ABSTRACT
WNV and USUV are closely related epornitic flaviviruses transmitted by Culex mosquitoes which can cause febrile and neurodegenerative disease in humans. The impact of both viruses on public health has increased in the recent decades. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV and USUV in hospitalized patients from eastern Romania who did not show symptoms corresponding to the case definition. METHODS: Human blood samples from the hospitalized patients were collected in 2015 and from April to September 2019 in Iasi County, Romania. The samples were screened by ELISA for anti-WNV IgG, IgM, and anti-USUV IgG antibodies. RESULTS: A cumulative seroprevalence of 3.4% was recorded for anti-WNV IgG antibodies and 9.1% for anti-WNV IgM. No sample was positive for anti-USUV antibodies. CONCLUSION: The cumulative seroprevalence observed provides support for the consideration of WNV as being endemic in the east of Romania. The absence of anti-USUV antibodies may be related to cross-reactivity and cohort size, thus, USUV should be considered in clinical practice and become an objective for active surveillance in Romania.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to improve the epidemiological data on HEV infection in the human population in Romania. The analysis targeted hospitalized subjects with acute hepatitis (n = 94) of unknown etiology from the Infectious Diseases Regional Hospital in Iasi. Moreover, patients without liver disease (n = 40) from a different county hospital located in Eastern Romania were included. The presence of HEV infection and first characterization of human HEV strains was determined using serological and molecular assays. The apparent HEV seroprevalence varied between 29.16% (95% CI, 16.31-42.03) and 32.5% (95% CI, 17.98-47.02) according to patient grouping. Molecular analysis enhanced the detection of two HEV isolates, that clustered in subtype HEV-3c, the most commonly identified subtype in Europe. Identification of acute hepatitis E cases, together with the first detection and molecular characterization of human HEV in Romania represent the originality attributes of the present study.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis E virus , Hepatitis E , Europe , Hepatitis E/epidemiology , Hepatitis E virus/genetics , Humans , Phylogeny , Romania/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
AIM: To analyze the clinical features and course of and to define the risk factors for bacterial meningitis in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 100 cases of bacterial meningitis in patients aged 0-18 years admitted to the Iasi Infectious Diseases Hospital between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS: We found a clear prevalence in male children (58%) from rural area (67%), with the highest incidence in the age group 2-5 years. A significant percentage of patients (43%) had previous hospitalization, condition which is known as predisposing factor for bacterial meningitis, the most common being ear infections (20%) and height and weight deficit (9%). 71% of patients were admitted within the first 48 h. The most common onset clinical manifestations were fever (84%), vomiting (70%), signs of meningeal irritation (59%), somnolence (23%), loss of appetite (19%), and coma in 5% of patients. In 36% of cases CSF was opalescent with moderate pleocytosis (35%); in 29% of patients CSF albumin level ranged between 0.7-1.0 g, the majority presenting normal glycorahia (71%). In only 21% of cases the microbial agent was identified (pneumococcal and meningococcal etiology, 8% and 6%, respectively). The course was generally favorable, and mortality rate was low (5%). Complications occurred in 3% of patients consisting in hydrocephalus and brain abscess. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial meningitis remains a disease with potentially severe course. Clinical onset, most commonly atypical in children, requires differential diagnosis at the time of admission in order to initiate the most appropriate antibiotic therapy.
