Anti-Babesia microti antibodies in foresters highly exposed to tick bites in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Human babesiosis caused by Babesia microti and Babesia divergens parasites is an emerging tick-borne disease worldwide. The prevalence of infection and frequency of the disease caused by B. microti in Europe is not well known. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of anti-B. microti antibodies in the serum of forest employees (a population highly exposed to tick bites) from 2 different regions of Poland. METHODS: We studied 114 foresters from 2 separate forest inspectorates in north-eastern and central Poland. Direct immunofluorescence assays (Babesia microti IgM and IgG IFA kits) were used to detect serum IgM and IgG anti-B. microti antibodies. Simultaneously, anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, and positive cases were confirmed with immunoblot. RESULTS: Anti-B. microti IgG antibodies were detected in 5 foresters (4.4%), all from the forest inspectorate in Bialowieza in the northeast of the country. All persons with anti-B. microti antibodies were also IgG-seropositive for B. burgdorferi. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that unrecognized infections with B. microti occur in the Polish population and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a febrile illness occurring after exposure to ticks, particularly in patients from endemic regions.

[Detection of HCV infection among clients of an anonymous testing center for HIV infection]. / Wykrywanie zakazen HCV wsród osób zglaszajncych sie do punktu anonimowego testowania zakazenia HIV.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection among clients of the centre of anonymous testing for HIV infection. Two hundred and eleven clients of anonymous testing centre for HIV infection in Bialystok were additionally tested for anti-HCV antibodies and the relationship between HCV infection and risk factors was analysed Main observations: Anti-HCV were detected in 6/211 individuals (2,4%). Increased risk of HCV infection was observed among intravenous drug users, unemployed, residents of other woiewodships (administrative regions), and in those who had been tested for HIV infection in the past. Centres for anonymous testing for HIV infection is also a feasible place for screening for HCV infection. It is reasonable to limit testing for HCV to patients with risk factors

The immunology of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial agents. What distinguishes it from other organisms is its intracellular reproductive cycle. Up to now, four antigens have been identified in the Chlamydia genus: genus-specific antigen as well as species-specific, type-specific and subspecies-specific. C. trachomatis is a powerful immunogen which stimulates the host's immunological processes. The intracellular parasitism of the bacteria is the basis for both symptomatic or asymptomatic infection as well as for chronic ones. The primary infection leads to a local inflammatory reaction due to penetration and reproduction of the bacteria in the epithelial cells and to IgA secretory antibody production. In most cases the host's reaction to the primary infection is transient and does not cause tissue damage. In the course of chronic infection or reinfection, the most important processes are those of delayed hypersensitivity, which lead to a fast and intense immunological reaction of specifically sensitized Th1 lymphocytes. This reaction leads to progressive damage of the epithelial cells and to cicatrization and fibrosis, which means irreversible complications. Interferon gamma is of special importance in the process of C. trachomatis infection. High concentrations of it inhibit the bacteria's reproductive cycle, while lower concentrations promote the development of atypical, non-contagious forms of Chlamydia of diminished metabolic activity and altered antigenicity. The chlamydial heat shock proteins are considered to be of great importance lately. Their molecular weights of 60 and 10 kDa are a powerful stimulant of immunological reactions and show significant homology (40-90%) to human and other bacterial heat shock proteins.

Antichlamydial antibodies in the serum and expressed prostatic secretion in prostatitis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis (C.trachomatis) antibodies in serum and expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) in chronic prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients with chronic prostatitis were examined. The presence of C. trachomatis was determined in urethral smears and EPS. Specific antibodies were determined in the serum (IgM, IgA, IgG) and in the EPS (IgA, IgG). In the direct diagnosis of chlamydial infection, the direct immunofluorescence method and the ligase chain reaction were employed, and for the serological diagnosis, the immunoenzymatic method. RESULTS: C. trachomatis infection was detected in the urethra of 3 (8.3%) patients and in the prostatic gland of 3 (8.3%) patients; only one of these patients was found to have C. trachomatis in both the urethra and the EPS. In the control group, C. trachomatis was detected in the urethra of 1/50 (2%) of the men, but the EPS of all of them was free of C. trachomatis. Specific IgM antibodies were found in 7 (19.4%), IgA in 9 (25%), and IgG in 18 (50%) of the patients' serum, whereas IgAs were detected in 12 (33.3%) and IgGs in 13 (36.1%) of the patients' EPS. In the control group, anti-C. trachomatis antibodies of the IgG were detected in the serum of 2/35 (5.7%) of the men, whereas in the EPS neither IgA nor IgG antibodies were detected in any of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Serological tests of the serum and EPS are useful as a complementary method in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.

[Bacterial vaginosis]. / Bakteryjne zakazenie pochwy.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common lower genital tract infections among women of childbearing age. This paper is a survey of literature data concerning epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory diagnostic criteria of this clinical syndrome.

[Ehrlichia chaffeensis antibodies prevalence among patients bitten by ticks]. / Wystepowanie przeciwcial przeciwko Ehrlichia chaffeensis wsród chorych poklutych przez kleszcze.

Human ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne antropozoonosis which was described in 1987 but in Poland up to now has not been diagnosed. The purpose of our work was to present 11 cases where antibodies against Ehrlichia chaffeensis were detected in serum. In 2000 we examined 68 sera of patients who were referred to our department with suspected Borreliosis or Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE). The detection of antibodies against E. chaffeensis was performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Five (45.4%) patients of 11 were diagnosed as Lyme borreliosis confirmed by serum presence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi. Three patients (27.2%) showed serum presence of antibodies against TBE. In one case presence of antibodies against three tick-borne agents was stated. None of our patients presented leucopenia characteristic of ehrlichiosis. trombocytopenia or increased aminotransferase level.

[Oculogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in adults]. / Zakazenia okulogenitalne Chlamydia trachomatis u doroslych.

The aim of the research was to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis (C.t.) conjunctivitis and urogenital infections coexistence in adults. The study was carried out on 222 patients (109 women and 113 men) with clinical signs of conjunctivitis. Conjunctival swabs were taken from all patients for evaluation and urogenital swabs as well as blood from the patients with confirmed infection. Direct diagnostics of chlamydial infections involved IF and LCR methods while serologic diagnostics (specific IgG antibodies) used EIA and indirect IF methods. The control group for conjunctival swabs included 52 volunteers who did not have any ophthalmological symptoms while for the serological tests the control group consisted of 103 blood donors. Ocular C.t. infection was diagnosed in 42 out of 222 (18.9%) patients with conjunctivitis symptoms and in 2 out of 52 (3.8%) patients of the control group. Chlamydial conjunctivitis was mostly (70%) found in young people (18-30 yrs) and it was twice more common in women. It was usually bilateral and chronic. Urogenital C.t. infection was diagnosed in 24 out of 42 (57.1%) patients and it was more common in men (14 patients) than in women (10 patients). Only 4 out of 42 (9.5%) patients suffered from any urogenital symptoms. Specific IgG antibodies were found in the serum of 29 out of 42 (69%) patients with chlamydial conjunctivitis and only in 6 out of 103 (5.8%) patients of the control group. The diagnostics of the ocular infections, which are resistant to routine treatment, should involve the consideration of etiological role of C.t. Due to common urogenital chlamydial infection coexistence both sexual partners should be diagnosed and treated.

[Role of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the pathology of male urogenital tract]. / Rola zakazenia Chlamydia trachomatis w patologii meskiego narzadu moczowo-plciowego.

Based on literature data, the authors have presented the informations on epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnostics and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections in men.