Rickettsia helvetica in Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks

We report on the molecular evidence that Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Croatia are infected with Rickettsia helvetica (10%) or Rickettsia slovaca (2%) or co-infected with both species (1%). These findings expand the knowledge of the geographic distribution of R. helvetica and D. reticulatus ticks

Spotted fever group rickettsiae and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seropositive individuals with or without Lyme disease: A retrospective analysis

Background: The Ixodes ricinus tick is the main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi and tick-borne encephalitis virus in Switzerland. Spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFG) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum have been detected in Swiss ticks, however, information about the extent and clinical presentation of these infections in humans is scant. Methods: Indirect fluorescent antibody tests for SFG rickettsiae and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were performed on serum samples of 121 Borrelia burgdorferi seropositive patients with and without Lyme disease and 43 negative controls. Results: Out of 121 Borrelia burgdorferi seropositive individuals, 65 (53.7%) were seropositive for IgG and 15 (12.4%) for IgM antibodies to SFG rickettsiae. IgM antibodies were detected more frequently in early-than in late-stage of Lyme disease (12 out of 51 and 2 out of 49; respectively; p ​= ​0.0078). Significantly higher IgG antibody titers against SFG rickettsiae were found in patients with late-stage compared to patients with early-stage Lyme disease (mean titer 1:261 and 1:129, respectively; p ​= ​0.038). This difference was even more pronounced in patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans compared to patients with early stage of Lyme disease (mean titer 1:337 and 1:129, respectively; p ​= ​0.009).In patients presenting with fatigue, headache and myalgia, the prevalence of IgG antibodies against SFG rickettsiae was significantly higher (7 out of 11; 63.6%) than in Borrelia burgdorferi seropositive individuals without clinical illness (1 out of 10; 10%; p ​= ​0.024). IgG antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected in 12 out of 121 individuals (9.9%), no IgM antibodies were found. Conclusion: Infections with SFG rickettsiae and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are underdiagnosed and should be ruled out after a tick bite. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible causative role of SFG rickettsiae for myalgia, headache and long-lasting fatigue after a tick bite and to determine the necessity for an antibiotic treatment

Evaluation of a new Epstein-Barr virus Combi test for rapid serologic diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis

We evaluated the EBV Combi Test (Virion) in serum samples from 574 children with a clinical presentation suggestive of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and compared its performance with several other EBV serological tests. Out of 574 sera 66 gave an acute LM pattern, 406 gave a past infection pattern and 102 were found negative in the EBV Combi Test. Positive VCA IgM and VCA IgG IFA results, in the absence of EBNA antibodies, were found in 62 cases in which the EBV Combi Test gave an acute IM pattern. In addition, 4 to the 574 tested sera gave an acute positive result in the EBV Combi Test (two of them were VCA IgM positive and the other two VCA IgM negative but also EBNA negative). None of these four sera were CMV IgM or Toxoplasma gondii IgM positive. The heterophile antibody test was positive in only 28, and VCA IgM EIA positive in 44 of the 62 IM cases. These data confirm the necessity for an EBV serological diagnosis in children where the clinical diagnosis of EBV infectious mononucleosis must be confirmed or ruled out.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe