Genetic detection of Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus in the edible dormouse (Glis glis) in central Serbia.

Hantaviruses are endemic in the Balkans, particularly in Serbia, where sporadic cases and/or outbreaks of hantaviral human disease have been reported repeatedly, and evidenced serologically. Here, we present genetic detection of Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) hantaviral sequences in wild rodents trapped in central Serbia. All the animals were pre-screened serologically by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test and only those with a positive finding of hantaviral antigens were further tested by polymerase chain reaction. Of the total of 104 trapped animals, 20 were found to be IF positive and of those three were positive for hantaviral RNA: one Microtus arvalis for Tula virus, and one each of Apodemus agrarius and Glis glis for DOBV. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences implies putative DOBV spillover infection of A. agrarius and G. glis from Apodemus flavicollis. However, future investigations should help to identify the most common natural host and geographical distribution of DOBV in its reservoir hosts in Serbia.

[An epidemic of acute enterocolitis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli]. / Epidemija akutnog enterokolitisa izazvana enterotoksigenom eserihijom koli.

In an epidemic of enterocolitis on a military ship which lasted two days, 13 (54%) out of 24 soldiers became ill. The clinical picture was mild with predomination of diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and the troubles in all ill persons ended within 48 hours with administration of symptomatic therapy. Since routinely examined causative agents of infectious diseases were not detected, detailed examination of 13 Escherichia coli strains isolated from stools of the ill persons as well as 8 strains from stools of healthy but exposed soldiers, revealed that 7 of them produced enterotoxins; 5 strains produced heat-labile (LT) and heat-stabile (ST) enterotoxins, and 2 strains ST only. Enterotoxigenic strains were isolated from stools of 5 (38.5%) ill persons and 2 (25%) healthy persons. According to epidemiological investigations, infection was transmitted by secondary contaminated food due to its mishandling. The presented results prove that enterotoxigenic E. coli play a role as a causative agent in epidemics of acute enterocolitis in adults.

[Vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi]. / Vektori Borrelia burgdorferi.

During the period 1990-1992-5,915 ticks were collected and identified in the area of Belgrade. Identification has shown that 99.8% were Ixodes ricinus and 0.2% Dermacentor marginatus. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi was found in 27.0% to 31.7%. Females were more often infected than males and nymphs more often than larvae. Tick infection was at lowest degree in parks, little bit higher in woods and highest in mixed park-wood areas. Out of 28 locations, six can not be defined as foci of Lyme borreliosis, two are defined as potential foci and 20 as active foci of Lyme borreliosis. In a three year period we have isolated Borrelia burgdorferi in five occasions; in one occasion from ticks collected in Barajevo and in four occasions from ticks collected in Kosutnjak.

[Ixodes ricinus proven as a vector of Lyme borreliosis in Yugoslavia]. / Ixodes ricinus dokazan vektor lajm borelioze i u Jugoslaviji.

263 fasting female Ixodes ricinus were examined for Borrelia burgorferi, the vector of Lyme borreliosis. Female ticks were collected by flagella in the biotopes (Belgrade and Osijek) in which ticks bite patients with Lyme borreliosis. Borrelia burgorferi was proved in 58 (22%) of 263 female ticks in the native preparations of the intestinal contents by darkfield microscopy. In macerates of two groups of 5 female ticks each, Borrelia burgorferi was isolated by cultivation in the modified Kelly nutrient media for borrelia. The supposition that Ixodes ricinus is the vector of Lyme borreliosis in Yugoslavia is confirmed.

[Risk of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in an area endemic for Lyme disease]. / Rizik od infekcije borelijom burgdorferi u endemskom podrucju lajmske bolesti.

The results of the study of the prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in three categories of subjects from the endemic region of Lyme disease in the northeast Croatia are reported. The study comprised 265 subjects: 97 living in the rural region, 51 forest rangers working in this region and 117 members of the Yugoslav People's Army who spent a certain period of time in this region. Positive titer of specific antibodies were found in 11.3% of local inhabitants, 25.5% forest rangers and 6% soldiers. Serologic testing was performed by the direct immunofluorescent method with aspiration and the titer in the dilution of 1:80 was considered significant. Some risk factors causing disease as well as the relationship between inapparent and clinically manifested cases of infection are pointed out.

[Lyme disease in Yugoslavia]. / Lajmska bolest u Jugoslaviji.

Presented are results of the last five-year period study of the lyme disease in Yugoslavia. On the basis of published papers and professional communications over 2500 cases of lyme disease.were detected in our country within this period. Presented are common epidemiologic and clinical features of the disease and particularly cases diagnosed in Belgrade. Since 1987 a group of various specialists has been working on the research project in collaboration with many centres in the country. Indirect immunofluorescence test as the diagnostic laboratory technique has been introduced in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade in 1987. First species of Borrelia burgdorferi from ticks Ixodes ricinus have been isolated and cultivated in May and June 1990. Current problems concerning research work, medical and epidemiological aspects of the lyme disease are presented.