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Kapo N, Zuber Bogdanović I, Gagović E, Žekić M, Veinović G, Sukara R, Mihaljica D, Adžić B, Kadriaj P, Cvetkovikj A, Djadjovski I, Potkonjak A, Velo E, Savić S, Tomanović S, Omeragić J, Beck R, Hodžić A. Ixodid ticks and zoonotic tick-borne pathogens of the Western Balkans. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:45. [PMID: 38297327 PMCID: PMC10832161 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06116-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodid ticks are distributed across all countries of the Western Balkans, with a high diversity of species. Many of these species serve as vectors of pathogens of veterinary and medical importance. Given the scattered data from Western Balkan countries, we have conducted a comprehensive review of available literature, including some historical data, with the aim to compile information about all recorded tick species and associated zoonotic pathogens in this region. Based on the collected data, the tick fauna of the Western Balkans encompasses 32 tick species belonging to five genera: Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma. A range of pathogens responsible for human diseases has also been documented, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. In this review, we emphasize the necessity for integrated surveillance and reporting, urging authorities to foster research by providing financial support. Additionally, international and interdisciplinary collaborations should be encouraged that include the exchange of expertise, experiences and resources. The present collaborative effort can effectively address gaps in our knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naida Kapo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | - Ema Gagović
- Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Laboratory for Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Žekić
- Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Gorana Veinović
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ratko Sukara
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Mihaljica
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Bojan Adžić
- Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Përparim Kadriaj
- Vector Control Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Aleksandar Cvetkovikj
- Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Igor Djadjovski
- Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Aleksandar Potkonjak
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Enkelejda Velo
- Vector Control Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Sara Savić
- Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Snežana Tomanović
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jasmin Omeragić
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Relja Beck
- Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Laboratory for Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Adnan Hodžić
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CMESS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Susnjar J, Cerar Kisek T, Strasek Smrdel K, Ruzic-Sabljic E, Adam K, Ivovic V. Detection, identification and genotyping of Borrelia spp. in ticks of Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola regions in Slovenia. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2023; 70. [PMID: 37042198 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The density and spread of tick vector species have increased throughout Europe in the last 30 years, leading to an increase of Lyme borreliosis cases, including in Slovenia. The aim of this study was to isolate Borrelia strains and determine the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and B. miyamotoi in adults of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) collected in 2019 in the two regions of the country (Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola) by cultivation and PCR. We isolated B. burgdorferi s.l. by culture method in 28/559 (5%) ticks from both regions. Culture-negative samples (531/559, i.e., 95%) were additionally tested by real-time PCR. In 155/531 (29.2%) PCR-positive samples, a fragment of flaB or glpQ was amplified and further sequenced to identify species of the Borrelia. Using both methods, cultivation and PCR, Borrelia spp. prevalence was 32.7% in the Coastal-Karst region and 33.0% in the Littoral-Inner Carniola region. Genotyping of the Borrelia spp. isolates revealed that 17/28 (60%) were B. garinii subtype Mlg2. Of all tick samples tested for B. miyamotoi 8/398 (2%) were PCR positive. Based on previous studies in these regions, we had expected more ticks to be infected with B. afzelii, but genotyping revealed that B. garinii was the most abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Susnjar
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Tjasa Cerar Kisek
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Strasek Smrdel
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Ruzic-Sabljic
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Adam
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Vladimir Ivovic
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
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3
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Margos G, Pantchev N, Globokar M, Lopez J, Rodon J, Hernandez L, Herold H, Salas N, Civit A, Fingerle V. First Cases of Natural Infections with Borrelia hispanica in Two Dogs and a Cat from Europe. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8081251. [PMID: 32824647 PMCID: PMC7464417 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine cases of relapsing fever (RF) borreliosis have been described in Israel and the USA, where two RF species, Borrelia turicatae and Borrelia hermsii, can cause similar clinical signs to the Borrelia persica in dogs and cats reported from Israel, including fever, lethargy, anorexia, thrombocytopenia, and spirochetemia. In this report, we describe the first clinical cases of two dogs and a cat from Spain (Cordoba, Valencia, and Seville) caused by the RF species Borrelia hispanica. Spirochetes were present in the blood smears of all three animals, and clinical signs included lethargy, pale mucosa, anorexia, cachexia, or mild abdominal respiration. Laboratory findings, like thrombocytopenia in both dogs, may have been caused by co-infecting pathogens (i.e., Babesia vogeli, confirmed in one dog). Anemia was noticed in one of the dogs and in the cat. Borrelia hispanica was confirmed as an infecting agent by molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA locus. Molecular analysis of housekeeping genes and phylogenetic analyses, as well as successful in vitro culture of the feline isolate confirmed the causative agent as B. hispanica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- IDEXX Laboratories, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany; (N.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Majda Globokar
- IDEXX Laboratories, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany; (N.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Javier Lopez
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Jaume Rodon
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Leticia Hernandez
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Heike Herold
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
| | - Noelia Salas
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Anna Civit
- IDEXX Laboratories, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.); (J.R.); (L.H.); (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
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4
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Norte AC, Margos G, Becker NS, Albino Ramos J, Núncio MS, Fingerle V, Araújo PM, Adamík P, Alivizatos H, Barba E, Barrientos R, Cauchard L, Csörgő T, Diakou A, Dingemanse NJ, Doligez B, Dubiec A, Eeva T, Flaisz B, Grim T, Hau M, Heylen D, Hornok S, Kazantzidis S, Kováts D, Krause F, Literak I, Mänd R, Mentesana L, Morinay J, Mutanen M, Neto JM, Nováková M, Sanz JJ, Pascoal da Silva L, Sprong H, Tirri IS, Török J, Trilar T, Tyller Z, Visser ME, Lopes de Carvalho I. Host dispersal shapes the population structure of a tick-borne bacterial pathogen. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:485-501. [PMID: 31846173 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Birds are hosts for several zoonotic pathogens. Because of their high mobility, especially of longdistance migrants, birds can disperse these pathogens, affecting their distribution and phylogeography. We focused on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which includes the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, as an example for tick-borne pathogens, to address the role of birds as propagation hosts of zoonotic agents at a large geographical scale. We collected ticks from passerine birds in 11 European countries. B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence in Ixodes spp. was 37% and increased with latitude. The fieldfare Turdus pilaris and the blackbird T. merula carried ticks with the highest Borrelia prevalence (92 and 58%, respectively), whereas robin Erithacus rubecula ticks were the least infected (3.8%). Borrelia garinii was the most prevalent genospecies (61%), followed by B. valaisiana (24%), B. afzelii (9%), B. turdi (5%) and B. lusitaniae (0.5%). A novel Borrelia genospecies "Candidatus Borrelia aligera" was also detected. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of B. garinii isolates together with the global collection of B. garinii genotypes obtained from the Borrelia MLST public database revealed that: (a) there was little overlap among genotypes from different continents, (b) there was no geographical structuring within Europe, and (c) there was no evident association pattern detectable among B. garinii genotypes from ticks feeding on birds, questing ticks or human isolates. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that the population structure and evolutionary biology of tick-borne pathogens are shaped by their host associations and the movement patterns of these hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Norte
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia (NRZ), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Noémie S Becker
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jaime Albino Ramos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia (NRZ), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Pedro Miguel Araújo
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Peter Adamík
- Department of Zoology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Emilio Barba
- Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Barrientos
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laure Cauchard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Tibor Csörgő
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary.,Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Blandine Doligez
- CNRS - Department of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology (LBBE) - University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Anna Dubiec
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Tapio Eeva
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Barbara Flaisz
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tomas Grim
- Department of Zoology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Hau
- Evolutionary Physiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Dieter Heylen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Savas Kazantzidis
- Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization "DEMETER", Thesaloniki, Greece
| | - David Kováts
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary.,Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Ivan Literak
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Raivo Mänd
- Department of Zoology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lucia Mentesana
- Evolutionary Physiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Morinay
- CNRS - Department of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology (LBBE) - University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marko Mutanen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Júlio Manuel Neto
- Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Markéta Nováková
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Juan José Sanz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luís Pascoal da Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ina-Sabrina Tirri
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tomi Trilar
- Slovenian Museum of Natural History, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Zdeněk Tyller
- Department of Zoology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Museum of the Moravian Wallachia Region, Vsetín, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
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5
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Ackermann N, Marosevic D, Hörmansdorfer S, Eberle U, Rieder G, Treis B, Berger A, Bischoff H, Bengs K, Konrad R, Hautmann W, Schönberger K, Belting A, Schlenk G, Margos G, Hoch M, Pürner F, Fingerle V, Liebl B, Sing A. Screening for infectious diseases among newly arrived asylum seekers, Bavaria, Germany, 2015. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [PMID: 29536830 PMCID: PMC5850590 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.10.17-00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background and aimAs a consequence of socioeconomic and political crises in many parts of the world, many European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries have faced an increasing number of migrants. In the German federal state of Bavaria, a mandatory health screening approach is implemented, where individuals applying for asylum have to undergo a medical examination that includes serological testing for HIV and hepatitis B, screening for tuberculosis, and until September 2015, stool examination for Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp.. Methods: Data from mandatory screening of all first-time asylum seekers in Bavaria in 2015 was extracted from the mandatory notification and laboratory information system and evaluated. Results: The HIV positivity and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity rate of tested samples from asylum seekers were 0.3% and 3.3%, respectively, while detection rate of active tuberculosis was between 0.22% and 0.38%. The rates for HIV, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis among asylum seekers were similar to the corresponding prevalence rates in most of their respective countries of birth. Only 47 Salmonella spp. (0.1%) were isolated from stool samples: 45 enteric and two typhoid serovars. Beyond mandatory screening, louse-borne relapsing fever was found in 40 individuals. Conclusions: These results show that mandatory screening during 2015 in Bavaria yielded overall low positivity rates for all tested infectious diseases in asylum seekers. A focus of mandatory screening on specific diseases in asylum seekers originating from countries with higher prevalence of those diseases could facilitate early diagnosis and provision of treatment to affected individuals while saving resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Ackermann
- These authors contributed equally to the paper.,LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Durdica Marosevic
- European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden.,These authors contributed equally to the paper.,LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Hörmansdorfer
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Ute Eberle
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Rieder
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Bianca Treis
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Anja Berger
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Heribert Bischoff
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Katja Bengs
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Regina Konrad
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hautmann
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Katharina Schönberger
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Anne Belting
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Gisela Schlenk
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Martin Hoch
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Friedrich Pürner
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Bernhard Liebl
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Sing
- LGL Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit Oberschleißheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany
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6
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Hoch M, Wieser A, Löscher T, Margos G, Pürner F, Zühl J, Seilmaier M, Balzer L, Guggemos W, Rack-Hoch A, von Both U, Hauptvogel K, Schönberger K, Hautmann W, Sing A, Fingerle V. Louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis) diagnosed in 15 refugees from northeast Africa: epidemiology and preventive control measures, Bavaria, Germany, July to October 2015. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 20:30046. [PMID: 26538532 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2015.20.42.30046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We report 15 imported louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) cases in refugees in Bavaria, Germany. One patient died. Epidemiological findings confirmed that all were young males from the Horn of Africa (12 from Somalia), who had similar migration routes converging in Sudan continuing through Libya and Italy. The majority likely acquired their infection during migration. Healthcare workers should be aware of LBRF in refugees passing through north Africa to ensure correct treatment and preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hoch
- Task-Force Infectiology and International Health Regulations, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
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