Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks in Slovenia

Ticks act as vectors of many pathogens of domestic animals and humans. Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Europe is transmitted by the ixodid tick vector Ixodes ricinus. A. phagocytophilum causes a disease with diverse clinical signs in various hosts. A great genetic diversity of the groESL operon of A. phagocytophilum has been found in ticks elsewhere. In Slovenia, the variety of the groESL operon was conducted only on deer samples. In this study, the prevalence of infected ticks was estimated and the diversity of A. phagocytophilum was evaluated. On 8 locations in Slovenia, 1924 and 5049 (6973) I. ricinus ticks were collected from vegetation in the years 2005 and 2006, respectively. All three feeding stages of the tick's life cycle were examined. The prevalence of ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum in the year 2005 and in the year 2006 was 0.31% and 0.63%, respectively, and it did not differ considerably between locations. The similarity among the sequences of groESL ranged from 95.6% to 99.8%. They clustered in two genetic lineages along with A. phagocytophilum from Slovenian deer. One sequence formed a separate cluster. According to our study, the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in ticks is comparable to the findings in other studies in Europe, and it does not vary considerably between locations and tick stages. According to groESL operon analysis, two genetic lineages have been confirmed and one proposed. Further studies on other genes would be useful to obtain more information on genetic diversity of A. phagocytophilum in ticks in Slovenia

Identification and quantification of sources of variability in measurments of left ventricle strain with ultrasound method STE

$textbf{UVOD:}$ Miokarditis je redka bolezen srca, ki pogosteje prizadene mlajše odrasle. Slikovna preiskava deformacije miokarda s sledenjem ultrazvočnega vzorca (STE) se je zaradi večje dostopnosti uveljavila kot alternativna diagnostična metoda. S to metodo je moč zaznati spremembo globalnega krčenja levega ventrikla, lokacije in obsega poškodbe pa zaradi velike variabilnosti rezultatov ne moremo izmeriti. V raziskavi so nas zanimali vzroki negotovosti, ki vplivajo na kvantitativno vrednotenje ultrazvočnih slik. $textbf{METODE:}$ V krivuljah longitudinalne deformacije levega prekata 34 preiskovancev ob diagnozi miokarditsa in šest mescev kasneje, izmerjenih z metodo STE, smo določili točko največje deformacije $varepsilon_P$. Z analiziranjem povprečnih $varepsilon_P$ po sektorjih, projekcijah in rezinah ter izračunom gradienta $varepsilon_P$ od baze do apeksa (k) v vseh treh projekcijah smo analizirali vzroke negotovosti, ki vplivajo na kvantitativno vrednotenje ultrazvočnih slik, in sicer: tri merilne projekcije, odstopajoče meritve deformacije, način izračuna vrednosti $varepsilon_P$ in različne vrednosti $varepsilon_P$ med preiskovanci. Vplive smo ocenjevali s povprečjem in standardno deviacijo. $textbf{REZULTATI:}$ Povprečna vrednost $varepsilon_P$ v naši raziskavi je znašala –20.3 $$ 5.2 $$. V projekcijah je znašala povprečna vrednost $sigma_P$ 5.2 $$, k pa –2.15 $$2.68 $$statističnih razlik v variabilnosti med projekcijami nismo opazili (p>0.62 in p>0.27). Vpliv odstopajočih meritev na variabilnost je bil v območju pričakovanega. Z izračunom vrednosti $varepsilon_P$ iz več točk smo dobili povprečno vrednost $sigma_P$ 5.1 $$, k pa –2.04 $$ 2.66 $$, kar se statistično ni razlikovalo od vrednosti, ki smo jih določili iz ene točke (p>0.26). Interindividualna variabilnost bolnih in zdravih je bila za 30 $$ večja od intraindividualne variabilnosti pred in po zdravljenju. $textbf{ZAKLJUČEK:}$ Lokalne lastnosti odražajo znano mehaniko levega ventrikla. Največji del variabilnosti vrednosti $varepsilon_P$ in k izvira iz naravne variabilnosti deformacije med preiskovanci, saj z optimizacijo kvantitativne analize (izbor merilnih projekcij, odstranitev najbolj odstopajočih meritev in način izračuna vrednosti $varepsilon_P$) ne prispevamo pomembno k zmanjšanju variabilnosti.$textbf{INTRODUCTION:}$ Myocarditis a rare hearth disease, more common with young adults. As an alternative diagnostic method, speckle tracking echocardigraphy (STE) is used, which is more accessible as other established methods. Changes in global strain can be detected with this method, while location and extent of inflammation remain unknown due to big variability of measurements. In this paper, we researched the causes of variability influencing the quantitative evaluation of ultrasound measurements. $textbf{METHODS:}$ Longitudinal strain curves of the left ventricle were measured with STE in 34 patients upon the diagnosis and 6 months later, in which we detemined the point of maximum deformation $varepsilon_P$. With the analysis of average $varepsilon_P$ in sectors, projections and slices, and the calculation of its gradient from base to apex (k) we determined the effects on variability: three different projections, deviating measurements, method of calculation of $varepsilon_P$ and interpersonal differences. We assessed these effects by calculating mean and standard deviation. $textbf{RESULTS:}$ Average calculated $varepsilon_P$ was –20.3 $$ 5.2 $$. Average $sigma_P$ in projections was 5.2 $$, k –2.15 $$ 2.68 $$, with no statistical differences (p>0.62 and 0.27). The effect of the deviating measurements was in the expected range. When calculating $varepsilon_P$ from multiple points, the average $sigma_P$ was 5.1 $$, k –2.04 $$ 2.66 $$ in projections, with no statistical difference from previous values (p>0.26). Interindividual variability of healty individuals and patients was 30 $$ higher than intraindividual variability before and after tratment. $textbf{CONCLUSION:}$ Local properties reflect the known mechanics of the left ventricle. Most of the variability of $varepsilon_P$ stems from the natural interindividual variability of the deformation since the optimization of the quantitative analysis (selection of measurement projections, exclusion of deviating measurements, improvement of the calculation of $varepsilon_P$) does not contribute significantly to its reduction

Contextual factors of teachers\u27 support to student autonomy in basic and in secondary school

Ključni namen raziskave je bil preveriti nekatere dejavnike spodbujanja avtonomije učencev pri učiteljih v osnovni in srednji šoli: značilnosti delovnega mesta, vključenost učiteljev v priprave učencev na zunanje preverjanje znanja in dosežke šole na zunanjih preverjanjih znanja. Dodatno smo preverili še spol učitelja in stopnjo poučevanja kot dejavnika spodbujanja avtonomije učencev. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 260 učiteljev (78,8 % žensk), od tega 144 (55,4 %) osnovnošolskih in 116 (44,6 %) srednješolskih učiteljev. Ugotovili smo, da se zaznana avtonomija v delovnem okolju ne povezuje s spodbujanjem avtonomije učencev. Učitelji, ki učence pripravljajo na katero od oblik zunanjega preverjanja znanja, v manjši meri spodbujajo avtonomijo učencev, niso pa se pokazale razlike v spodbujanju avtonomije med učitelji glede na dosežke šole na zunanjem preverjanju znanja. Pokazalo se je tudi, da učiteljice bolj spodbujajo avtonomijo učencev kot učitelji.The main purpose of the present research was to examine some factors of teachers’ support to student autonomy in basic and secondary school: job characteristics, teachers’ involvement in preparing students for external assessment of knowledge, and school achievements in external assessment. Additionally, we examined teachers’ gender and educational level as factors of support to student autonomy. In the study 260 teachers (78.8% females) participated, among them 144 (55.4%) teachers in basic school and 116 (44.6%) teachers in secondary school. The results show that there is no relation between perceived autonomy at work and support to student autonomy. . Teachers that prepare their pupils for external assessment score lower on autonomy support. We found no differences in autonomy support with regard to school achievements in external evaluation. Female teachers exhibit a higher level of autonomy support

Canine babesiosis in Slovenia: Molecular evidence of Babesia canis canis and Babesia canis vogeli

Canine babesiosis, caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia spp., is a tick-borne disease of worldwide importance. No information on canine babesiosis has been documented in Slovenia. Therefore, 238 dogs admitted to the Small animal clinic in Ljubljana from the years 2000 to 2002 were tested for the presence of babesial parasites in the blood. Based on clinical, microscopic and molecular investigations, 14 dogs (5.9%) were determined as being infected with babesiae. Clinical signs relating to acute haemolysis, fever, anorexia, depression and haematological abnormalities such as anaemia and thrombocytopenia were noticed in most of the 14 infected dogs. The morphology of the parasites was indicative of Babesia canis infection. Two subspecies were detected, namely B. canis canis (11 dogs, 4.6%) and B. canis vogeli (3 dogs, 1.3%) using PCR and subsequent sequence analysis of portions of nns rRNA gene. In addition, based on nucleotide sequence analysis, the 11 isolates of B. c. canis could be subdivided into three groups, whereas the three B. c. vogeli isolates were genetically identical. The results of this study demonstrate the presence of canine babesiosis due to B. c. canis and B. c. vogeli in Slovenia

Case report: first symptomatic Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis infection in Slovenia

Abstract Background Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM) is an emerging tick-born pathogen and usually causes symptomatic infection only in immunocompromised patients. Apart from one described case found in the literature where cultivation was successful, all cases so far were diagnosed by using broad-range 16S rDNA PCR. Case presentation Our patient presented with a prolonged febrile state of unknown origin. Clinical presentation, extensive medical workup and classic microbiologic testing were non-conclusive. Several infectious agents and other causes for the febrile state were excluded. In the end, a broad-range 16S rDNA PCR was to be performed to confirm the diagnosis of CNM infection. Treatment was successful with doxycycline. Conclusions Due to the obscurity of the pathogen, diagnostic workup in CNM is prolonged and challenging. More awareness is need about this emerging infectious disease in countries with high prevalence of tick-borne diseases as standard microbiological methods are not successful in confirming the diagnosis

West Nile virus in Slovenia

West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes. Birds are the reservoir for the virushumans, horses and other mammals are dead-end hosts. Infections caused by WNV in humans can vary from asymptomatic infections to West Nile fever (WNF) or West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). In 1995, a serosurvey was performed in Slovenia on forest workers, and WNV specific IgG antibodies were confirmed in 6.8% of the screened samples, indicating that WNV is circulating in Slovenia. No human disease cases were detected in Slovenia until 2013, when the first case of WNV infection was confirmed in a retrospective study in a 79-year old man with meningitis. In 2018, three patients with WNND were confirmed by laboratory tests, with detection of IgM antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients. In one of the patients, WNV RNA was detected in the urine sample. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, a mosquito study was performed in Slovenia. Mosquitoes were sampled on 14 control locations and 35 additional locations in 2019. No WNV was detected in mosquitoes in 2017 and 2019, but we confirmed the virus in a pool of Culex sp. mosquitoes in 2018. The virus was successfully isolated, and complete genome sequence was acquired. The whole genome of the WNV was also sequenced from the patient\u27s urine sample. The whole genome sequences of the WNV virus detected in Slovenian patient and mosquito indicate the virus most likely spread from the north, because of the geographic proximity and because the sequences cluster with the Austrian and Hungarian sequences. A sentinel study was performed on dog sera samples, and we were able to confirm IgG antibodies in 1.8% and 4.3% of the samples in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Though Slovenia is not a highly endemic country for WNV, we have established that the virus circulates in Slovenia

First Report on <i>Leptospira</i> Species Isolated from Patients in Slovenia

Leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonosis, and it has also been reported in Slovenia. The cultivation of Leptospira from human material is difficult. Despite that, we successfully isolated 12 human Leptospira strains isolated from patients between 2002 and 2020 and used various methods for the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the strains, including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) using our own MALDI-TOF data library, melting temperature analysis of the amplified lfb1 gene, determination of Leptospira serogroups using rabbit immune sera, NotI-RFLP of the whole Leptospira genome, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of seven housekeeping genes, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based typing. We confirmed the presence of four pathogenic Leptospira species (L. kirschneri, L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, and L. santarosai) and three serogroups: Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Sejroe. MALDI-TOF identified three of seven isolates at the species level and four isolates at the genus level. Serovars of 8 of the 10 strains were determined using NotI-RFLP. MLST showed that the clinical isolates belonged to sequence types ST17, ST110, and ST155. WGS confirmed the analysis of Leptospira strains using conventional methods. In addition, WGS provided better taxonomic resolution for isolate DDA 10944/10