Pediculosis capitis: Treatment options among schoolchildren in Greece

Background: Pediculosis capitis remains a significant health problem worldwide. Purpose: It was to record the preferred treatment options against pediculosis capitis in school-age children in Greece. Method and Material: A randomly selected, stratified sample of schools from all over Greece was used. A questionnaire with closed and open-type questions was used. Five thousand, eighty four questionnaires were distributed and 2792 returned. Descriptive statistics was conducted. Results: Median age of the children was 8 (3-13) years. 88,6% of the parents answered the would not visit a dermatologist in the case of pediculosis. Insecticides were the treatment of choice in most cases (80 %), while louse comb as a single treatment was preferred by 1 % of the parents. Conclusion: Drugs remain the main treatment choice in Greece. Dermatologists infrequently treat patients with pediculosis capitis

Immunoglobulin G4-related Disease: Presentation of the First Case with Isolated Pterygopalatine Fossa Involvement

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease is an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory disease with single or multiple organ involvement. Clinically it mimics several benign and malignant tumors, as well as infectious, and inflammatory disorders. It typically presents as multiple tumor-forming lesions. Histological and immunohistochemical findings are characteristic. Serum immunoglobulin G4 levels are usually increased. Systemic corticosteroid administration is the treatment of choice with good response, especially in early disease stages. We present the first case of immunoglobulin G4-related disease presenting as an isolated tumor forming lesion of the left pterygopalatine fossa. Imaging studies indicated a benign process. Histological findings were consistent with IgG4-related disease. The patient showed a good response to systemic corticosteroid treatment and remains free of symptoms 18 months following diagnosis

Influenza virus genotypes circulating in central greece during 2012-2014 and vaccine strain match

During the period 2012-2014 in central Greece, influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B virus genotypes were detected and isolated from individuals with influenza illness. Influenza A(H1N1) and A (H3N2) viruses were the dominant virus type in circulation as it was detected in 9% and 12% of pharyngeal swabs examined by real-time RT-PCR during both seasons, respectively, while type B viruses were detected in only 3% of the samples examined. Influenza activity in central Greece, as was determined by number of reported influenza cases and influenza positive samples detected, was markedly increased in the 2013-14, as compared to the 2012-13 season. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were detected during the 2013-14 season along with A (H3N2) and type B viruses. All type A(H1N1), A (H3N2) and type B influenza isolates analyzed by cell culture reacted to a high titer (> 640) against antisera to vaccine-like viruses of the same period, indicating satisfactory influenza vaccine protection against circulating seasonal and pandemic influenza viral strains. © 2015, Internet Scientific Publications, LLC. All rights reserved

Dissemination of intestinal pathogens between lambs and puppies in sheep farms

Objectives of the present work were (i) to confirm pathogens implicated in cases of diarrhoea in newborn and young lambs in sheep farms in Greece and (ii) to investigate a possible relation in dissemination of pathogens between lambs and dogs present in the farm. Work was carried out in 22 sheep farms, with (i) flock size over 150 animals, (ii) presence of clinical signs of diarrhoea in lambs in the flock and (iii) close and continuous contact and movement of shepherd dogs within the animal shed of each farm. Faecal sample collection from lambs was performed within 48 h of onset of clinical signs and prior to administration of any antimicrobial or antiparasitic medication to lambs. Faecal samples were also collected from puppies in the farm. In total, samples were collected from 126 lambs and 58 puppies. Samples were processed by using established techniques for isolation of bacteria, detection of viruses and observation of protozoan oocycts. Escherichia coli isolates obtained during the study, were tested for antimicrobial resistance against a variety of antimicrobial agents. In total, 236 bacterial isolates were recovered from faecal samples of lambs and 165 isolates from faecal samples of puppies. E. coli was the most frequently isolated microorganism: 104 isolates from lambs and 109 isolates from puppies were recovered. Other bacteria isolated were Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., (lambs and puppies), Clostridium perfringens, Citrobacter freundi, Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae (only lambs) and Streptococcus spp. (only puppies). Group A Rotavirus was detected in samples from lambs (2.5%) and Parvovirus in samples from puppies (5%). Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were observed in samples from lambs and puppies. This is the first report of isolation of S. enterica subsp. diarizonae and of detection of Rotavirus from lambs in Greece. Rates of E. coli isolates from puppies resistant to antimicrobial agents were, in general, smaller than respective rates in isolates from lambs. Two pairs of isolates from the same farm (one from a lamb and one from a puppy) with identical patterns of resistance to antimicrobial agents were detected, which provides some evidence in support of a hypothesis that members of each pair might possibly have been spread from one animal species to the other. © 2016 Elsevier B.V