Living on the Edge: Border Countries Should Have Strict Veterinary and Health Policy on Leishmaniasis

First human and canine cases as well as presence of competent Phlebotomine fly vectors are reported for the first time in Slovenia. Number of infected dogs in Slovenia has been increasing in the last few years. Having increased number of infected dogs and a presence of proven Phlebotomine fly vectors at the same time in a climatically suitable region may lead to endemic spread of the disease. And that is the kind of situation calling for governmental regulation. Basic preparedness and rapid response mechanisms should be in place. Leishmaniasis cases should be detected early and reaction should be quick. In epidemic-prone areas and before the anticipated outbreak season, the responsibilities of the outbreak task force members should be defined; the necessary needs for response, surveillance, and control should be assessed; the surveillance system should be reinforced; criteria for epidemic alert should be set up; and all health facilities should be provided with minimum stocks of basic diagnostic and treatment supplies. Successful preventive measures should include regular veterinary checks of all imported dogs and dogs traveling outside the country, vector control, use of effective repellents, sleeping indoors with nets on the windows, and antileishmanial vaccination of dogs

Illegal waste sites as a potential micro foci of mediterranean leishmaniasis

Apart from being against the law, illegal waste dumping also poses a threat to human health and to the environment. Solid and decomposing waste is an ideal breeding ground for a number of rodents, insects, and other vermin that pose a health risk through the spread of infectious diseases. The main objective of this study was to survey disease vectors and rodents for the presence of Leishmania sp. from waste sites along the Istrian Peninsula in Slovenia and Croatia

Detection and genotyping of classical swine fever virus isolates in Serbia

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious disease of pigs leading to significant economic losses worldwide. Classical swine fever virus can be classified into three genogroups, each consisting of three or four subgroups. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the genotypes of CSFV isolates in Republic of Serbia. This study, based on the sequences analysis of partial E2 gene and 5' non coding region (NCR) of 15 CSFV isolated during 2006-2008 from domestic pigs, revealed that all were clustered into genetic group 2.3. Additionally, we showed that the two most often used real time RT-PCR assays were able to detect all local CSF viruses circulated in Serbia in the last years during intensive vaccination campaign against CSF. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31075 and TR 31088

Evidence of Aujeszky s disease in wild boar in Serbia

Background: Aujeszkys disease is a viral disease of suids caused by Suid Herpesvirus 1. The disease has worldwide distribution with significant economic impact. In Serbia, there is neither an Aujeszkys disease eradication nor national vaccination programme of domestic pigs. Since clinical symptoms of Aujeszkys disease are not specific, it is important to establish a link between clinical signs and presence of ADV active infection in wild boars. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of active infection within wild boar showing signs of ADV and also to examine relationship between isolates from domestic pigs and wild boar. Having in mind that virus has not been previously isolated from wild boars in Serbia, we report the first isolation of Suid Herpesvirus 1 from this species in Serbia. Results: Tissue and serum samples from 40 wild boars from eastern Serbia were examined for evidence of Aujeszkys disease (AD). Suid Herpesvirus 1 (SHV1), the cause of AD was isolated on PK15 cell line from three tissue samples, inducing cytopathic effect (CPE) with syncytia forming, and viral genome was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in eight samples. Genetic analysis of us4, us9 and ul49.5 partial sequences showed high homology between ADV isolates from wild boars and between isolates from wild boars and domestic animals. Neutralizing antibodies were not detected by virus neutralisation test (VNT) in sera from four out of eight PCR positive wild boars suggesting recent infection in those animals. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration of Aujeszkys disease virus (ADV) in the wild boar population in Serbia although seroconversion has been detected previously

Detekcija i genotipizacija izolata virusa klasične kuge svinja u Srbiji

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious disease of pigs leading to significant economic losses worldwide. Classical swine fever virus can be classified into three genogroups, each consisting of three or four subgroups. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the genotypes of CSFV isolates in Republic of Serbia. This study, based on the sequences analysis of partial E2 gene and 5' non coding region (NCR) of 15 CSFV isolated during 2006-2008 from domestic pigs, revealed that all were clustered into genetic group 2.3. Additionally, we showed that the two most often used real time RT-PCR assays were able to detect all local CSF viruses circulated in Serbia in the last years during intensive vaccination campaign against CSF.Klasična kuga svinja (CSF) je visoko kontagiozno oboljenje svinja koje dovodi do značajnih ekonomskih gubitaka širom sveta. Na osnovu genetske strukture, virus klasicne kuge svinja podeljen je utri genogrupe, od kojih svaka ima tri ili četiri podgrupe. Nedostaju podaci o tome koji genotipovi virusa klasične kuge svinja na teritoriji Republike Srbije cirkulišu u prijemčivoj populaciji. Sekvencioniranjem dela E2 gena i 5’nekodirajućeg regiona (NCR) 15 izolata virusa klasične kuge svinja prikupljenih u periodu od 2006-2008 godine, poreklom od domaćih svinja, dokazano je da svi pripadaju genetskoj grupi 2.3. Uz to, dokazano je i da je upotrebom dva najčešće korišćena real time RT-PCR protokola moguće detektovati sve lokalne izolate virusa klasične kuge svinja koji cirkulišu u Srbiji poslednjih godina, u kojoj se uporedo vršila i intenzivna vakcinacija protiv ove bolesti

Evidence for host genetic regulation of altered lipid metabolism in experimental toxoplasmosis supported with gene data mining results

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful parasites on Earth, infecting a wide array of mammals including one third of the global human population. The obligate intracellular protozoon is not capable of synthesizing cholesterol (Chl), and thus depends on uptake of host Chl for its own development. To explore the genetic regulation of previously observed lipid metabolism alterations during acute murine T. gondii infection, we here assessed total Chl and its fractions in serum and selected tissues at the pathophysiological and molecular level, and integrated the observed gene expression of selected molecules relevant for Chl metabolism, including its biosynthetic and export KEGG pathways, with the results of published transcriptomes obtained in similar murine models of T. gondii infection. The serum lipid status as well as the transcript levels of relevant genes in the brain and the liver were assessed in experimental models of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in wild-type mice. The results showed that acute infection was associated with a decrease in Chl content in both the liver and periphery (brain, peripheral lymphocytes), and a decrease in Chl reverse transport. In contrast, in chronic infection, a return to normal levels of Chl metabolism has been noted. These changes corresponded to the brain and liver gene expression results as well as to data obtained via mining. We propose that the observed changes in Chl metabolism are part of the host defense response. Further insight into the lipid metabolism in T. gondii infection may provide novel targets for therapeutic agents

Comparative evaluation of three commercial Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibody avidity tests and significance in different clinical settings

Determination of the avidity of specific IgG antibodies has become a generally accepted diagnostic aid for dating Toxoplasma infection. In this study, the Labsystems, VIDAS and EUROIMMUN Toxoplasma IgG avidity assays were compared on a series of 133 Toxoplasma IgG- and IgM-positive sera from symptomatic patients (n=28), from pregnant (n=43) and nonpregnant (n=26) women, and on 18 IgG-positive and IgM-negative sera from chronically infected patients. The results showed excellent concordance between the Labsystems and VIDAS tests in both the IgM-positive (r=0.82, kappa=0.771) and IgM-negative (kappa=0.609) sera, whilst the agreement of the EUROIMMUN assay with both the Labsystems and VIDAS tests in the IgM-positive sera was moderate (kappa=0.575 and kappa=0.525, respectively) and in the IgM-negative sera was poor (kappa=0.000). Analysis of the kinetics of the maturation of avidity in 13 patients in whom follow-up sera were available showed that, despite a general trend of maturation, in two patients the avidity did not become high during 6 and 11 months of follow-up. In view of the clinical setting, in the symptomatic patients, despite one case of complete discrepancy and five cases of partial discrepancy, the Labsystems and VIDAS tests were in almost perfect agreement (kappa=0.812), whilst the agreement in pregnant and non-pregnant women was substantial (kappa=0.754 and kappa=0.708, respectively). In conclusion, the Labsystems and VIDAS tests are equally reliable for the measurement of Toxoplasma IgG avidity; the choice of test should depend on the laboratory setup. The EUROIMMUN test may be an acceptable alternative in resource-limited settings, but should be used prudently