Incidence and prevalence of infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Prospective study in healthy individuals exposed to ticks.

The seroprevalence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (former human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, HGE) has been documented in several studies, but little data exists on incidence rates in healthy individuals. In a prospective study, we tested 125 healthy adults (mean age 43 years)--workers of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest National Park, north-eastern Poland--for Anaplasma phagocytophilum IgG antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay, and for Borrelia burgdorferi IgG with ELISA in a 12-month interval. The data concerning clinical symptoms consistent with human granulocytic anaplasmosis were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Of these 125 subjects, 9 were anti-A. phagocytophilum positive at the study entry. Four participants (3.2 %) seroconverted from IgG negative to positive during the observation period. Three subjects (2.4 %) converted from initially anti-A. phagocytophilum positive to negative. Specific IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were detected in 27 (21.6 %) individuals. Concurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum was observed in 3.2 %, whereas 4 % were Anaplasma phagocytophilum IgG positive and Borrelia burgdorferi IgG negative (not significant). Clinical symptoms associated with human granulocytic anaplasmosis were not present in seroconverting individuals. The obtained results confirm the occurrence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in north-eastern Poland with asymptomatic clinical course.

[Prevalence of HLA class I and II antigens and extra-bowel manifestations in ulcerative colitis]. / Wystepowanie antygenów HLA klasy I i II oraz pozajelitowych uszkodzen narzadowych u chorych na wrzodziejace zapalenie jelita grubego.

HLA class I and II antigens are common among patients with ulcerative colitis. They can be involved in the autoaggressive mechanisms of the disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of HLA B and HLA DR antigens and estimate the correlation to extra-bowel manifestations of the disease. 50 patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 healthy controls were examined. HLA-B27, -B7, -B40, -DR1, -DR2, -DR3, -DR4 and -DR7 were determined using monoclonal antibodies in microlymphocytotoxic method. HLA I and/or HLA II antigens were detected in 36% of patients: HLA I in 28% and HLA II 16%. 46% of the patients were demonstrating joint changes, with 65% of them presenting HLA molecules. 16% of the examined patients presented symptoms of intrahepatic cholestasis; with 67% having HLA I/II molecules. The difference from the control group was statistically significant, only 25% of healthy persons presented HLA I/II antigens. The incidence of joint involvement and cholestasis was higher in ulcerative colitis patients with HLA class I and/or HLA II.

[Possibilities in contemporary diagnosis of Escherichia coli O157 infection in hemorrhagic colitis patients]. / Mozliwosci wspólczesnej diagnostyki zakazen Escherichia coli O157 u osób z krwotocznym zapaleniem okreznicy.

Outbreaks and sporadic cases of Escherichia coli O157 human infection are noticed since 1982 worldwide. Although the percentage of infected animal (bovine) reservoir in Poland is low (0.73%) human illness could develop. Shiga toxigenic strains can cause severe gastrointestinal disease with hemolytic-uremic syndrome and thrombocytic thrombophlebitic purpura with serious sequelae. For this reason we have examined 28 patients hospitalized with bloody diarrhoea for E. coli O157:H7 infection using Multiplex PCR Test. Only one person (0.036%), a 78-year old woman, presented characteristic symptoms (three days lasting bloody diarhoea, abdominal crumps, fever, neurological symptoms), endoscopical findings (marked oedema, facile haemorrhage, longitudinal ulcer-like lesions) and positive results on PCR. Despite low incidence of E. coli O157 infection doctors should be aware that such infection in Poland is likely to happen.