Autovaccines - potent tool against chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the effect of immunomodulatory therapy in women with chronic and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). BACKGROUND: We present recent highlights in the research into vaginal microbiome and consequences of chronic inflammation such as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). VVC is a widespread vaginal infection primarily caused by Candida albicans. Experience of more than three episodes per year is defined as RVVC. METHODS: The strains were isolated from women suffering from the above infections as for the period of 2017 to 2021 and subsequently used in immunomodulatory treatment. The preparation and administration of autovaccination therapy was performed using standard methodology and procedures cited in the manuscript. RESULTS: In total, autovaccines were produced for 73 patients of whom 30 (41 %) were successfully cured by this treatment, 29 (40 %) experienced a partially successful treatment, and in the remaining 14 (19 %), the autovaccination therapy was ineffective. CONCLUSION: We provide current knowledge about alternative (autovaccine) treatment options for female patients with VVC and RVVC diseases and our experience with the outcomes after autovaccine administration that currently has a promising therapeutic potential (Tab. 2, Ref. 18). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: autovaccines, chronic infections, vulvovaginal candidiasis, recurrent, Candida albicans.

The genospecies B. burgdorferi s.l., isolated from ticks and from neurological patients with suspected Lyme borreliosis.

OBJECTIVE: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most disseminated tick-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere, and infestation with ticks is one of the essential factors influencing transmission of the disease to humans. This work intends to compare the occurrence of borrelia circulating in indigenous ticks and in patients suffering from neurological diseases. MATERIALS & METHODS: The total of 660 nymphs and 567 adult ticks from the Bratislava and Kosice areas was examined over the years 2001-2004, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 82 neurological patients suffering from suspected Lyme borreliosis infection was investigated in the 2007-2009 period, using the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR). RESULTS: PCR investigation proved presence of borrelia in 23.3% of the total 1227 ticks; of these, co-infection was found in 2.7% of all ticks. Borrelia garinii (9.9%) and B. valaisaina (9.2%) were the prevalent types. PCR investigation of the CSF samples of 32 patients with clinically diagnosed Lyme borreliosis showed the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in 17 cases. Positive results were found also in patients with unclear or different diagnoses. In cases where the genospecies could be identified, B. garinii was most frequently found (8x), followed with B. burgdorferi s.s. (4×) and B. afzelii (3×). CONCLUSIONS: The high infestation level of ticks with borrelia, mainly with B. garinii which is the most-often documented borrelia species identified in neurological patients, is indicative of a high risk of this contamination in Slovakia. B. garinii were found also in our neuroborreliosis patients, whereas their proof in the CSF of patients with suspected neuroborreliosis or with a different clinical diagnosis pointed upon their persistence after an infectious experience. However, knowledge of not only the genospecies but also of the genotypes capable of eliciting an invasive disorder would be necessary for better clarification of the relationship between borrelia and their peccant capacity. Identification of the invasive borrelia types circulating in nature, and clarification of the vector vs. human infection incidence relationship is of importance from the aspect of detailed knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease.

Infection with B. burgdorferi s.l., and the CNS demyelinating disease. A case report.

The work describes three cases of patients at various ages, diagnosed for CNS demyelinating disease. The presence of specific antibodies to B. burgdorferi sensu lato, and findings of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA, identified in one case as the genospecies B. garinii in the liquor, indicated previous experience with the infection. Presumably, persistence of borrelia in the organism could act as one of the autoimmune process triggers, resulting in the demyelinating disease.