OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among the variable population of Eastern Slovakia. METHODS: A serologic survey was conducted using 464 serum samples. The basic demographic, epidemiologic and clinical information was obtained for each serum sample at the time of specimen collection. The presence of antibodies against WNV was investigated using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the ELISA positive samples were further analysed by a neutralization test with WNV and Usutu virus. RESULTS: Three serum samples (0.65%) from the participants (N = 464) were considered positive for antibodies to WNV. A 29-year-old female was repeatedly exposed to mosquito bites working as a shepherdess and participating in many outdoor activities. Two other females (61 and 76 years old) were treated at the Department of Neurology due to monoparesis of the upper extremity, vertigo; both had a significant epidemiological history with frequent tick and mosquito bites and stay in an endemic region. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no evidence of WNV infection in the Slovak Republic, the epidemiological situation in the neighbouring countries warrants vigilance and appropriate measures, including the introduction of specific diagnostic tools into clinical practice. The constant monitoring of birds and mosquitoes also seems necessary.
- MeSH
- Culicidae MeSH
- ELISA MeSH
- protilátky virové MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- virus západního Nilu izolace a purifikace MeSH
- západonilská horečka diagnóza epidemiologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is most commonly transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected tick. Alimentary infection through the consumption of TBEV-contaminated dairy products is also well-documented and is responsible for some diseases in endemic areas. The aim of the study was to emphasize the risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by consuming raw milk and dairy products and to describe TBE epidemics in Slovakia for the period 2012-2016. METHODS: The data on epidemics were obtained from the Annual Reports for the period 2012-2016 available on the website of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic. Medical records of patients hospitalized during epidemics were provided by the Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, and the Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Košice. RESULTS: During the period 2012-2016, 13 smaller or larger TBE epidemic outbreaks were recorded in the Slovak Republic. The two outbreaks of TBE reported in 2012 were associated with the consumption of raw goat's milk and dairy products. The first case was an outbreak involving 12 infected people in the Lučenec District. The second case was a family outbreak in the Žilina District, where 3 persons out of 4 family members were infected. In 2013, one epidemic was reported involving 5 persons following the consumption of sheep's cheese from a farm in the Prešov District. One outbreak with 11 cases was reported in 2014. The investigation confirmed its association with the consumption of sheep's cheese in a restaurant located in the Ružomberok District. In 2015, 4 epidemics were described related to the consumption of goat's/sheep's milk and cheese (Žilina District, Krupina District, Kysucké Nové Mesto District, Trenčín District). In 2016, there were 5 TBE epidemics related to the consumption of milk and dairy products. The largest TBE epidemic outbreak in the last 5 years occurred in the Košice District. In this outbreak approximately 500 people were exposed, and 44 contracted the disease. Infected persons confirmed consumption of sheep's cheese from a farm. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of milk and dairy products made only from pasteurized milk, as well as the immunization of humans and animals are the most effective preventive measures against TBE.
- MeSH
- epidemický výskyt choroby * MeSH
- klíšťová encefalitida diagnóza epidemiologie virologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mléko virologie MeSH
- ovce virologie MeSH
- protilátky virové MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy izolace a purifikace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to evaluate immune response after receiving the primary vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and to establish a link between seropositivity and selected factors in soldiers. METHODS: Blood samples, questionnaires and vaccination records were obtained. TBE antibodies were detected using both ELISA and a neutralization test (NT). We used logistic regression for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall, seropositivity (presence of IgG) was detected in 88% of participants. The proportion of seropositive subjects in relation to the number of doses of vaccine was 69% (2 doses) and 91% (3 doses). A statistically significant relationship was found between seropositivity and the number of vaccine doses. No statistical significance was identified in relation to age and sex. There was no statistical significance of seropositivity, depending on the time of the last dose of the vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: TBE immunisation should be targeted at individuals in the most affected locations and those at highest risk of exposure according to lifestyle and occupation.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- ELISA MeSH
- imunoglobulin G krev MeSH
- klíšťová encefalitida krev imunologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neutralizační testy MeSH
- ozbrojené síly statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- protilátky virové krev MeSH
- vakcinace * MeSH
- virové vakcíny aplikace a dávkování imunologie MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy imunologie izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a virus species of the genus Flavivirus within the Flaviviridae family. In Western Europe, TBEV is transmitted primarily by the Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) tick. During the last 30 years, there has been a continued increase in human cases of TBE in Europe. A total number of 102 cases in Slovakia was reported in 2012 (1.89/100,000), with two local outbreaks after the ingestion of raw milk and dairy products. Active vaccination is the most effective method of preventing TBE. According to the available data in Slovakia from 2012, 8,491 children under 15 years of age were vaccinated that year, which, when compared to 2009 with approximately 17,000 vaccinated children, represents a decrease of more than 50%. The data on vaccination of adults are not available, but the estimated vaccination coverage in Slovakia is around 1% (1.3/100,000). The education of the population is also an important precautionary measure in the prevention of tick-borne illnesses.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- incidence MeSH
- klíště MeSH
- klíšťová encefalitida epidemiologie MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
