Serološka i entomološka istraživanja lišmanioze u pasa u Hrvatskoj.

In Croatia, canine leishmaniosis has been recognized in the southern littoral area (Dalmatia) as a reemerging disease since 1997. This paper reports the fi ndings of a survey carried out 2.5 years after the suspension of control measures for canine leishmaniosis. Entomological and cross-sectional serological surveys were carried out in the Kaštela municipality in the Split-Dalmatia County (where stable foci of canine leishmaniosis were reported previously), and in a few localities from the Šibenik-Knin county where a few unstable foci were previously reported. Serological surveys detected a focus with 31% seropositive dogs in Rudine (the known enzootic area); a tendency for a new stable focus appearance in the Šibenik-Knin County (Rogoznica), with cumulative seropositivity of 13.5% in both areas. Entomological studies evidenced two competent Leishmania vectors, Phlebotomus neglectus and P. tobbi; the fi rst was prevalent (75.9%) being also the species much more associated to habitats where dogs are present. Moreover, prevalence for P. neglectus females feeding on human blood reached 30%.Na jugu hrvatskoga priobalja (Dalmacija) lišmanioza pasa u ponovnom je porastu od 1997. godine. U ovom radu izneseni su rezultati istraživanja provedenih 2,5 godine nakon ukidanja obveznih mjera suzbijanja lišmanioze pasa. Serološko i entomološko istraživanje provedeno je na području općine Kaštela u Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji (područje s poznatim stalnim žarištima pasje lišmanioze) i na nekoliko lokacija Šibensko-kninske županije gdje je zabilježeno samo povremeno javljanje lišmanioze. Serološkim je istraživanjima otkriveno žarište s 31% serološki pozitivnih pasa u Rudinama (enzootsko područje) s tendencijom nastanka novoga stalnog žarišta u Šibensko-kninskoj županiji (Rogoznica), a ukupno je bilo 13,5% serološki pozitivnih pasa. Entomološkim istraživanjima dokazana je prisutnost dviju vrsta prijenosnika koji podržavaju razvoj roda Leishmania, Phlebotomus neglectus i P. tobbi; prvi je mnogo zastupljeniji (75,9%) i češće prisutan tamo gdje ima pasa, a čak 30% pretraženih ženki P. neglectus hranilo se na ljudima

Zdravstveno stanje jelena i srna u Gorskom kotaru u Hrvatskoj.

To determine the general health status of the main prey species of wolf (Canis lupus) and lynx (Lynx lynx), we examined 66 cervids (41 red deer - Cervus elaphus and 25 roe deer - Capreolus capreolus), shot in two hunting areas of Gorski kotar during the hunting season in 2007. We collected a total of 687 organ samples of shot deer, where 472 samples belonged to red deer and 215 samples to roe deer. Analyses were performed for various parasite invasions, non specific bacterial infections and for three specific bacteria. In five (12.2%) samples of red deer and seven (17.1%) roe deer, we determined the presence of Streptococcus sp. Specific tests for Mycobacterium sp., Brucella sp. and Leptospira sp. were all negative. The prevalence of Dictyocaulus spp., Ostertagia spp. and Elaphostrongylus cervi in red deer was 29.3%, 17.1% and 14.6%, respectively. The prevalence of Chabertia ovina, Ostertagia spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. in roe deer was 36.0%, 24.0% and 20.0%, respectively. The estimated number of red deer and roe deer in the hunting areas Smrekova Draga (182 km2) and Bjelolasica (303 km2) in the management year 2007-2008 were 430 and 290 respectively, with densities of 236 and 148 individuals per 100 km2. The low prevalence of parasite invasions and the absence of serious bacterial infections were the consequences of low ungulate densities, and the presence of large carnivores - predators that quickly eliminate animals weakened by disease.Za određivanje općega zdravstvenoga stanja glavnih vrsta plijena vuka (Canis lupus) i risa (Lynx lynx), pretraženo je 66 cervida (41 jelen - Cervus elaphus i 25 srna - Capreolus capreolus), odstrijeljenih u dva lovišta na području Gorskoga kotara tijekom lovne sezone u 2007. godini. Sakupljeno je ukupno 687 uzoraka organa, od čega je 427 bilo od jelena, a 215 od srna. Provedene su pretrage na razne parazitske invazije, nespecifične bakterijske infekcije, te za tri specifične bakterijske infekcije. U pet (12,2%) uzoraka jelena i sedam (17,1%) srna bio je prisutan Streptococcus sp. Testovi na Mycobacterium sp., Brucella sp. i Leptospira sp. bili su negativni. Zastupljenost parazita Dictyocaulus spp., Ostertagia spp. i Elaphostrongylus cervi u jelena bila je 29,3%, 17,1%, odnosno 14,6%. Zastupljenost parazita Chabertia ovina, Ostertagia spp. i Trichostrongylus spp. u srna bila je 36,0%, 24,0% odnosno 20,0%. Procijenjeni broj jelena i srna u lovištima Smrekova Draga (182 km2) i Bjelolasica (303 km2) u lovnoj godini 2007./2008. bio je 430 odnosno 290, s gustoćama od 236 i 148 jedinki na 100 km2. Niska zastupljenost parazitarnih invazija i odsutnost ozbiljnijih bakterijskih zaraza, bile su posljedica niske gustoće parnoprstaša i prisutnosti velikih zvijeri - grabežljivaca koji hitro uklanjaju životinje oslabljene bolešću

Mood disorders in later life and challenges of care in general/family medicine

Poremećaji raspoloženja se tradicionalno smatraju problemom adolescentne i mlađe odrasle dobi. Novije spoznaje stavljaju naglasak na poremećaje raspoloženja u starijoj životnoj dobi zbog njihovog devastirajućeg učinka na zdravlje i funkcionalnu sposobnost starijih osoba. Ipak, te poremećaje, uključujući i one najčešće, kao što je generalizirani anksiozni poremećaj i depresija velikih depresivnih epizoda, obiteljski doktori često ne prepoznaju. Glavni razlozi su česti komorbiditet sa somatskim stanjima i kognitivnim poremećajima te shvaćanje pacijenata da su mentalni poremećaji normalan dio procesa starenja. Probir osoba starih 60 i više godina na anksiozne poremećaje i depresiju pomoću standardiziranih upitnika, prilagođenih za primjenu u starijoj populaciji, mogao bi biti koristan za poboljšanje prepoznavanja tih poremećaja. Postavljanje konačne dijagnoze bi se trebalo temeljiti na primjeni dijagnostičkih kriterija koje preporučuju najnovije DSM i ICD klasifikacije te detaljnom postupku kliničke evaluacije, a na osnovi intervjua s pacijentom ili njegovim skrbnikom. Iako se obiteljskim doktorima nalaze na raspolaganju djelotvorni lijekovi za liječenje poremećaja raspoloženja, njihova primjena u osoba starije dobi može biti ograničena zbog povećanog rizika od interakcija među lijekovima i neželjenih reakcija na lijekove. Psihosocijalne intervencije su od posebnog značaja u toj populacijskoj skupini, ali nema dovoljno dokaza o tome koji postupak kome primijeniti. Način kako poboljšati skrb za osobe starije dobi s poremećajima raspoloženja u općoj/obiteljskoj medicini bi bio putem intenziviranja istraživanja, s ciljem stjecanja boljih dokaza, te putem davanja veće pozornosti praktičnoj edukaciji obiteljskih doktora iz područja psihijatrije, kao i putem strategija usmjerenih na povećanje svjesnosti javnosti o poremećajima raspoloženja u starijoj životnoj dobi i načinu njihove prezentacije.Mood disorders have been traditionally considered a problem of adolescenthood and early adulthood. Recent findings are pointing to mood disorders in later life due to their devastating effects on health and functional capabilities of older adults. However, those disorders, including those most common such as generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, are frequently unrecognised by family doctors. Main reasons for that are frequent comorbidities with medical conditions and cognitive disorders and patients’ treating mental disorders as normal aspects of aging. Screening 60 years old patients and older for anxiety and depression by standardised questionnaires, adapted for the use in older population, could be helpful in improving recognition rates. Definite diagnosis should combine the latest update of the DSM or the ICD classification criteria and a thorough clinical evaluation based on responses drown from a patient or a caregiver. Although effective medications for mood disorders are available to family doctors, their application in older adults may be compromised by the increased risk of medication interaction and adverse reaction. Psychosocial interventions are particularly important in this population group but evidence is insufficient regarding who should receive which treatment. The way of improving management of mood disorders in older adults, in family medicine, would be by intensifying research, in order to gain more evidence. More attention should be given to formal psychiatric training of family doctors, as well as to the strategies aimed at increasing the public awareness of mood disorders in later life and their modes of presentation

PREVALENCE COCCIDIA OF THE GENUS EIMERIA IN CATTLE IN CROATIA

Proširenost oocista kokcidija iz roda Eimeria istražena je na 641 uzorku fecesa goveda. U istraživanje su uključene krave s 8 mliječnih i 6 farmi tovne junadi s različitih područja Hrvatske. Oociste kokcidija iz roda Eimeria uzvrđene su u 14,19% životinja. Dominantne eimerie su E. bovis i E. zurnii. U manjem broju zastupljene su slabije patogene kokcidije. Eimeria bovis utvrđena je u 12,01% a E. zurnii u 4,36 % uzoraka fecesa. Eimeria bovis prisutna je u 13 (92,85%) od 14 objekata, a E. zurnii u 8 (57,14%) od 14 objekata. Najveći broj životinja invadiran je s jednom vrstom, a najmanji broj životinja s tri vrste eimeria. Utvrđeno je da u 550 (85,80%) (n= 641) pretražene životinje nisu utvrđene oociste kokcidija. Oociste kokcidija iz roda Eimeria jače su proširene na farmama tovne junadi nego na farmama mliječnih krava. Češća je pojava E. bovis u odnosu na E. zurnii, kako u mliječnih krava tako i u tovljenih goveda. Jače su invadirana telad do godinu dana u odnosu na životinje iznad godinu dana.Oocysts prevalence of Eimeria coccidia was investigated on 641 faecal samples of cattle. The study involved cows from 8 dairy farms and 6 beef cattle farms from different Croatian region. Eimeria oocysts were determined in 14.19% of the animals. Dominant Eimeria were E. bovis and E. zurnii. In a small percentage were represented less pathogenic coccidia. E. bovis was found in 12.01% and E. zurnii in 4.36% feces samples. E bovis is present in 13 (92.85%) of 14 objects, and E. zurnii in 8 (57.14%) of 14 objects. The largest number of animals was infested with one species, the smallest number of animals with three species of Eimeria. It was found that 550 examined animals (85.80%) (n = 641) showed no coccidia oocysts. Eimeria coccidia oocysts have been expanded more on beef cattle farms than on dairy farms. The frequent occurrence of E. bovis in relation to E. zurnii, both in dairy cows as well as in fattening cattle. Calves up to one year are stronger infested in comparison with animals over a year

First detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in Croatia

Echinococcus multilocularis has been spreading through Europe but has not yet been reported in Croatia. We report the results of a surveillance programme to detect E. multilocularis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in different parts of Croatia. PCR-based screening of faecal samples from 238 red foxes in 2015 and 150 in 2016 indicate prevalences of 7.5% in 2015 and 6.6% in 2016 (overall 7.2%, CI 4.9 to 10.3). Positive samples were confirmed by sequencing parts of the nad1 gene and the gene encoding mitochondrial 12S rRNA. Geographic locations of all examined and positive cases were mapped to provide data on the distribution of E. multilocularis. Our results provide the first detection of E. multilocularis in Croatia and extend the southern boundary of this parasite's endemic area