scholarly journals Pilot Study of Risk Group Human Seroprevalence to Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) in Latvia

Author(s):  
Lelde Grantiņa-Ieviņa ◽  
Ilga Bubula ◽  
Maija Sergejeva ◽  
Žanete Šteingolde ◽  
Guntis Boikmanis ◽  
...  

Abstract Q fever is an important zoonotic disease worldwide. The main sources of human infection are inhalation of aerosols containing Coxiella burnetii bacteria and exposition to infected materials during parturition or slaughtering. The high-risk group includes people who work directly with infected livestock, such as farmers, veterinarians, veterinary medicine students, slaughterhouse and laboratory staff. Here we present a pilot study of risk-group human seroprevalence to C. burnetii in Latvia. The study included 240 sera samples — 190 from the risk groups and 50 from the control group. Samples were tested with Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever) Phase 1 and 2 IgG ELISA kits. All sera from the control group were negative. The seroprevalence among risk group persons was 8.04–11.54%. No statistically significant differences were observed between genders. The highest percentage of seropositive and equivocal sera samples (25%) were detected in age categories 39–48 years and 49–58 years. Working as a practicing veterinarian or former veterinarian was the only risk factor identified as statistically significant, and belonging to the risk group in general. The geographical distribution of seropositive risk group participants indicated that they tend to located more in the northern, central, and eastern part of the country.

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Munster ◽  
L M Steggerda ◽  
A C Leenders ◽  
J G Aarnoudse ◽  
E Hak

In Europe the incidence of human Q fever has dramatically increased over the previous years. Untreated infections with Coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of Q fever, have been associated with both obstetric and maternal complications. The majority of pregnant women with a C. burnetii infection remain asymptomatic, hence screening could be of value to prevent unwanted outcomes in this high-risk group. We applied the updated Wilson and Jungner criteria to review the evidence for routine screening for C. burnetii infection during pregnancy. Since much uncertainty remains about the incidence, clinical consequences, diagnostics and treatment of C. burnetii infection during pregnancy, routine screening for C. burnetii infection during pregnancy should not be recommended. Rigorous studies to assess the effectiveness of C. burnetii screening are warranted.


Infection ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-90
Author(s):  
Karol Borawski ◽  
Justyna Dunaj ◽  
Piotr Czupryna ◽  
Sławomir Pancewicz ◽  
Renata Świerzbińska ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study is to assess anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies presence in inhabitants of north-eastern Poland, to assess the risk of Q fever after tick bite and to assess the percentage of co-infection with other pathogens. Methods The serological study included 164 foresters and farmers with a history of tick bite. The molecular study included 540 patients, hospitalized because of various symptoms after tick bite. The control group consisted of 20 honorary blood donors. Anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies titers were determined by Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) Phase 1 IgG ELISA (DRG International Inc. USA). PCR was performed to detect DNA of C. burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Results Anti-C. burnetii IgG was detected in six foresters (7.3%). All foresters with the anti-C. burnetii IgG presence were positive toward anti-B. burgdorferi IgG and anti-TBE (tick-borne encephalitis). Anti-C. burnetii IgG was detected in five farmers (6%). Four farmers with anti-C. burnetii IgG presence were positive toward anti-B. burgdorferi IgG and two with anti-TBE. Among them one was co-infected with B. burgdorferi and TBEV. Correlations between anti-C. burnetii IgG and anti-B. burgdorferi IgG presence and between anti-C. burnetii IgG presence and symptoms of Lyme disease were observed. C. burnetii DNA was not detected in any of the 540 (0%) patients. Conclusions C. burnetii is rarely transmitted by ticks, but we proved that it is present in the environment, so it may be a danger to humans. The most common co-occurrence after tick bite concerns C. burnetii and B. burgdorferi.


2016 ◽  
pp. 140-143
Author(s):  
N.V. Cotsabin ◽  
◽  
O.M. Makarchuk ◽  

The proportion of patients with multiple unsuccessful attempts of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is about 30% of all patients treated with the use of ART. Women with history of unsuccessful ART attempts - a special category of patients who require emergency attention and a thorough examination at the stage of preparation for superovulation stimulation,the selection of embryos and endometrium preparation for embryo transfer. The objective: to distinguish high-risk group of unsuccessful attempts based on a detailed analysis of anamnestic and clinical data of infertile women with repeated unsuccessful ART attempts that requires more in-depth study of hormonal features, ovarian reserve and condition of the endometrium. Materials and methods. For better understanding of the problem of repeated unsuccessful ART attempts and сreation of efficient infertility treatment algorithms for these couples we conducted a thorough analysis of anamnestic data of three groups of infertile women (105 patients), which were distributed by age: group I – younger than 35, the II group – from 35 to 40, the III group - over 40 years. These groups of patients were compared with each other and with the control group of healthy women (30 persons). Results. Leading stress factors in the percentage three times prevailed in the group of infertile women and had a direct connection with the fact of procedure «fertilization in vitro» and chronic stressors caused by prolonged infertility. Primary infertility was observed significantly more frequent in patients younger than 35 years (p <0.05), secondary infertility - mostly in the second and third experimental groups (p <0.05). Noteworthy significant percentage of wellknown causes of infertility and idiopathic factor in all groups, and the prevalence of tubal-peritoneal factor in the second and third experimental groups, and endocrine dysfunction in the I experimental group. The most common disorder among this category of woman was polycystic ovary syndrome. Frequency of usual miscarriage among patients of I ana II groups was two times higher than in the third group (p <0.05). Among the experimental groups the leading place belongs urinary tract infection, respiratory tract diseases, pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Data of the stratified analysis show an increase likelihood of repeated unsuccessful ART attempts under the influence of constant chronic stress (odds ratio OR=2.06; 95% CI: 0.95–3.17; p<0.05). Conclusions. Among infertile patients with repeated unsuccessful ART attempts must be separated a high risk group of failures. The identity depends on the duration of infertility, female age and leading combination of factors. Key words: repeated unsuccessful ART attempts, anamnesis, infertility, high risk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2293
Author(s):  
Joon Hwan Jang ◽  
Sun Ju Chung ◽  
Aruem Choi ◽  
Ji Yoon Lee ◽  
Bomi Kim ◽  
...  

This study aimed to examine the relationship of general cognitive function with gaming use, and to identify elements of intelligence predicting increased gaming use. In total, 160 young adults participated in this study. Two clinical groups (n = 97) were defined: excessive gaming users diagnosed with internet gaming disorder (IGD) (n = 64) and the high-risk users (n = 33). The control group (n = 63) was also divided into regular gamers (n = 14) and non-gamers (n = 49). Participants completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV and self-reported questionnaires regarding IGD severity and gaming hours. The IGD group had significantly lower Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI) scores, compared with regular gamers and non-gamers. The IGD group also exhibited lower Working Memory Index (WMI) scores, compared with non-gamers. The high-risk group demonstrated significantly lower PSI score, compared with non-gamers. Furthermore FSIQ, VCI, WMI, and PSI scores were significant predictors of gaming hours in the IGD group. For the high-risk group, FSIQ, WMI, and VCI scores were negatively associated with gaming hours. Our study demonstrates the need to address the importance of enhancing working memory and verbal ability, thus, preventing the development of gaming addiction among individuals at high-risk gamers.


1984 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Lundin

SummaryWith the help of data on the registered days of sickness per year, a study was made of a group of relatives (n = 32) who had suffered sudden and unexpected bereavement to determine whether this resulted in an increase in morbidity in the two-year period following the loss, compared with the previous two years. A comparison was made with a control group of relatives who had also suffered bereavement but where the deaths were not unexpected. Increased morbidity, especially psychiatric morbidity, was found following sudden and unexpected bereavement but not in the control group. It is concluded that persons exposed to sudden and unexpected loss of a close relative are subject to increased psychiatric morbidity and should be regarded as a high-risk group.


2015 ◽  
Vol 207 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Fusar-Poli ◽  
Matteo Rocchetti ◽  
Alberto Sardella ◽  
Alessia Avila ◽  
Martina Brandizzi ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe nosology of the psychosis high-risk state is controversial. Traditionally conceived as an ‘at risk’ state for the development of psychotic disorders, it is also conceptualised as a clinical syndrome associated with functional impairment.AimsTo investigate meta-analytically the functional status of patients at high clinical risk for psychosis and its association with longitudinal outcomes.MethodThree meta-analyses compared level of functioning (n = 3012) and quality of life (QoL) (n = 945) between a high-risk group, a healthy control group and group with psychosis, and baseline functioning in people in the high-risk group who did or did not have a transition to psychosis at follow-up (n = 654).ResultsPeople at high risk had a large impairment in functioning (P<0.001) and worse QoL (P = 0.001) than the healthy control group, but only small to moderately better functioning (P = 0.012) and similar QoL (P = 0.958) compared with the psychosis group. Among the high-risk group, those who did not develop psychosis reported better functioning (P = 0.001) than those who did.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the high-risk state is characterised by consistent and large impairments of functioning and reduction in QoL similar to those in other coded psychiatric disorders.


2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-661
Author(s):  
M G Tukhbatullin ◽  
K V Yanakova

Aim. To study capabilities of quantitative elastographic study to assess the elasticity of the uterine cervix in women with a fetal chromosomal abnormality in the first trimester of pregnancy.Methods. 230 pregnant women of high-risk group at 11-13.6 weeks of pregnancy (parietal-coccygeal length 45-84 mm) were included in this study. The first group consisted of 213 women without fetal pathology. The second group included 17 women, in whose fetuses different chromosomal abnormalities were detected. In ultrasound examination of pregnant women in the I trimester of pregnancy, in addition to standard methods of examination, quantitative cervical elastography was performed.Results. According to results of quantitative elastography in 14 (82.35%) out of 17 pregnant women (second group) one or another degree of the cervical tissue softening was found, and 3 (17.64%) pregnant women with fetal chromosomal pathology had stiff cervix (all 3 cases with Down syndrome). In the control group in 10 (4.7%) of 213 pregnant women relatively soft cervix was identified, and in 203 (95.3%) women cervical density was higher than the myometrial density. A statistically significant difference between the indices of SWE-Ratio in groups was revealed. Quantitative elastography, as a diagnostic test predicting the risk of miscarriage due to chromosomal abnormalities, has a high sensitivity (84.38%) and even higher specificity (95.26%) of negative predictive value 97.57%.Conclusion. Quantitative elastography reveals a significant decrease in the cervical elasticity (softening) in pregnant women with fetal chromosomal abnormality in the I trimester of pregnancy, which allows us to recommend this method of ultrasound examination as an additional marker for early diagnosis of miscarriage due to fetal chromosomal abnormality.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-570
Author(s):  
A. Sadeghi Hassanabadi ◽  
M. Yaghout

The relation between drug addiction and tuberculosis was assessed in a comparative prevalence study. A group of 561 male addicts were compared with a group of 1532 non-addicts of similar sociocultural background. The results of infection rate showed a statistically significant difference X [2] = 72, P < 0.001] in the proportion of positive tuberculin sensitivity between the groups [66.7% among addicts versus 45.6% in the control group]. Fourteen active cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were found among the addicts with no case in the control group. This gives a prevalence rate of 2500/100 000 addicts, more than 150 times the rate in the general population. Thus, drug addicts are a high-risk group for tuberculosis and a "hidden source" of the disease in the community


Author(s):  
Sara Tomaiuolo ◽  
Samira Boarbi ◽  
Tiziano Fancello ◽  
Patrick Michel ◽  
Damien Desqueper ◽  
...  

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are the primary source for human infection, and the identification of likely contamination routes from the reservoir animals the critical point to implement control programs. This study shows that Q fever is detected in Belgium in abortion of cattle, goat and sheep at a different degree of apparent prevalence (1.93%, 9.19%, and 5.50%, respectively). In addition, and for the first time, it is detected in abortion of alpaca (Vicugna pacos), raising questions on the role of these animals as reservoirs. To determine the relationship between animal and human strains, Multiple Locus Variable-number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) (n=146), Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (n=92) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) (n=4) methods were used to characterize samples/strains during 2009-2019. Three MLVA clusters (A, B, C) subdivided in 23 subclusters (A1-A12, B1-B8, C1-C3) and 3 SNP types (SNP1, SNP2, SNP6) were identified. The SNP2 type/MLVA cluster A was the most abundant and dispersed genotype over the entire territory, but it seemed not responsible for human cases, as it was only present in animal samples. The SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C clusters were mostly found in small ruminant and human samples, with the rare possibility of spillovers in cattle. SNP1/MLVA B cluster was present in all Belgian areas, while the SNP6/MLVA C cluster appeared more concentrated in the Western provinces. A broad analysis of European MLVA profiles confirmed the host-species distribution described for Belgian samples. In silico genotyping (WGS) further identified the spacer types and the genomic groups of C. burnetii Belgian strains: cattle and goat SNP2/MLVA A isolates belonged to ST61 and genomic group III, while the goat SNP1/MLVA B strain was classified as ST33 and genomic group II. In conclusion, Q fever is widespread in all Belgian domestic ruminants and in alpaca. We determined that the public health risk in Belgium is likely linked to specific genomic groups (SNP1/MLVA B and SNP6/MLVA C) mostly found in small ruminant strains. Considering the concordance between Belgian and European results, these considerations could be extended to other European countries.


2013 ◽  
pp. 14-9
Author(s):  
Wiwit Nurwidyaningtyas ◽  
Djanggan Sargowo ◽  
Achdiat Agoes ◽  
Titin Andri W ◽  
S Satuman

Research background. Circulating Endothelial Cells (CEC) is a reflection of endothelial damage or endothelial stress, increasing of CEC amount depend on endothelial mechanism, edothelial adhesivity damage and cellular apoptosis as a result of decreasing sitoskleleton function. If higher exposure affects the increasing of CEC amount,VEGF other growth factor mediators will be reflected as endothelial stress manifestation which roles in the increasing of re-population and Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC) differentiation. Endothelial Progenitor Cells is a mononuclear cell (a part of stem cell) that could change to be mature endothel and roles in re-edothelialisation and neovascularisation. This research aimed to investigate the ratio of EPC : CEC in risk group through Framingham Risk Score (FRS) 10 years approach as endothelial dysfunction predictor.Research method and result. There were 55 research subjects whom taken by FRS scoring and devided into some risk groups and two control groups. They were control group I (health) and control group II (sick). Base blood was taken to every each of them to analyze their EPC and CEC with Flowcytometry. EPC was analyzed by CD34 Per CP Santa Cruz SC-19621 and CD 133 FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) Bioss bs-0395R-FITCmarker.WhileCEC was analyzed CD45 FITC Biolegend 202205 dan CD 146 PE Biolegend 134704 marker. Result showed, there was significant ratio differences of EPC : CEC in those six groups which was proven by p-value 0.032< ? (0.05). The higher ratio was in high risk group (139.06).Conclusion. Research showed that EPC amount was increase related to the increasing of high risk level according to FRS 10 years, but its increasing did not followed by its ability to homing in injury area as role part in re-endothelialisation process. It found that EPC amount was higher in high risk group than in low risk group.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document