The influence of mouth breathing on skeletal and dental features of splanchnocranium.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate changes in dentofacial characteristics associated with mouth breathing (MB) and adenoidectomy. BACKGROUND: MB is considered to be an etiological factor of malocclusion. Adenoidectomy is supposed to have the ability to prevent the development of dentofacial deformities. METHODS: This retrospective study included 123 patients, namely 57 nose breathers, 19 former mouth breathers, who have undergone adenoidectomy, and 47 mouth breathers. The groups were compared according to their skeletal and dental characteristics. The measurements of each individual were obtained from lateral cephalograms and dental casts. The comparison was done using one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The statistically significant difference was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: The MB group showed an increase in ArGoMe (p=0.02) angle. No difference was found in the sagittal parameters among the groups. Upper dental arch compression was positively correlated with MB(p=0.00), even in adenoidectomy cases (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: MB alters the vertical and transverse growth of the craniofacial complex. It is associated with longer lower anterior facial height and decreased maxillary intermolar distance. However, it does not influence the sagittal parameters. Airway clearance via adenoidectomy promotes the normalization of vertical parameters (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 20).

Tricyclic antidepressants for the treatment of tenesmus associated with rectal prolapse.

AIM: Tenesmus in rectal prolapse leads to a vicious circle of straining with deterioration of prolapse. The primary phenomenon triggering this may be rectal hypersensitivity. We aimed to assess whether treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may break the vicious circle and improve tenesmus. METHOD: A retrospective review was carried out of patients with rectal prolapse and severe tenesmus who were poor surgical candidates or had refused surgery. They were treated at our tertiary centre with low dose tricyclic antidepressants. RESULTS: Twenty-three (18 female) patients were included, with mean age 75.3 (±SD 14.6) years. The mean duration of symptoms was 10.8 (± 8.6) months. Full-thickness rectal prolapse was diagnosed in 16 (70%) patients while seven (30%) had mucosal or incomplete prolapse. Ten (43%), eight (35%) and five (22%) patients were treated with nortriptyline (25 mg daily), amitriptyline (10 mg daily) and desipramine (25 mg daily). After a mean follow-up of 9.05 (± 8.2) months, 14 (61%) patients reported significant improvement in symptoms, five (22%) had a partial response, three (13%) were lost to follow-up and one (4%) failed to respond. The response rates for nortriptyline, desipramine and amitriptyline were 90%, 100% and 62.5%. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge this is the first report to address the symptomatic, conservative treatment of tenesmus in patients with rectal prolapse. TCAs may be an acceptable option for poor surgical candidates or patients refusing surgery.

Amelogenesis imperfecta and the treatment plan - interdisciplinary team approach.

Amelogenesis imperfecta is a set of hereditary defects representing mainly the development defects of enamel without the presence of whole-body symptoms. Developmental disorders can manifest a complete absence of enamel, which is caused by improper differentiation of ameloblasts. This article describes the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with amelogenesis imperfecta, as well as the need for interdisciplinary cooperation to achieve the best possible morphological, skeletal, functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of the patients with this diagnosis. Furthermore, the article reviews literature dealing with other anomalies occurring in association with amelogenesis imperfect (Fig. 12, Ref. 20).

Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 circulating in Slovakia.

Slovakia belongs to the group of European countries with a low prevalence of HIV infection. The major proportion of HIV-positive cases in Slovakia is still represented by MSM, followed by heterosexuals infected through unprotected sexual intercourse. This study was conducted to update the description of HIV subtypes circulating in Slovakia. HIV-1 partial pol gene sequences from 143 individuals were prospectively collected from 2004 to 2008 and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis based on HIV-1 partial pol gene sequences revealed the highest prevalence of HIV-1 B subtype (93.0 %), predominantly associated with the MSM group. Ten (7.0%) individuals were infected with HIV-1 non-B subtypes. The pure subtypes were more frequent (7; 4.9%) than CRFs (3; 2.1%) and their occurrence was as follows: subtype C (3; 2, 1%), subtype A (2; 1.4%), subtype F (2; 1.4%), CRF_01AE (1; 0.7%), CRF_02AG (1; 0.7%), and CRF08_BC (1; 0.7%). Data show slightly increasing HIV-1 subtype diversity, with HIV-1 subtype B still having the highest prevalence in the Slovak-infected population.

The WEB 2.0 induced paradigm shift in the e-learning and the role of crowdsourcing in dental education.

OBJECTIVES: Authors evaluated the effect of the WEB 2.0 environment on dental education and estimated the difference in retention of knowledge by cephalometric analysis in orthodontics between conventional education and off-line e-learning. BACKGROUND: Five years of experience with complex web-based e-learning system allowed the evaluation by retrospective analysis and on-line questionnaire. RESULTS: The results revealed the current trends in on-line behavior of students based on the WEB 2.0 innovative technologies like Ajax. Results confirmed an increasing number of resources with a rising frequency of e-learning materials. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that e-learning of the same subject is more efficient in immediate examination after the lecture with even better results after 12 and 24 months against the control group (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 26).

Digital and manual cephalometric analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the manual and digital cephalometric analyses and to research a new procedure of analog cephalogram digitalization. METHODS: 40 repeated measurements were used to evaluate the reproducibility and reliability of both methods. The analog x-ray was CHIRALUX2, the digital camera used was Canon PowerShot G5 and the digital tracing was done by Dolphin imaging version 10. The sample dispersion has been evaluated for each of the monitored cephalometric variables (SNA, SNB, ANB, PP/ML, inter-incisal angle and Wits). The difference of sample dispersion was tested (Morgan-Pitman). Four doctors processed 100 random analog cephalograms in total and evaluated them in a way established by Bland and Altman. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Validity and reproducibility of analyses carried out manually and digitally is in high mutual correlation and therefore the software analysis can fully substitute the manual method. The dispersion of values in repeated measurements was higher in manual method and therefore we consider the digital method more accurate (Fig. 4, Tab. 1, Ref. 15). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Relationships between hypoglycaemia and gastric emptying abnormalities in insulin-treated diabetic patients.

We hypothesize that hypoglycaemia in insulin-treated diabetic patients may result from gastric emptying abnormalities causing insulin and food absorption mismatching. We tested gastric emptying in insulin-treated diabetic patients with unexplained hypoglycaemia and without dyspepsia and in diabetic patients without hypoglycaemia, prospectively. Thirty-one diabetic patients with unexplained hypoglycaemic events within 2 h of insulin injection and 18 insulin-treated diabetic patients without hypoglycaemic events underwent gastric emptying breath tests, glycaemic control and autonomic nerve function. Gastric emptying tests were abnormal in 26 (83.9%) and in four (22.2%) patients with and without hypoglycaemia, respectively (P < 0.001). Gastric emptying was significantly slower in hypoglycaemic diabetic patients (t1/2 139.9 +/- 74.1 vs 77.8 +/- 23.3 and t(lag) 95.8 +/- 80.3 vs 32.84 +/- 16.95 min, P < 0.001 for both comparisons; t-tests). A significant association between hypoglycaemic patients and abnormal values of t1/2 and t(lag) was found (P < 0.001). Gastric emptying abnormalities were more frequent in hypoglycaemic patients. We suggest gastric emptying tests for diabetic patients with unexplained hypoglycaemic events.

Topical capsaicin--a novel and effective treatment for idiopathic intractable pruritus ani: a randomised, placebo controlled, crossover study.

PURPOSE: Pruritus ani is a common and embarrassing proctological condition which can be very difficult to treat. We report the results of a double blind placebo controlled study of treatment with capsaicin. METHODS: Firstly, a pilot open study was carried out on five patients to establish which of two doses was the most acceptable by comparing effectiveness and side effects. Secondly, a double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study of topical capsaicin was performed. This study involved two four week treatment phases separated by a one week washout phase. Forty four patients were randomised to receive locally either active capsaicin (0.006%) or placebo (menthol 1%) ointment over a four week period (22 patients per group). After four weeks of treatment and a one week washout period, the placebo group began to receive capsaicin while the treated group received placebo (menthol 1%) for another four weeks. At the end of the controlled study, responders from both groups continued with capsaicin treatment in an open labelled manner. RESULTS: Thirty one of 44 patients experienced relief during capsaicin treatment periods and did not respond to menthol; all patients not responding to capsaicin also failed on menthol (p<0.0001). In 13 patients, treatment with capsaicin was unsuccessful: eight patients did not respond to capsaicin treatment, one responded equally to capsaicin and placebo, and four others dropped out because of side effects. During the follow up period (mean 10.9 (SD 5.8) months), 29 "responders" needed a mean application of capsaicin every day (1.6 (SD 1.2); range 0.5-7 days) to remain symptom free (or nearly symptom free). CONCLUSION: Capsaicin is a new, safe, and highly effective treatment for severe intractable idiopathic pruritus ani.

Effect of long-term, continuous versus alternate-day omeprazole therapy on serum gastrin in patients treated for reflux esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors have been proven to have a major role in the management of peptic diseases, especially the long-term control of reflux esophagitis. The potent inhibitory effect of omeprazole on gastric acid secretion is frequently associated with hypergastrinemia, and gastrin and its intermediates have been reported to promote gastrointestinal cellular functions and cell growth. Experimental data suggest that gastrin may affect the proliferation of colon cells and some other cancer cells. However, so far the direct role of gastrin in tumorigenesis is unclear. Although most clinical studies on long-term treatment with omeprazole or other proton pump inhibitors do not report serious adverse effects, the issue of prolonged hypergastrinemia and tissue growth is unsettled, and many clinicians are reluctant to recommend long-term use of omeprazole or of other proton pump inhibitors. STUDY: We examined the effect of long-term omeprazole treatment on serum gastrin levels in patients with reflux esophagitis when given either 20 mg daily (group 1) or on alternate days (group 2). During the follow-up period, clinical remission was monitored and maintained in all patients in group 1 and in the majority of patients in group 2. RESULTS: The mean serum gastrin level was significantly elevated in group 1 (mean +/- SE, 159 +/- 23.6 pg/mL; range, 45-620 pg/mL; n = 31) as compared with the alternate-day treatment group (group 2) (66 +/- 4.8 pg/mL; range, 37-115 pg/mL; n = 21) (p < 0.005). In controls, serum gastrin levels showed similar values to those found in group 2 (54 +/- 4.3 pg/mL; range, 27-94 pg/mL; n = 20). Fourteen patients (45%) in group 1 had serum gastric ranging from 140 to 620 pg/mL, and 8 (25%) had a 6-fold or greater increase in serum gastrin. The follow-up treatment period ranged between 3 and 60 months (mean +/- SE, 16.1 +/- 2.1 months) for group 1 and 3-36 months (9.7 +/- 1.4 months) for group 2. Upon multivariate adjustment for age and duration of treatment, a significantly lower mean serum gastrin level was observed in the alternate-day group as compared with the daily treated group. CONCLUSION: Alternate-day, long-term treatment with omeprazole may be adequate to maintain remission in patients with reflux esophagitis. This regimen can assure serum gastrin levels within the normal range, thus reducing the potential risk of prolonged, sustained hypergastrinemia and profound hypochlorhydria.

Substance P in rectal mucosa of children with chronic constipation.

Substance P content was determined by radioimmunoassay in rectal mucosa of 17 children with idiopathic constipation and 9 with normal bowel movements who were used as controls. In children with chronic idiopathic constipation, rectal mucosa substance P levels were lower than levels in the control group: 47.6 +/- 11 vs. 79.4 +/- 11 pg/mg net weight respectively (differences not statistically significant). Substance P levels in rectal mucosa of children with soiling (11/17) did not differ from those of chronically constipated children without soiling (46.0 +/- 16 vs. 50.5 +/- 19 pg/mg net weight). In children with constipation, substance P levels did not correlate either with age or duration of symptoms. Substance P levels in normal controls were similar to levels previously observed in non-constipated adults, whereas levels in constipated children were intermediate between levels observed in healthy subjects and levels in adults with chronic constipation. These findings may point to a motility derangement as a possible factor in the pathogenesis of chronic constipation in childhood.

Substance P in rectal mucosa of children with chronic constipation

Niveles de Substancia P fueron determinados por radioinmunoassay en la mucosa rectal de 17 niños con constipación, idiopática crónica y comparados con la de 9 ninõs sin constipación. En el grupo de niños con constipación, los niveles de Sustancia P fueron menores que aquellos de los controles: 47,6+-11 vs. 79,4+-11 pg/mg de peso húmero de tejido respectivamente (la diferencia no obtuvo significación estadística). Niveles de Sustancia P en la mucosa rectal de niños con soiling (11/17) no fueron diferentes de los niveles en niños constipados sin soiling (46,0+-13 vs. 50,5+-19). En niños con constipación, los niveles de Sustancia P no varían de acuerdo a la edad o la duración de síntomas. Los niveles de Sustancia P en la mucosa rectal de niños controles (sin constipación) fueron similares a aquellos que previamente observamos en adultos normales, y los niveles en niños constipados fueron intermediarios entre estos niveles normales y los de adultos constipados. Estas observaciones sugieren un problema de motilidad como factor importante en la patogenesis de la constipación crónica en niños.

Topical nitrates potentiate the effect of botulinum toxin in the treatment of patients with refractory anal fissure.

BACKGROUND: Anal fissure is perpetuated by high sphincter pressures and secondary local ischaemia. Pharmacological approaches include topical nitrates and botulinum toxin (BT) which act to reduce anal pressure. BT lowers anal pressure by preventing acetylcholine release from nerve terminals while topical nitrates act by donating nitric oxide (NO). The aims of the present study were to compare the therapeutic effect and lowering action on internal anal sphincter pressure of BT injection and local application of isosorbide dinitrate (ID) compared with BT given alone, in patients with chronic anal fissure (CAF) refractory to treatment with ID. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with CAF who did not respond to previous topical ID treatments were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments: group A, injection of BT (20 U into the internal anal sphincter) and subsequent daily applications of ID (2.5 mg three times daily for three months); and group B, BT injection only (20 U). If at the end of six weeks following BT injection no improvement was seen in group B, ID was added. A series of anal pressure measurements, including resting basal pressure and resting pressure following topical ID (1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 mg), was carried out both before and two weeks after 20 U of BT injection into the internal anal sphincter. At the end of the trial, patients were followed up for an average period of 10 months. FINDINGS: At six weeks the fissure healing rate was significantly higher in group A patients (10/15 (66%)) compared with group B (3/15 (20%)) (p=0.025). At eight and 12 weeks, no significant differences were seen: 11/15 (73%) v 11/15 (73%) and 9/15 (60%) v 10/15 (66%), group A v group B, respectively. Maximum anal resting pressure (MARP) was significantly lower two weeks after BT injection than baseline MARP (90 (4) v 110 (5) mm Hg; p<0.001). A significantly greater reduction in MARP following local application of ID was achieved after BT injection compared with that achieved before BT injection (p=0.037) INTERPRETATION: (1) Combined BT injection and local application of ID in patients with CAF who failed previous treatment with ID was more effective than BT alone. This treatment modality appears to be safe and promising. (2) ID application induced a greater reduction in MARP following BT injection compared with ID application before BT injection. The improved potency of ID on MARP after BT injection suggests a primary cholinergic tonus dominance in some patients and not, as previously claimed, anal sphincter insensitivity to nitrates.

The prevalence of chronic diarrhea among diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of chronic diarrhea in patients with type I and type II diabetes is uncertain, most data being available from tertiary referral centers. We report the prevalence and etiology of chronic diarrhea in 861 heterogeneous diabetic patients attending a primary care diabetic outpatient clinic. METHODS: All patients attending the clinic were asked to fill in a questionnaire relating to their bowel habits. Patients who fulfilled the criteria for chronic diarrhea underwent a comprehensive workup to define the cause of the diarrhea. Additional parameters were the mean duration of diabetes, hemoglobin-Alc levels, and the presence of autonomic neuropathy. RESULTS: Chronic diarrhea was diagnosed in 32 patients (overall prevalence of 3.7%). The prevalence of nondiabetic diarrhea was higher among type I diabetic patients than among type II patients (3.29% vs 2.3%), although it did not reach statistical significance. Diabetic diarrhea was more common among type I than type II diabetic patients (5.2% vs 0.4%, respectively, p < 0.01). The most common cause of nondiabetic diarrhea was medication induced (metformin). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic diarrhea is more frequent in type I diabetic patients. The higher prevalence of diarrhea in this population can be attributed to diabetic diarrhea (which is quite rare in type II patients). The most common cause of nondiabetic diarrhea is drug therapy with metformin.

Incidence from coincidence: patterns of tick infestations on rodents facilitate transmission of tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus has a highly focal distribution through Eurasia. Endemic cycles appear to depend on the transmission of non-systemic infections between ticks co-feeding on the same rodent hosts. The particular features of seasonal dynamics and infestation patterns of larval and nymphal Ixodes ricinus, but not Dermacentor reticulatus, from 4 regions within TBE foci in Slovakia, are such as to promote TBE virus transmission. The distributions of larvae and nymphs on their principal rodent hosts are highly aggregated and, rather than being independent, the distributions of each stage are coincident so that the same ca. 20% of hosts feed about three-quarters of both larvae and nymphs. This results in twice the number of infectible larvae feeding alongside potentially infected nymphs compared with the null hypothesis of independent distributions. Overall, co-feeding transmission under these circumstances brings the reproductive number (R0) for TBE virus to a level that accounts quantitatively for maintained endemic cycles. Essential for coincident aggregated distributions of larvae and nymphs is their synchronous seasonal activity. Preliminary comparisons support the prediction of a greater degree of coincident seasonality within recorded TBE foci than outside. This identifies the particular climatic factors that permit such patterns of tick seasonal dynamics as the primary predictors for the focal distribution of TBE.

Recombination in Tula hantavirus evolution: analysis of genetic lineages from Slovakia.

To examine the evolution of Tula hantavirus (TUL), carried by the European common vole (Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis), we have analyzed genetic variants from Slovakia, the country where the virus is endemic. Phylogenetic analysis (PHYLIP) based on either partial (nucleotides [nt] 441 to 898) or complete N-protein-encoding sequences divided Slovakian TUL variants into two main lineages: (i) strains from eastern Slovakia, which clustered with Russian strains, and (ii) strains from western Slovakia situated closer to those from the Czech Republic. We found genetic diversity of 19% between the two groups and 4% within the western Slovakian TUL strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3' noncoding region (3'-NCR), however, placed the eastern Slovakian strains closer to those from western Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with a greater distance to the Russian strains, suggesting a recombinant nature of the S segment in the eastern Slovakian TUL lineage. A bootscan search of the S-segment sequences of TUL strains revealed at least two recombination points in the S sequences of eastern Slovakian TUL strains (nt 400 to 415 and around 1200) which agreed well with the pattern of amino acid substitutions in the N protein and deletions/insertions in the 3'-NCR of the S segment. These data suggest that homologous recombination events occurred in the evolution of hantaviruses.

Treatment of chronic anal fissure with isosorbide dinitrate: long-term results and dose determination.

PURPOSE: Anal fissure is a tear of the anoderm, which eventually can become an ulcer. Chronic anal fissure is perpetuated by contraction of the internal sphincter, believed to reduce perfusion. Nitric oxide is a neurotransmitter mediating vasodilation and internal anal sphincter relaxation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate both the effect and the effective dose regimen of isosorbide dinitrate, a nitric oxide donor, as a treatment for chronic anal fissure. METHODS: Isosorbide dinitrate, Isoket spray (Schwarz-Pharma, Mannheim, Germany), was used to treat 41 patients with chronic anal fissure. Anal manometry was performed in all patients before they entered the study. The treatment program consisted of digital application of isosorbide dinitrate in a dose of 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg three times each day for four weeks. At the end of the trial, patients were followed up for an average time of 11 +/- 1 months. RESULTS: In 34 (83 percent) patients, the fissure healed within one month of treatment (mean, 3 +/- 0.1 weeks). The average time for symptoms to disappear was 6.5 +/- 0.7 days. In six (14.6 percent) patients the anal fissure did not heal even after four weeks of further treatment, and they underwent lateral sphincterotomy. Six patients relapsed during the follow-up period, but responded to another course of treatment. A dose of 2.5 mg of isosorbide dinitrate caused a greater reduction in maximum anal resting pressure than a dose of 1.25 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Topical isosorbide dinitrate is an effective and safe treatment for chronic anal fissure. In our experience the optimal dose regimen is 2.5 mg three times each day.

Decreased substance P content in the rectal mucosa of diabetics with diarrhea and constipation.

Substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and somatostatin content in rectal mucosa were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 38 diabetic patients (12 with normal bowel function, 13 with diabetic diarrhea, and 13 with constipation) and in 10 nondiabetic controls with normal bowel function. SP content (picograms per milligram) in the rectal mucosa of diabetics with normal bowel function was significantly higher than that of nondiabetic controls (P < .05). SP content in the rectal mucosa of diabetics with diabetic diarrhea and constipation was significantly lower than in diabetics with normal bowel habits and nondiabetic controls (P < .05). No differences were found in the rectal mucosa content of VIP and somatostatin between the different groups of diabetics and controls. Diabetic diarrhea is a condition with an intermittent nature and frequently alternates with constipation. Our findings showing low levels of rectal mucosa SP in both conditions suggest a possible common role of SP in the pathogenesis of diabetic diarrhea and constipation.

Vitamin C status and colonic neoplasia.

PURPOSE: A subnormal status of vitamin C has been associated with an increased risk for several malignant diseases and may play a causative role in their development. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this occurs also in neoplasms of the colon. METHODS: We have studied dietary intake and status of vitamin C in a consecutive group of patients with adenomatous colonic polyps (n = 31) and compared it with that of patients with no such history and a normal colonic mucosa, as confirmed by colonoscopy (n = 54). RESULTS: Dietary intake of this vitamin, as assessed by the dietary recall method, was similar in the two groups, as were the levels of vitamin C in plasma and leukocytes. There were no significant differences in intake of dietary fiber, fat, vitamin A, or calcium between the two groups. Lack of association between vitamin C intake or status and colonic polyps persisted after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in this population, a deficient status of vitamin C is not an important factor in colonic neoplasia.

Importance of localized skin infection in tick-borne encephalitis virus transmission.

Arboviruses are transmitted to vertebrates by the "bite" of infected arthropods. Events at the site of virus deposition are largely unknown despite increasing evidence that blood-sucking arthropods immunomodulate their skin site of feeding. This question is particularly relevant for ixodid ticks that feed for several days. To examine events under conditions mimicking tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus transmission in nature (i.e., infected and uninfected Ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on the same animal), infected adult and uninfected nymphal ticks were placed in one retaining chamber (skin site A) and uninfected nymphs were placed within a second chamber posteriorly (skin site B) on two natural host species, yellow-necked field mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). Virus transmission from infected to uninfected cofeeding ticks was correlated with infection in the skin site of tick feeding. Furthermore, virus was recruited preferentially to the site in which ticks were feeding compared with uninfested skin sites. Viremia did not correspond with a generalized infection of the skin; virus was not detected in an uninfested skin site (C) of 12/13 natural hosts that had viremia levels > or = 2.0 log10 ic mouse LD50/0.02 ml blood. To characterize infected cells, laboratory mouse strains were infested with infected ticks and then explants were removed from selected skin sites and floated on culture medium. Numerous leukocytes were found to migrate from the skin explants of tick feeding sites. Two-color immunocytochemistry revealed viral antigen in both migratory Langerhans cells and neutrophils; in addition, the migratory monocyte/macrophages were shown to produce infectious virus. The results indicate that the local skin site of tick feeding is an important focus of viral replication early after TBE virus transmission by ticks. Cellular infiltration of tick feeding sites, and the migration of cells from such sites, may provide a vehicle for transmission between infected and uninfected cofeeding ticks that is independent of a patent viremia. The data support the hypothesis that viremia is a product, rather than a prerequisite, of tick-borne virus transmission.

Mixed natural focus of tick-borne encephalitis, tularemia and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in west Slovakia.

Total of 923 small mammals of 7 species were collected in locality Záhorská Ves, West Slovakia, in 1990-1992. Among examined small mammal species it was Clethrionomys glareolus (48.7% of total, 17.5% positive for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus antibodies), Apodemus flavicollis (29.7% of total, 17.5% positive), A. sylvaticus (11.3% of total, 16.3% positive), and Microtus arvalis (6.2% of total, 10.5% positive). The most abundant tick species (larval and nymphal stages) on small mammals was Ixodes ricinus. The extensity of infestation was 35.1-50.7%, and the intensity of infestation ranged in average from 4.1 to 7.8 ticks per animal. Out of 884 small rodent serum samples 16.9% had neutralizing antibody to TBE virus. Eight TBE virus isolates were recovered, six from C. glareolus and one each from A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus; seven isolates were from brain tissue and one was from a pool of lung and liver tissues. One strain of Francisella tularensis was isolated from a pool of spleens of four C. glareolus collected in August 1991. Hantavirus antigens were detected in lung tissues of four M. arvalis collected in July and November 1990-1992. Antibody to Hantaan virus was detected by ELISA in one serum sample of A. flavicollis (titer 1:256) and antibody to Puumala virus in one serum sample of C. glareolus (titer 1:16).