scholarly journals Characteristics of extreme increase of vector-borne infections in the european north

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-735
Author(s):  
I A Burmagina ◽  
V M Agafonov ◽  
D V Burmagin

Aim. To describe clinical and epidemiological situation of the massive increase of cases of vector-borne infections and the level of preventive and antiepidemic measures in the Archangelsk region over the last decade. Methods. Retrospective, longitudinal study investigated ten-year incidence of vector-borne infections, vaccination of the population and the amount of disinfection measures in the region over the last decade. Results of a survey of 232 citizens, who were referred for vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, are listed. The study included 101 patients with tick-borne encephalitis, 19 of which had concomitant a tick-borne Lyme disease, and 21 patients with tularemia treated in infectious hospitals of Archangelsk between 2011 to 2014. Results. Observations performed over the last decade showed marked increase in the incidence of vector-borne infections among the population of the Archangelsk region Levels of immunization against tick-borne encephalitis has also increased, level of vaccination against tularemia was unstable. Amounts of disinsectization measures tends to increase, but the number of people bitten by ticks also progressively increases. None of patients diagnosed with tick-borne encephalitis and tularemia who got the disease in the Archangelsk region had been previously vaccinated. The survey of 232 citizens showed sustainable motivation for vaccination, therefore, regional program for children and adult vaccination should be facilitated, considering the increasing incidence of vector-borne infections in non-vaccinated subjects. Predominant clinical forms were feverish and severe focal for tick-borne encephalitis, erythema for Lyme disease and bubonic for tularemia. Due to climate change, incidence of vector-borne infections over the last decade was on stable upward trend with high share of severe forms and high risk for progredient clinical course. Conclusion. Preventive and antiepidemic measures in the Archangelsk region over the last decade tend to increase, but are still not enough effective, as do not lead to a significant reduction of incidence.

2021 ◽  
pp. 276-282
Author(s):  
Sam Telford

Abstract This expert opinion argues that human aspects of risk are poorly studied and need to be considered in any discussion of the role of global climate change on risk for vector-borne infections, particularly for those transmitted by ticks. It also covers the many models that are used predict the future distribution of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections in the USA and elsewhere, based on anticipated changes in weather.


1995 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 256-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Alexander ◽  
Susan M. Cox

Lyme disease is the most commonly transmitted vector-borne disease in the United States, with many regions of the country at risk. Like other spirochete-borne infections, Lyme disease progresses in stages, making diagnosis in the early stages of the illness and prompt treatment important for cure. An early diagnosis is made difficult by the less-than-ideal serologic tests and the varied clinical presentations of the disease. Although Lyme disease has been reported in pregnancy, the transmission rate to the fetus and potential harmful effects are largely unknown. This review discusses the diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of Lyme disease with an emphasis on the pregnant patient.


2021 ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
Jakub Zbrzeźniak ◽  
Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz

INTRODUCTION. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes genus. According to ECDC, Poland should be considered as an endemic area. The risk of Lyme disease incidence in-creases with tick habitats increase, which is a response to environmental factors and climate change. AIM OF THE STUDY. The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland in 2018 compared to the situation in previous years. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland was assessed on the basis of the data sent to NIPH-NIH by voivodeship sanitary-epidemiological stations and published in the bulletin ‘Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2018’ . RESULTS. In 2018; 20,150 Lyme disease cases was registered, 2,124 people were hospitalized. You can also see an increase in cases in the second and third quarter in favor of the fourth quarter. The epidemiological situation in Western European countries is similar to the situation in Poland. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION. The inability to determine the clear trend of the epidemiological situation in Poland indicates the sensitivity of the surveillance system, but also the difficulty in new cases diagnosis. You can also see a decrease in the number of cases, which may be a sign of having the right tools or experience in the Lyme disease diagnosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (178) ◽  
pp. 20210049
Author(s):  
David A. Ewing ◽  
Bethan V. Purse ◽  
Christina A. Cobbold ◽  
Steven M. White

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs), such as dengue, Zika, West Nile virus (WNV) and tick-borne encephalitis, account for substantial human morbidity worldwide and have expanded their range into temperate regions in recent decades. Climate change has been proposed as a likely driver of past and future expansion, however, the complex ecology of host and vector populations and their interactions with each other, environmental variables and land-use changes makes understanding the likely impacts of climate change on VBDs challenging. We present an environmentally driven, stage-structured, host–vector mathematical modelling framework to address this challenge. We apply our framework to predict the risk of WNV outbreaks in current and future UK climates. WNV is a mosquito-borne arbovirus which has expanded its range in mainland Europe in recent years. We predict that, while risks will remain low in the coming two to three decades, the risk of WNV outbreaks in the UK will increase with projected temperature rises and outbreaks appear plausible in the latter half of this century. This risk will increase substantially if increased temperatures lead to increases in the length of the mosquito biting season or if European strains show higher replication at lower temperatures than North American strains.


Author(s):  
Derek Gatherer

Three decades have now passed since the first papers linking climate change to issues in human disease and healthcare. One of the most active topics in this area has been the implication of climate change events, particularly temperature and humidity fluctuations, in the northward spread of vector-borne viruses from more tropical regions into Europe and North America. However, some detailed studies of one such emerging disease, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv), have called the connection into question, concentrating the debate on the investigation of precise mechanisms for the spread of viral disease. More recently, firmer statistical correlations have been made between climate variables, the presence of insect vectors and the prevalence of viral disease, particularly for West Nile Virus (WNV). These insights suggest avenues for mechanistic confirmation of the involvement of climate change in other diseases where the connection remains conjectural.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Zöldi ◽  
Attila Juhász ◽  
Csilla Nagy ◽  
Zoltán Papp ◽  
László Egyed

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 192-194
Author(s):  
John (Luke) Lucas

The author considers the threat to vector-borne diseases in the light of climate change.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Cameron ◽  
Rhéa Rocque ◽  
Kailey Penner ◽  
Ian Mauro

Abstract Background Despite scientific evidence that climate change has profound and far reaching implications for public health, translating this knowledge in a manner that supports citizen engagement, applied decision-making, and behavioural change can be challenging. This is especially true for complex vector-borne zoonotic diseases such as Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease which is increasing in range and impact across Canada and internationally in large part due to climate change. This exploratory research aims to better understand public risk perceptions of climate change and Lyme disease in order to increase engagement and motivate behavioural change. Methods A focus group study involving 61 participants was conducted in three communities in the Canadian Prairie province of Manitoba in 2019. Focus groups were segmented by urban, rural, and urban-rural geographies, and between participants with high and low levels of self-reported concern regarding climate change. Results Findings indicate a broad range of knowledge and risk perceptions on both climate change and Lyme disease, which seem to reflect the controversy and complexity of both issues in the larger public discourse. Participants in high climate concern groups were found to have greater climate change knowledge, higher perception of risk, and less skepticism than those in low concern groups. Participants outside of the urban centre were found to have more familiarity with ticks, Lyme disease, and preventative behaviours, identifying differential sources of resilience and vulnerability. Risk perceptions of climate change and Lyme disease were found to vary independently rather than correlate, meaning that high climate change risk perception did not necessarily indicate high Lyme disease risk perception and vice versa. Conclusions This research contributes to the growing literature framing climate change as a public health issue, and suggests that in certain cases climate and health messages might be framed in a way that strategically decouples the issue when addressing climate skeptical audiences. A model showing the potential relationship between Lyme disease and climate change perceptions is proposed, and implications for engagement on climate change health impacts are discussed.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Cassidy Anderson ◽  
Catherine A. Brissette

Lyme disease (LD) has become the most common vector-borne illness in the northern hemisphere. The causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is capable of establishing a persistent infection within the host. This is despite the activation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. B. burgdorferi utilizes several immune evasion tactics ranging from the regulation of surface proteins, tick saliva, antimicrobial peptide resistance, and the disabling of the germinal center. This review aims to cover the various methods by which B. burgdorferi evades detection and destruction by the host immune response, examining both the innate and adaptive responses. By understanding the methods employed by B. burgdorferi to evade the host immune response, we gain a deeper knowledge of B. burgdorferi pathogenesis and Lyme disease, and gain insight into how to create novel, effective treatments.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document