control, Listeria monocytogenes drug effects, Plant Extracts pharmacology, Vegetables microbiology, Yogurt microbiology
- Abstract
The antimicrobial effect of citrus extract (at 1 mL/kg [C1] and 2 mL/kg [C2]) on naturally occurring microbiota and inoculated pathogens (E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes at ca. 6 log cfu/g) in the traditional Greek yogurt-based salad Tzatziki stored at 4, 10, or 21 °C, was examined. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were high (8.0-8.5 log cfu/g) and varied only minimally for both the control (untreated) and the citrus extract-treated salad samples, whereas the higher citrus extract concentration yielded the lowest yeast populations, irrespective of temperature, during the entire storage period. Populations of inoculated E. coli (6 log cfu/g) declined in both untreated and citrus extract-treated samples from day 0-70, 35, and 15 at 4, 10, and 21 °C, respectively. Citrus extract had a significant effect on the survival of the inoculated E. coli O157:H7, with reductions of 2.8-4.8 log cfu/g in the citrus extract-treated samples at the end of the storage period. Our data show that L. monocytogenes survived in both untreated and citrus extract-treated samples during the entire storage period, irrespective of the storage temperature. The higher concentration of citrus extract had a significant effect on the survival of L. monocytogenes in the treated samples, and reductions of 1.5-3.0 logs were noted on final day 70, 35 and 15 at 4, 10 and 21 °C, respectively. The results of our study demonstrated the potential of citrus extract as a natural compound that can control the growth of food-borne pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes in Tzatziki, a yogurt-based salad., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
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30. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Using Indocyanine Green and Near-Infrared Diode Laser Against Enterococcus faecalis in Infected Human Root Canals.
- Author
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Beltes C, Economides N, Sakkas H, Papadopoulou C, and Lambrianidis T
- Subjects
- Analysis of Variance, Biofilms drug effects, Dental Pulp Cavity drug effects, Dental Pulp Cavity microbiology, Enterococcus faecalis pathogenicity, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Photosensitizing Agents pharmacology, Root Canal Preparation methods, Sensitivity and Specificity, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Enterococcus faecalis drug effects, Indocyanine Green pharmacology, Lasers, Semiconductor, Photochemotherapy methods
- Abstract
Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered a promising adjunct to the currently available endodontic disinfection techniques leading to more effective reduction of intracanal bacteria. The present ex vivo study aimed to assess the antimicrobial effect of PDT using indocyanine green (ICG) as photosensitizer and a near-infrared (NIR) diode laser in root canals of human teeth infected with Enterococcus faecalis., Materials and Methods: Ninety single-rooted teeth after chemomechanical preparation and sterilization were contaminated with an E. faecalis strain. The specimens were divided, randomly, into eight experimental groups: (1) PDT with ICG and laser (0.5 W output power-medium-energy fluence), (2) PDT with ICG and laser (1 W output power-high-energy fluence), (3) only laser emission, (4) only ICG, (5) 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as irrigant, (6) 2.5% NaOCl and PDT with ICG and laser, (7) no treatment (positive control), and (8) no bacterial biofilm growth (negative control). The root canal contents were sampled by flushing and the collected washings were plated on an appropriate culture medium, which was incubated for 48 h at 35°C ± 2.0. The colony-forming units (CFUs) were determined to assess the bactericidal effect of the tested experimental combinations., Results: The microbiological tests revealed that PDT groups, regardless of the overall power, showed significant lower mean log
10 CFU levels, than groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.001) and similar reduction of viable counts with group 5. The combination treatment (group 6) achieved adequate reduction of log10 CFU levels in the viable counts. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between groups 1, 2, 5, and 6 and significant difference was noticed between groups 3, 4, and 5 (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: ICG-mediated PDT activated by an NIR diode laser provided increased disinfection of the root canal system, but the overall benefit in total bacterial elimination should be further investigated.- Published
- 2017
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31. Antimicrobial Activity of Basil, Oregano, and Thyme Essential Oils.
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Sakkas H and Papadopoulou C
- Subjects
- Anti-Infective Agents chemistry, Bacteria drug effects, Fungi drug effects, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Ocimum, Oils, Volatile chemistry, Plant Oils chemistry, Anti-Infective Agents pharmacology, Ocimum basilicum chemistry, Oils, Volatile pharmacology, Origanum chemistry, Plant Oils pharmacology, Thymus Plant chemistry
- Abstract
For centuries, plants have been used for a wide variety of purposes, from treating infectious diseases to food preservation and perfume production. Presently, the increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials in combination with the appearance of emerging diseases requires the urgent development of new, more effective drugs. Plants, due to the large biological and structural diversity of their components, constitute a unique and renewable source for the discovery of new antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic compounds. In the present paper, the history, composition, and antimicrobial activities of the basil, oregano, and thyme essential oils are reviewed.
- Published
- 2017
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32. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy using Indocyanine green and near-infrared diode laser in reducing Entrerococcus faecalis.
- Author
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Beltes C, Sakkas H, Economides N, and Papadopoulou C
- Subjects
- Humans, Enterococcus faecalis drug effects, Indocyanine Green pharmacology, Lasers, Semiconductor therapeutic use, Photochemotherapy methods, Photosensitizing Agents pharmacology
- Abstract
Background: The use of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) has been suggested as an adjuvant method to eliminate facultative bacteria during root canal disinfection. The purpose of this preliminary in vitro study was to determine whether the light-activated antimicrobial agent, Indocyanine green (ICG), could be used as photosensitizer and kill Enterococcus faecalis strain under planktonic conditions when irradiated with near-infared (NIR) diode laser emitting in 810nm wavelength., Methods: Planktonic suspension containing Enterococcus faecalis strain was divided into nine experimental groups: (1) aPDT with ICG and laser (medium energy fluence), (2) aPDT with ICG and laser (high energy fluence), (3) only ICG without laser activation, (4) only laser emission without ICG (5) 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as irrigant, (6) 2.5% NaOCl and aPDT with ICG and laser, (7) 2.0% Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) as irrigant (8) No treatment (positive control), (9) No bacterial biofilm growth (negative control). The samples were incubated for 7days and colony-forming units (CFUs) were determined to evaluate bacterial viability., Results: The microbiological test revealed that aPDT groups, regardless the overall power, showed significant lower mean log
10 CFU levels, than groups 3, 4 and 7 (p<0.01). The irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl and the combination of PDT and NaOCl achieved total elimination of bacteria., Conclusion: These preliminary in vitro findings imply that the combination of ICG and NIR diode laser may be a novel supplement in aPDT and provide better disinfection during endodontic treatment., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2017
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33. Conventional and molecular methods used in the detection and subtyping of Yersinia enterocolitica in food.
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Petsios S, Fredriksson-Ahomaa M, Sakkas H, and Papadopoulou C
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- Animals, Humans, Phylogeny, Yersinia Infections microbiology, Yersinia enterocolitica classification, Yersinia enterocolitica genetics, Bacterial Typing Techniques methods, Food Contamination analysis, Food Microbiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction methods, Yersinia enterocolitica isolation & purification
- Abstract
Yersinia enterocolitica is an important foodborne pathogen, but the prevalence in food is underestimated due to drawbacks in the detection methods. Problems arise from the low concentration of pathogenic strains present in food samples, similarities with other Enterobacteriaceae and Y. enterocolitica-like species and the heterogeneity of Y. enterocolitica as it comprises both pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates. New rapid, cost-effective and more sensitive culture media and molecular techniques have been developed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional culture methods. Recent molecular subtyping methods have been applied to Y. enterocolitica strains to track infection sources and to investigate phylogenetic relationships between different Yersinia strains. Further application of modern subtyping tools such as WGS in a variety of bioserotypes, and comparison with other members of the genus will help to better understanding of the virulence determinants of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, its mechanisms to cope in the host environments, and can contribute to the development of more specific detection and typing strategies.
- Published
- 2016
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34. Zika virus infection: Past and present of another emerging vector-borne disease.
- Author
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Sakkas H, Economou V, and Papadopoulou C
- Subjects
- Communicable Diseases, Emerging complications, Communicable Diseases, Emerging diagnosis, Communicable Diseases, Emerging pathology, Disease Transmission, Infectious prevention & control, Global Health, Guillain-Barre Syndrome epidemiology, Guillain-Barre Syndrome etiology, Humans, Microcephaly epidemiology, Microcephaly etiology, Mosquito Control methods, Zika Virus Infection complications, Zika Virus Infection diagnosis, Zika Virus Infection pathology, Communicable Diseases, Emerging epidemiology, Mosquito Vectors growth & development, Zika Virus Infection epidemiology
- Abstract
Zika virus infection is an emerging mosquito-borne disease, first identified in Uganda in 1947. It is caused by the Zika arbovirus, and transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. For almost half a century, the Zika virus was reported as the causative agent of sporadic human infections. In 2007, the Zika virus emerged outside Asia and Africa causing an epidemic on the Island of Yap in Micronesia. The manifestation of the newly acquired human infection varies from asymptomatic to self-limiting acute febrile illness with symptoms and clinical features similar to those caused by the Dengue virus ('Dengue-like syndrome'). The real-time PCR and serological methods have been successfully applied for the diagnosis of the disease. The treatment is symptomatic, since there is no specific antiviral treatment or a vaccine. During the recent outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil, incidents of Guillain-Barrι syndrome and microcephaly were associated with Zika virus infection, giving rise to fears of further global spread of the virus. Prevention and vector control strategies have to be urgently implemented by national health authorities in order to contain future outbreaks in vulnerable populations. This review summarizes the existing information on Zika virus characteristics, pathogenesis and epidemiology, the available methods for the diagnosis of Zika virus infection and recent approaches for prevention and control.
- Published
- 2016
35. In vitro antimicrobial activity of five essential oils on multidrug resistant Gram-negative clinical isolates.
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Sakkas H, Gousia P, Economou V, Sakkas V, Petsios S, and Papadopoulou C
- Abstract
Aim/background: The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens has drawn attention on medicinal plants for potential antimicrobial properties. The objective of the present study was the investigation of the antimicrobial activity of five plant essential oils on multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria., Materials and Methods: Basil, chamomile blue, origanum, thyme, and tea tree oil were tested against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 6), Escherichia coli (n = 4), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 7), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 5) using the broth macrodilution method., Results: The tested essential oils produced variable antibacterial effect, while Chamomile blue oil demonstrated no antibacterial activity. Origanum, Thyme, and Basil oils were ineffective on P. aeruginosa isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration values ranged from 0.12% to 1.50% (v/v) for tea tree oil, 0.25-4% (v/v) for origanum and thyme oil, 0.50% to >4% for basil oil and >4% for chamomile blue oil. Compared to literature data on reference strains, the reported MIC values were different by 2SD, denoting less successful antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant isolates., Conclusions: The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils are influenced by the strain origin (wild, reference, drug sensitive, or resistant) and it should be taken into consideration whenever investigating the plants' potential for developing new antimicrobials.
- Published
- 2016
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36. Laboratory diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis.
- Author
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Sakkas H, Gartzonika C, and Levidiotou S
- Subjects
- Humans, Diagnostic Tests, Routine methods, Leishmaniasis, Visceral diagnosis, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques methods, Serologic Tests methods
- Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the Leishmania donovani complex, is a vector-borne systemic disease, with a worldwide distribution causing high morbidity and mortality in the developing world. VL patients may be asymptomatic or they may present symptoms and findings of a systemic infection. The positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis in patients with typical symptoms is usually high, but more often, the signs and symptoms are inconclusive and mistaken with other co-endemic diseases. The fact that HIV co-infections often produce atypical presentations and the heterogeneity of Leishmania species, which is common in many endemic regions, also complicate the diagnosis. Despite that, some of the parasitological methods are still considered to be the reference standard for VL diagnosis due to their specificity. The development of serological and molecular tests has further enhanced the diagnostic approach of VL. Recombinant antigens have improved the performance of serodiagnostic tests, with DAT and the rK39 antigen based immunochromatographic test being the most appropriate methods for the serological diagnosis of VL. Molecular techniques, despite the fact that their implementation is often difficult and infeasible, have become increasingly relevant due to remarkable sensitivity and specificity, and to the variability of tested samples. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been shown to be superior than conventional PCR for the differentiation between active VL and asymptomatic infections, such as for the detection of VL-HIV coinfection. This review summarizes the available methods with their applications in the diagnosis of VL, and focuses on the recent developments in VL diagnostics.
- Published
- 2016
37. Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and relation to indicator and pathogenic microorganisms of Salmonella enterica isolated from surface waters within an agricultural landscape.
- Author
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Economou V, Gousia P, Kansouzidou A, Sakkas H, Karanis P, and Papadopoulou C
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Bacteria drug effects, Colony Count, Microbial, Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial, Environmental Monitoring, Fungi isolation & purification, Greece, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Oceans and Seas, Bacteria isolation & purification, Rivers microbiology, Seawater microbiology, Water Microbiology
- Abstract
During a 12 month period (June 2007-May 2008), the prevalence and susceptibility of Salmonella serovars and their relation to specific pathogenic and indicator bacteria in river and coastal waters was investigated. A total of 240 water samples were collected from selected sites in Acheron and Kalamas Rivers and the Ionian Sea coast in north western Greece. The samples were analyzed for Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococci, Pseudomonas spp., Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, Fecal Streptococci, Total Heterotrophic Flora at 20°C and at 37°C, fungi and protozoa (Cryptosporidium, Giardia). Susceptibility tests to nine antimicrobials (ampicillin, amikacin, amoxicillin/clavulavic acid, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, cefoxitin, tetracycline, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin/sulbactam) were performed using the disk diffusion method for Salmonella isolates. We isolated 28 serovars of Salmonella spp. identified as Salmonella enteritidis (23), Salmonella thompson (3) and Salmonella virchow (2). Multi-drug resistant Salmonella serovars were isolated from both river and marine waters, with 34.8% of S. enteritidis and 100% of S. virchow being resistant to more than 3 antibiotics. Also we isolated 42 strains of Listeria spp. identified as L. monocytogenes (20), L. innocua (9), L. seeligeri (2) and L. ivanovii (11). All the Listeria isolates were susceptible to the tested antibiotics. No Campylobacter spp., E. coli O157, Cryptosporidium and Giardia were detected. The overall ranges (and average counts) of the indicator bacteria were: Total Coliforms 0-4×10(4)cfu/100ml (3.7×10(3)cfu/100ml), Fecal Coliforms 0-9×10(3)cfu/100ml (9.2×10(2)cfu/100ml), Fecal Streptococci 0-3.5×10(4)cfu/100ml (1.4×10(3)cfu/100ml), Total Heterotrophic Flora at 20°C 0-6×10(3)cfu/ml (10(3)cfu/ml) and at 37°C 0-5×10(3)cfu/ml (4.9×10(2)cfu/ml). Weak or non significant positive Spearman correlations (p<0.05, rs range: 0.13-0.77) were obtained between Salmonella, Listeria, fungi and indicator bacteria. The results underline the complexity of the interrelations between pathogens and indicator bacteria, and the necessity to assess the presence of resistant bacteria in the aquatic environments., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2013
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38. Chemical investigation and antimicrobial properties of mastic water and its major constituents.
- Author
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Paraschos S, Magiatis P, Gousia P, Economou V, Sakkas H, Papadopoulou C, and Skaltsounis AL
- Abstract
Mastic water is a commercial flavouring obtained during the steam distillation of mastic resin (the resin of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) for the production of mastic oil. The mastic water extracts were analysed by GC-MS. The major compounds identified were verbenone, α-terpineol, linalool and trans-pinocarveol. Overall the composition was found to be very different from that of mastic oil. Additional GC-MS revealed the enantiomeric ratio of the chiral constituents of mastic water. The antimicrobial activity of mastic water extract, as well as that of its major constituents, was examined against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. including ATCC wild clinical and food-borne strains. Linalool and α-terpineol were found to be the most potent antimicrobial constituents. Finally the stability of mastic water at different temperatures was studied, showing no change in the GC-MS profile of the organic extract for a period of 4months at storage temperatures up to 4°C., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)
- Published
- 2011
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39. Antimicrobial resistance of major foodborne pathogens from major meat products.
- Author
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Gousia P, Economou V, Sakkas H, Leveidiotou S, and Papadopoulou C
- Subjects
- Animals, Bacteria genetics, Bacteria isolation & purification, Campylobacter jejuni classification, Campylobacter jejuni genetics, Campylobacter jejuni isolation & purification, Cattle, Enterococcus classification, Enterococcus genetics, Enterococcus isolation & purification, Escherichia coli classification, Escherichia coli genetics, Escherichia coli isolation & purification, Goats, Greece, Meat analysis, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Salmonella classification, Salmonella genetics, Salmonella isolation & purification, Sheep, Staphylococcus aureus classification, Staphylococcus aureus genetics, Staphylococcus aureus isolation & purification, Swine, Bacteria classification, Drug Resistance, Bacterial genetics, Food Microbiology, Foodborne Diseases microbiology, Meat microbiology
- Abstract
The bacterial contamination of raw and processed meat products with resistant pathogens was studied. The raw samples included sheep (40), goat (40), pork (120), beef (80), and chicken (19) meat, and the processed samples included turkey filets (33), salami (8), readymade mincemeat (16), stuffing (22), and roast-beef (50). The samples were collected from retail shops in Northwestern Greece over a period of 3 years. The isolated pathogens were evaluated for susceptibilities to 19 antimicrobial agents used in humans. Out of 428 samples, 157 strains of Escherichia coli, 25 of Yersinia enterocolitica, 57 of Staphylococcus aureus, 57 of Enterococcus spp., 4 of Salmonella spp., and 3 of Campylobacter jejuni were isolated. Among the isolates 14.6% of the E. coli, 10.5% of S. aureus, 4% of Y. enterocolitica, 25% of Salmonella spp., and 42.1% of Enterococcus spp. were susceptible to antibiotics. E. coli from chicken exhibited high rates of resistance to ciprofloxacin (62.5%) followed by lamb/goat (10.9%), pork (15.7%), and beef (27.9%) meat. Resistance to nitrofurantoin dominated in the lamb/goat isolates (60%). Resistance to tetracycline predominated in pork (68.2%) and chicken (62.5%), and resistance to aminoglycosides dominated in lamb/goat meat isolates. S. aureus resistance to clindamycin predominated in lamb/goat isolates (50%), whereas resistance to ciprofloxacin predominated in the pork strains, but no resistance to methicillin was observed. Of the enterococci isolates 21.1% were resistant to vancomycin. High resistance to ampicillin (96%) was observed in Y. enterocolitica and all of the C. jejuni isolates were resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin, and cefuroxime. These results indicate that meat can be a source of resistant bacteria, which could potentially be spread to the community through the food chain.
- Published
- 2011
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40. Microbiological quality of indoor and outdoor swimming pools in Greece: investigation of the antibiotic resistance of the bacterial isolates.
- Author
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Papadopoulou C, Economou V, Sakkas H, Gousia P, Giannakopoulos X, Dontorou C, Filioussis G, Gessouli H, Karanis P, and Leveidiotou S
- Subjects
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Candida isolation & purification, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Gram-Negative Bacteria drug effects, Gram-Positive Bacteria drug effects, Greece, Hydrotherapy standards, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Temperature, Water standards, Gram-Negative Bacteria isolation & purification, Gram-Positive Bacteria isolation & purification, Swimming Pools standards, Water analysis, Water Microbiology standards
- Abstract
During 1997-2005, the microbiological quality and susceptibility of bacterial isolates of swimming pool waters were investigated. A total of 462 water samples were collected from three indoor swimming pools (a teaching pool, a competition public pool, a hydrotherapy pool) and two outdoor swimming pools (a hotel semi-public and a residential private pool) in Northwestern Greece. All water samples were analyzed for the presence of bacteria, protozoa and fungi and susceptibility tests were performed for the bacterial isolates. Sixty-seven percent of the examined water samples conformed to the microbiological standards and 32.9% exceeded at least one of the indicated limits. Out of 107 bacterial isolates, 38 (35.5%) resistant strains were detected. Multi-resistant Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Leuconostoc, and Staphylococcus aureus (isolated from the teaching pool), Staphylococcus wernerii, Chryseobacterium indologenes and Ochrobactrum anthropi (isolated from the competition pool), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and S. aureus (isolated from the hydrotherapy pool) and A. hydrophila (isolated from the hotel pool) were detected. The swimming pool with the poorest microbiological quality (THC 500 cfu/ml in 12.1% of the samples, P. aeruginosa counts 1500 cfu/100 ml in 6% of the samples) and the highest prevalence of multi-resistant isolates (73.6%) was the hydrotherapy pool. No Cryptosporidium or Giardia cysts and no Legionella, Mycobacteria and Salmonella were detected, but there were isolations of Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp., Mucor spp., Alternaria spp., Rhizopus spp., Trichophyton spp., and Penicillium spp.
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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