Seroprevalences of Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis and Coxiella burnetii in Dogs from Montenegro

Due to an unfortunate error during the processing of the article, the given name and family name of all authors were interchanged. The original article has been corrected

Lung cancer mortality in Montenegro, 1990 to 2015

Aim To analyze the trend of lung cancer mortality in Montenegro from 1990 to 2015. Methods Data on lung cancer mortality were collected from death certificates obtained from the Statistical Office of Montenegro for the period 1990-2009 and the Institute for Public Health for the period 2010-2015. Population data were obtained from the Statistical Office of Montenegro. Rates were age-standardized to the World Standard Population, and mortality trends were analyzed with the joinpoint regression. Results In 2015, lung cancer accounted for 5.44% of all deaths and 22.92% of all cancer deaths. It was the leading cause of all cancer deaths and the third-leading cause of all deaths. A joinpoint was observed in 2004 in women and in the entire population, and in 2005 in men. The overall mortality rates increased from 1990 to 2004 by an average of 3.91% per year and decreased from 2004 to 2015 by an average of 1.95%; which in the entire observed period resulted in an average increase of 1.3% per year. A particularly strong growth rate was observed in women, even 7.14% in the period from 1990 to 2004. Conclusion The observed increase in lung cancer mortality warrants improved tobacco control

TIMELINESS AND LEVEL OF PRIMARY IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AGAINST MEASLES AND RUBELLA IN MONTENEGRO

The aim of the paper was to determine the timeliness and level of primary immunization coverage against measles and rubella in Montenegro in the cohort born from January 1 to December 31, 2006.Cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from October to December 2008. All immunization points in Montenegro were visited and immunization records of the entire cohort born in 2006 were reviewed.Timeliness of primary immunization coverage with MMR was 91.4% at the level of Montenegro, but in seven (33,3%) municipalities timeliness of primary immunization coverage was less than 90%, including one municipality even with less than 80%. After the additional activities on the vaccination of previously unvaccinated children, primary immunization coverage with MMR reached the value of 96.1% at the level of Montenegro, and in the majority of municipalities exceeded the value of 95%. However, after additional immunization activities in six out of 21 municipalities (28.6%), primary immunization coverage with MMR was below 95% of which in one municipality below 90%.In the cohort born during 2006, timely primary immunization with MMR was performed in one third of Montenegrin municipalities with the value less than 90%. Supplemental immunization activities related to unvaccinated children significantly increased the primary immunization coverage with MMR in the cohort born in 2006. Yet, in a certain number of municipalities even after additional immunization activities, the primary immunization coverage did not reach the required 95%. In comparison with routine administrative reporting on immunization coverage, the surveys which involve the review of immunization records after additional immunization activities provide more realistic rate of completeness and timeliness of primary immunization coverage

Viruses - Current foodborne pathogens

Virusne infekcije prenosive hranom sve se češće javljaju u mnogim delovima sveta. Procena realne zastupljenosti virusnih bolesti koje se prenose putem hrane otežana je usled neprijavljivanja infekcija i nepostojanja sveobuhvatnih sistema za nadzor. Nekoliko grupa virusa može izazvati oboljenje ljudi nakon konzumacije kontaminirane hrane. Na osnovu simptoma infekcije, mogu se razvrstati na: one koji izazivaju gastroenteritis (Norovirus-NoV, Rotavirus-HRV, Astrovirusi, Adenovirusi i Sapovirusi), zatim one koji iz creva migriraju u jetru i uzokuju hepatitis (Hepatitis A-HAV i Hepatitis E-HEV) i virusi koji se umnožavaju u crevima, a do bolesti dovode jedino ako migriraju u druge organe, na primer u centralni nervni sistem (Enterovirusi). Trenutno najznačajniji alimentarni patogeni su Norovirus (NoV) i Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Svi pomenuti virusi se šire fekalnom kontaminacijom, ali i direktnim kontaktom ili transmisijom virusnih čestica putem aerosola. Hrana može biti primarno kontaminirana virusom ili naknadno tokom čitavog lanca hrane. Virusi se u njoj ne razmnožavaju, ali mogu opstati duži vremenski period ili u samoj hrani, ili kao infektivne čestice u okruženju. Danas dostupna Real Time RT-PCR metoda je glavna tehnika detekcije virusa u hrani, vodi i drugim uzorcima. Kao preventivne i kontrolne mere u sprečavanju virusnih infekcija preko hrane preporučiju se: podizanje svesti rukovaoca hranom; standardizacija metoda za detekciju virusa u hrani; razvoj laboratorijski baziranog nadzora za otkrivanje izvora epidemije u ranoj fazi, kao i naglašavanje značaja razmatranja virusa u integrisanim sistemima za bezbednost hrane (GHP, GMP, HACCP). Osim toga, naglašava se i značaj uvođenja monitoringa virusa u hrani, u cilju poboljšanja zaštite javnog zdravlja.Foodborne viruses are becoming more frequent, in many parts of the world. The presence of foodborne viruses is not real, because of the low number of reported infections, the lack of comprehensive system for monitoring. Several groups of viruses, after consumption of contaminated food, can cause human disease. Based on symptoms of an infection, viruses can be classified into: those that cause gastroenteritis (Norovirus-NoV, Rotavirus-HRV, Astrovirus, Adenovirus and Sapovirus), those that migrate from the intestine to the liver and cause hepatitis (Hepatitis A-HAV i Hepatitis E-HEV), and viruses which multiply in the intestine, migrate to other organs, for example in the central nervous system (Enterovirus) and cause disease. Currently, the most important foodborne pathogens are Norovirus and hepatitis A virus. All viruses are transmitted by fecal contamination, but also by direct contact or viral particles in aerosol. The food can be contaminated with virus directly, or throughout the food chain. Viruses can’t reproduce in food, but can survive long time in food, or as infectious particles in the environment. Real Time RT-PCR method is the main technique for detection of norovirus in food. Preventive and control measures recommended: raising awareness of food handlers; standardization of methods for virus detection; development laboratories to discover the origin of the epidemic in the early stages,emphasizes the importance of the virus in integrated systems for food safety (GHP, GMP, HACCP). In addition, work on the introduction of monitoring of viruses in food, in order to improve the protection of public health

UTICAJ IZABRANOG LJEKARA NA OBUHVAT MMR VAKCINOM

U evropskom regionu Svetske zdravstvene organizacije u toku je proces eliminacije malih boginja (morbila) i rubele, odnosno kongenitalnog rubela sindroma – KRS. Da bi se sproveo proces eliminacije navedenih oboljenja, neophodno je postići obuhvat obveznika imunizacijom protiv malih boginja sa dvije doze i rubelom sa jednom dozom od najmanje 95%. Pretpostavka je da na procenat obuhvata primoimunizacije MMR-om može uticati to da li obveznik ima izabranog doktora. U toku jula i avgusta 2014. godine sprovedena je studija presjeka kojom su prikupljeni podaci o primoimunizaciji MMR vakcinom za sve obveznike vakcinacije rođene od 01. januara 2008. do 31. decembra 2012. godine. Istovremeno, prikupljeni su i podaci o tome da li obveznici imaju izabranog doktora ili ne. Obrađeno je 40938 djece rođene od 01. januara 2008. do 31. decembra 2012. godine koja se nalaze u registru obveznika za imunizaciju. Ukupan obuhvat za obveznike navedenog uzrasta u trenutku sprovođenja analize iznosio je 94,1%, pri čemu je za obveznike sa izabranim doktorom (39471) 96,3%, a obveznike bez izabranog doktora (1474) 34,1%, što predstavlja visoko statistički značajnu razliku. Trenutno, učešće obveznika bez izabranog doktora u ukupnom broju obveznika iz analiziranih kohorti na nivou države iznosi 3,6%, uz variranje na nivou pojedinih opština, koje se kreće u rasponu od 0,7% do 7,4%. Rezultati studije jasno ukazuju da su obveznici koji imaju izabrane doktore u značajno većom obimu primoimunizovani MMR vakcinom od obveznika koji nemaju izabranog doktora. Neophodno je sprovesti aktivnosti kako bi se broj lica, obveznika za imunizaciju, sveo na vrijednost ispod 1% od ukupnog broja obveznika, kao i dopunske aktivnosti, koje podrazumevaju pozivanja i vakcinaciju obveznika koji nemaju izabranog doktora

Seroprevalences of Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis and Coxiella burnetii in Dogs from Montenegro

Purpose The incidence of vector-borne zoonoses has been increasing in Europe as a result of global climate change, and rickettsioses are a significant etiologic entity among these infections. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalences of Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis and Coxiella burnetii in dogs in Montenegro. Methods The seroepidemiological study covered 259 dogs, of which 155 were owned dogs suspected of infection with agents of rickettsial aetiology from the continental (Podgorica) or five coastal municipalities of Montenegro (Budva, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Ulcinj and Bar), and 104 dogs were from a public shelter in Podgorica. The presence of specific IgG antibodies against R. conorii was analysed using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, and the presence of antibodies against E. canis and C. burnetii was analysed using commercial indirect immunofluorescence tests (IFAT). Results Seroprevalences of 73.36, 19.3 and 1.16% were determined for R. conorii, E. canis and C. burnetii, respectively. R. conorii was significantly more prevalent (chi(2) = 14.53; p < 0.001) in owned dogs (81.93%) than in dogs from the public shelter (60.6%), while E. canis was more prevalent (chi(2) = 12.31; p < 0.001) in dogs from the public shelter (29.81%) than in owned dogs (12.26%). Coinfection with two pathogens was determined in 40 (15.44%) dogs, and the prevalence of R. conorii/E. canis (chi(2) = 4.23; p < 0.05) was greater in dogs from the public shelter (20.19%) than in owned dogs (10.97%). Conclusion The prevailing evidence from this study shows that dogs from Montenegro are exposed to pathogens of veterinary and public health importance. This calls for the One Health approach to sensitise the public on the risks of zoonoses from dogs and to formulate policies and strategies to mitigate their spread and safeguard public health

Factors associated with inconsistent condom use with clients among female sex workers in Podgorica, Montenegro

Introduction. Female sex workers (FSWs) are a group at increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and inconsistent condom use with clients is a known risk factor for infection in this group. Objective. The aim of the study was to determine factors associated with inconsistent condom use with clients among female sex workers in Podgorica, Montenegro. Methods. We conducted an HIV bio-behavioral cross-sectional study in a sample of female sex workers recruited by snowball sampling. Results. A total of 142 FSWs were recruited. Eighty-one (57.0%) of them used condoms consistently with clients. HIV prevalence was 0.0%. In the multivariate analysis inconsistent condom use with clients in the previous month was associated with clients’ negative personal attitude [age-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 22.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.3-228.0] or client’s indifference (AOR = 13.0, 95% CI = 1.4-118.9) towards using condom during sex with sexual workers, decision making by clients or by mutual agreement with client about using a condom (AOR = 10.2, 95% CI = 3.7-28.0), and early age of first sex (AOR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.6-18.5). Conclusion. Our results suggest not only the need for further promotion of condom use, information and education for FSW but also the need to strengthen negotiation skills of FSWs with clients on regular use of condoms, as well as the need to extend prevention programs to clients of FSWs