Seroepizootiological investigations of animals from Obedska bara locality for presence of Avian influenza virus

The disease caused by Influenza viruses has been well known for a very long time. In the recent period there has been noted an occurrence of pandemics caused by Influenza viruses type A with a high rate of mortality. The ongoing pandemic caused by avian influenza virus serotype H9N9 began in Hong Kong in 1992, and another pandemic caused by serotype H5N1 began in China (Hong Kong) in 1999. The world wide spreading of these viruses occurred due to migratory birds. Avian influenza was confirmed in Serbia in 2007. The goal of this study was to examine whether the avian influenza viruses type A circulate in the region of the Obedska bara marsh, which is a famous resort for many birds in Serbia, as well as many birds migrating from Europe to Africa and vice versa. The samples of blood sera of many animal species (123 samples from fowl, 64 samples from donkeys, 40 samples from horses) were tested by serologic reaction of inhibition of haemmaglutination (IHA) for the presence of antibodies to influenza A subtypes H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H7N1 and H7N2. Also, the samples of blood sera of experimental chicken exposed to wild life in Obedska bara (sentinel species) were tested. Antibodies to subtypes H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H7N1 and H7N2 were found in chicken from Dec, Boljevci, Petrovcic and Kupinovo villages but no antibodies were found in blood sera from hams from Dobanovci, Jakovo, Becmen and Surcin villages. From 23 samples from ducks antibodies were detected in 3 samples, and from 22 geese blood sera antibodies were found in 4 samples. From a total of 40 horse blood sera tested one was tested positive, and from 64 donkey sera 17 were positive for the presence of antibodies for avian influenza type A. In blood sera of experimental chicken antibodies were found by subtype H5N1 with corrections with H5N2 and H7N1

Molecular characterization of Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus in Serbia, 2007-2011

Background: Hantaviruses are etiological agents of emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). A number of hantavirus species is known to be present in Europe. In Serbia, existing data on hantavirus presence and prevalence rely in serological findings. In this study, molecular analysis was performed in order to characterize HFRS causing hantaviruses in Serbia. Methods: Sixty four serum samples of HFRS cases, previously found seropositive to anti-hantaviral anti-bodies, were included in the study. Partial hantaviral L and S segments were PCR amplified producing 390nt and 598nt amplicons, respectively, in parallel with human beta-actin mRNA as external reverse transcription positive control. Hantavirus specific PCR products were DNA sequenced in both direction and the obtained sequences phylogenetically confirmed and analyzed. Results: PCR detection of hantavirus L and S genome segments was positive in 18/64 and 11/64 tested samples, respectively. Positive PCR results involved samples obtained from different locations, mostly from central and southern parts of Serbia. All the obtained sequences were identified as Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV). In the phylogenetic analysis sequences from Serbia tended to cluster in distinctive, geographically related clusters. Conclusions: Our findings indicate DOBV as the main HFRS causing hantavirus in Serbia, the site of its initial isolation. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Limited on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Smallpox as an actual biothreat: lessons learned from its outbreak in ex-Yugoslavia in 1972

Variola (smallpox) virus is classified as class A of potential biological weapons, due to its microbiological, genetic, antigenic and epidemiological characteristics. The potential danger is more real because vaccination against smallpox has stopped since disease eradication in 1979. That is why we want to share our unique, rich experience and acquired knowledge in the fight against this highly contagious and deadly disease during the smallpox outbreak in ex-Yugoslavia in 1972. It was the largest postwar outbreak in Europe when there were officially registered 175 ill patients, 35 of them with lethal outcome. This outbreak was specific by the time of its occurrence, the affected territory, dimensions and some epidemiological characteristics, but also by the well-organized, synchronized and efficient reaction of the competent state services in the fight against it

Slučaj humane monocitne erlihioze u Srbiji

Introduction Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial zoonosis transmitted by hematophagous arthropods - ticks. In humans, it occurs as monocytic, granulocytic, and ewingii ehrlichiosis. Pathological process is based on parasitic presence of Ehrlichia organisms within peripheral blood cells - monocytes and granulocytes. Case Outline Fifty-two year old patient was admitted to hospital due to high fever of over 40°C that lasted two days, accompanied with chills, muscle aches, malaise, loss of appetite, headache, confusion, breathing difficulties, and mild dry cough. The history suggested tick bite that occurred seven days before the onset of disease. Doxycycline was introduced and administered for 14 days, causing the disease to subside. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to analyze three serum samples obtained from this patient for Ehrlichia chaffeensis antibodies, and peripheral blood smear was evaluated for the presence of Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia aggregation into morulae. Conclusion Ehrlichiosis should be considered in each case where there is a history of tick bite together with the clinical picture (high fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, generalized weakness and malaise, and possible maculopapular rash). The presence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis antibodies was confirmed in a patient with the history of tick bite, appropriate clinical picture and indirect immunofluorescence assay. This confirmed the presence of human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, a disease that is uncommonly identified in our country.Uvod Erlihioza je bakterijska zoonoza koja se prenosi hematofagnim artropodama - krpeljima. Kod ljudi se javlja kao monocitna, granulocitna i ewingii erlihioza. Patološki proces je posledica unutar ćelijskog parazitiranja erlihije u monocitima i granulocitima periferne krvi. Prikaz bolesnika Bolesnik star 52 godine primljen je na odeljenje zbog visoke dvodnevne febrilnosti (preko 40°C) koja je praćena drhtavicom, bolovima u mišićima, malaksalošću, gubitkom apetita, glavoboljom, konfuznošću, otežanim disanjem i oskudnim suvim kašljem. U anamnezi je dobijen podatak o ujedu krpelja sedam dana pre prijema. Laboratorijski nalazi su ukazali na trombocitopeniju, leukopeniju, anemiju i povećanje aktivnosti transaminaza u serumu. Bolesnik je lečen doksiciklinom 14 dana, nakon čega su se tegobe povukle. Metodom indirektne imunofluorescencije analizirana su tri uzorka seruma ovog bolesnika na prisustvo antitela na bakteriju Ehrlichia chaffeensis i pregledan je uzorak razmaza periferne krvi na prisustvo erlihija i konglomerata erlihije u morule, koje predstavljaju citoplazmatske vakuole. Zaključak Kod bolesnika s podatkom o ubodu krpelja, odgovarajućom kliničkom slikom i serološkim testom indirektne imunofluorescencije dokazana su antitela za bakteriju Ehrlichia chaffeensis, što ukazuje na humanu monocitotropnu erlihiozu, bolest koja se kod nas retko dokazuje. Na erlihiozu treba misliti kada uz kliničku sliku (visoka febrilnost, groznica, bolovi u mišićima, glavobolja, opšta slabost i malaksalost, eventualno makulopapulozna ospa) postoji podatak o ubodu krpelja

Seroprevalence of ehrlichia canis infection in stray dogs from Serbia

Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease with worldwide distribution. With regards to the population of stray dogs, the disease is facilitated due to their lifestyle and the lack of anti-parasitic protection. The aim of this study was to provide serological data on the presence of a specific Ehrlichia canis IgG antibodies in stray dogs, originating from 7 municipalities in Serbia. During the period from April 2013 to June 2014, 217 canine sera were submitted to the laboratory of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Animals and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Belgrade. An immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed to detect antibodies to Ehrlichia canis (cut off, 1: 50). Seropositive dogs were found in 5 out of 7 counties with a seroprevalence varying from 3.57% to 20% and an overall seroprevalence of 11.06% (24/217). There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of infection and the host age or gender. Results showed that stray dogs contribute to maintaining and spreading of Ehrlichia canis in Serbia. Due to the close relationship between people and dogs, it is of great importance to constantly monitor and improve prevention of this disease

Seroepizootiološko-epidemiološka istraživanja i mapiranje infekcije Zapadnog Nila u Republici Srbiji

The disease caused by the West Nile virus (WNV) has been known since 1937 when it was described for the first time in Uganda. After spreading to Europe and the Middle East, the disease has changed its primary location. Today WN infection is a significant health problem in the world. As a result of the current epizootiological and epidemiological situation in Europe studies on the occurrence of WND were introduced in Serbia, also. The investigation on the presence of WNV antibodies was intensified in the period from 2008 to 2012. In this period a total of 3618 serum samples were tested from 18 localities (2736 animal sera from 8 different species and 882 human sera samples). The method applied was gel immunodiffusion and the representative samples were confirmed by the plaque reduction test (PRNT-90). Out of the total number of samples WNV antibodies were present in 3.97% horses, 0.93% dogs, 0.31% poultry and 1.36% man. In one horse serum sample there was a positive reaction with a positive control serum, thus indicating the presence of WNV antigen. The results have confirmed that WNV antibodies are present in 9 out of 18 tested locations in the Republic of Serbia. The percentage of seropositive samples varies from 0.42% in Pozarevac (horses and humans) up to 6.45% in Novi Pazar (dogs). Out of the investigated species the highest seropositivity was recorded in horses (3.97%), and lowest in poultry (0.31%). WNV is present and widespread in the Republic of Serbia, thus enabling distribution mapping.Bolest koju izaziva virus Zapadnog Nila (WNV) je poznata još od 1937. kada je po prvi put opisana u Ugandi. Posle širenja virusa u Evropu i na Bliski istok, bolest je promenila prvobitnu lokaciju. Danas je WN infekcija značajan zdravstveni problem u svetu. Kao rezultat trenutne epizootiološko-epidemiološke situacije u Evropi, uvedena su istraživanja prisustva WNV i u Srbiji. Istraživanja prisustva antitela za WNV intenzivirana su u periodu od 2008. do 2012. godine. U ovom periodu ukupno je ispitano 3618 seruma sa 18 lokaliteta (2736 seruma životinja, od 8 različitih vrsta i 882 seruma ljudi). Korišćen je metod imunodifuzije u gelu a reprezentativni uzorak potvrđen je testom neutralizacije plaka (PRNT- 90). Od ukupnog broja uzoraka na prisustvo antitela za WNV bilo je pozitivno 3,97% konja, 0,93% pasa, 0,31% domaće živine i 1,36% ljudi. U serumu jednog konja pojavila se pozitivna reakcija sa pozitivnim kontrolnim serumom, ukazujući na prisustvo antigena WNV. Dobijeni rezultati su potvrdili da su antitela za WNV prisutna u 9 od 18 ispitivanih lokacija u Republici Srbiji. Procenat seropozitivnih varira od 0.42% u Požarevcu (konji i ljudi) do 6,45% u Novom Pazaru (psi). Od ispitivanih vrsta najveća seropozitivnost je registrovana kod konja (3,97%), a najniža kod živine (0,31%). Raspoloživi podaci ukazuju da je WNV prisutan i značajno raširen u Republici Srbiji, što je omogućilo i mapiranje njegovog širenja

Comparative phylogenetic analysis of Dobrava-Belgrade virus l and s genetic segments isolated from an animal reservoir in Serbia

The Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) is a member of the Bunyaviridae family, genus Hantavirus, possessing a single-stranded RNA genome consisting of three segments, designated L (large), M (medium) and S (small). In this study, we present phylogenetic analysis of a newly detected DOBV strain isolated from Apodemus agrarius. Analysis was based on partial L and S segment sequences, in comparison to previously published DOBV sequences from Serbia and elsewhere. A phylogenetic tree based on partial S segment revealed local geographical clustering of DOBV sequences from Serbia, unrelated to host (rodent or human). The topology of the phylogenetic tree was confirmed with a high percent of completely or partially resolved quartets in likelihood-mapping analysis, whereas no evidence of possible recombination in the examined S segment data set was found

Arbovirusi kod nas i u svetu

Arboviruses are the most numerous group of viruses with 534 registered members. With a few exceptions, most of arboviruses are RNA viruses. Mostly they have zoonotic characteristics and are transmissible by vectors- arthropods (ticks, mosquitoes, phlebothomines etc.) on human and animal population. Arboviruses induced epidemics and epizooties have massive occurrence with huge economic loses. Primarily, arboviruses are neurotropic viruses that cause damage on central nervous system with lethality rate 5-80%, and are considered to be very dangerous- biohazard. Beside vector transmission interhuman transmission can occur (Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ebola, Lasso, Marburg). According to their characteristics, some of arboviruses took place in the List of biological weapons used against humans, animals and even plants. Investigation of Arboviruses in the Republic of Serbia has been started in 1960s, resulting with isolation of 5 arboviruses - 4 were isolated from vectors samples and one from human material sample. Two of them under the name of Jug Bogdanovac and Dubrava/Belgrade took place in the International catalogue of viruses as a new isolated arboviruses. The formation of distribution map of Arboviruses in Serbia was started by isolations and seroepidemiological investigations as well as overview of their impact to human public and veterinary medicine health.Arbovirusi su najbrojnija grupa virusa sa više od 534 registrovana člana. Sa malim izuzetkom to su RNK virusi. Većina su zoonoznog karaktera, a na ljude i životinje prenose se posredstvom artropoda (krpelja, komaraca, flebotomina). Epidemije i epizootije koje izazivaju su masovne sa velikim ekonomskim gubicima u zdravstvu i ekonomiji zemlje. Primarno su neurotropni i izazivaju oštećenja centralnog nervnog sistema sa letalitetom od 5-80%. Neki su veoma opasni - biohazardni i pored vektorskog prenošenja prenose se i intrahumano (Krimska - Kongo HG, Ebola, Lassa, Marburg i druge). Zbog svojih osobina neki arbovirusi su i na listi biološkog oružja protiv ljudi, životinja, pa čak i bilja. Istraživanja arbovirusa u Srbiji započeta su 1960 godine, a rezultirala su izolacijom 5 arbovirusa i to 4 iz vektora (Krpelja, komaraca i flebotomina), od kojih je jedan kao nov pod imenom Jug Bogdanovac ušao u međunarodni katalog, i jedan iz humanog materijala koji je pod imenom Dobrava/Belgrade takođe registrovan u međunarodnom katalogu arbovirusa. Izolacijama virusa i seroepidemiološkim istraživanjima započeto je formiranje karte rasprostranjenosti arbovirusa u Srbiji i sagledavanje njihove uloge u zdravstvu i veterinarskoj medicine