TBE in Italy

Italy is considered a low-incidence country for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe.1 Areas at higher risk for TBE in Italy are geographically clustered in the forested and mountainous regions and provinces in the north east part of the country, as suggested by TBE case series published over the last decade.2-5 A national enhanced surveillance system for TBE has been established since 2017.6 Before this, information on the occurrence of TBE cases at the national level in Italy was lacking. Both incidence rates and the geographical distribution of the disease were mostly inferred from endemic areas where surveillance was already in place, ad hoc studies and international literature.1

Author(s):  
Valentina Tagliapietra ◽  
Flavia Riccardo ◽  
Martina Del Manso ◽  
Giovanni Rezza

Italy is considered a low-incidence country for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe.1 Areas at higher risk for TBE in Italy are geographically clustered in the forested and mountainous regions and provinces in the north east part of the country, as suggested by TBE case series published over the last decade.2-5 A national enhanced surveillance system for TBE has been established since 2017.6 Before this, information on the occurrence of TBE cases at the national level in Italy was lacking. Both incidence rates and the geographical distribution of the disease were mostly inferred from endemic areas where surveillance was already in place, ad hoc studies and international literature.


Author(s):  
Valentina Tagliapietra ◽  
Flavia Riccardo ◽  
Giovanni Rezza

Italy is considered a low incidence country for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe. Areas at higher risk for TBE in Italy are geographically clustered in the forested and mountainous regions and provinces in the north east part of the country, as suggested by TBE case series published over the last decade.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Rezza ◽  
Francesca Farchi ◽  
Patrizio Pezzotti ◽  
Maurizio Ruscio ◽  
Alessandra Lo Presti ◽  
...  

Italy is considered at low incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and the occurrence of human cases of TBE appears to be geographically restricted to the north east of the country. However, most information to date derives from case series, with no systematic data collection. To estimate incidence rates (IR) and spatial distribution of TBE cases, we conducted a retrospective study in north-eastern Italy. Data were collected through the infectious disease units and public health districts of three regions (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto) between 2000 and 2013. Overall, 367 cases were identified (IR: 0.38/100,000). The cases’ median age was 56 years and 257 (70%) were male. Central nervous system involvement was reported in 307 cases (84%). Annual fluctuations in case numbers occurred, with peaks in 2006 and in 2013, when 44 and 42 cases were respectively observed. A strong seasonality effect was noted, with the highest number of cases in July. In terms of geographical location, three main endemic foci with high TBE IR (> 10/100,000) were identified in three provinces, namely Belluno (Veneto region), Udine (Friuli Venezia Giulia) and Trento (Trentino Alto-Adige). When investigating the whole study area in terms of altitude, the IR between 400 and 600 m was greater (2.41/100,000) than at other altitudes (p< 0.01). In conclusion, the incidence of TBE in Italy is relatively low, even considering only the three known affected regions. However, three endemic foci at high risk were identified. In these areas, where the risk of TBEV infection is likely high, more active offer of TBE vaccination could be considered.


1970 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. L. Davidson

SUMMARYThis report, based largely on 1258 laboratory proven cases of infectious mononucleosis (IM) detected in the North-Eastern Regional Board area of Scotland during the years 1960–9 inclusive, describes and discusses some of the epidemio-logical and diagnostic aspects of the disease.During the period of study, the annual rate of incidence increased fourfold from 11·1 to 44·3 cases per 100,000 population. Evidence is presented to indicate that this does not represent a true increase in prevalence but reflects improvements in disease detection. The annual incidence rates as reported by the C.D.S. for 1967–9 inclusive are regarded as a considerable underestimation of the ‘true’ incidence of the disease. Over a 3-year period an annual incidence equivalent to 100 per 100,000 population was found in each of two selected group practices. This value was constant and is thought to approximate the ‘ true’ incidence of symptomatic, seropositive IM in the general community.Of the 1258 seropositive cases, 48·7 % were males and 51·3 % females. The peak age incidence was 15–19 years for both sexes. Twenty-one per cent of the cases were in children under 15 years and only 8·1 % in adults older than 25 years. No significant variation was found in the seasonal or urban/rural incidence. Marked differences were found in the leucocyte patterns of seropositive and ‘seronegative’ cases.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
F X Heinz ◽  
K Stiasny ◽  
H Holzmann ◽  
M Kundi ◽  
W Sixl ◽  
...  

Human infections with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus are a public health concern in certain regions of Europe, central and eastern Asia. Expansions of endemic areas and increased incidences have been associated with different factors including ecological changes supporting tick reproduction, socioeconomic changes increasing human outdoor activities and climatic changes favouring virus circulation in natural foci. Austria is among the most strongly affected countries in Central Europe, but the annual number of cases has strongly declined due to vaccination. Here, we have analysed changes of the incidence of TBE in the unvaccinated population of all federal states of Austria over a period of 42 years. The overall incidence in Austria has remained constant, but new strongly affected endemic regions have emerged in alpine valleys in the west of Austria. In parallel, the incidence in low-land regions in the north-east of the country is decreasing. There is no evidence for a shift to higher altitudes of infection sites in the traditional TBE zones, but the average altitudes of some newly established endemic areas in the west are significantly higher. Our analyses underscore the focal nature of TBE endemic areas and the potential of TBE virus to emerge in previously unaffected regions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boucader Diarra ◽  
Modibo Diarra ◽  
Oumar Diall ◽  
Boubacar Bass ◽  
Youssouf Sanogo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tsetse-transmitted trypanosomosis is a deadly, neglected tropical disease and a major challenge for mixed crop-livestock agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by several species of the genus Trypanosoma. Information on the occurrence of tsetse flies and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is available for different areas of Mali. However, these data have never been harmonized and centralized, which prevents the development of comprehensive epidemiological maps and constrains an evidence-based planning of control actions. To address this challenge, we created a dynamic geo-spatial database of tsetse and AAT distribution in Mali. Methods A digital repository containing epidemiological data collected between 2000 and 2018 was assembled. In addition to scientific publications, the repository includes field datasheets, technical reports and other grey literature. The data were verified, harmonized, georeferenced and integrated into a single spatially-explicit database. Results For the tsetse component, approximately 19,000 trapping records, corresponding to 6000 distinct trapping locations and 38,000 flies were included in the database. Glossina palpalis gambiensis was the most widespread and abundant species, and it was found in the southern, southern-central and western parts of the country. Glossina tachinoides was only found in the South. Only a few specimens of Glossina morsitans submorsitans were detected. For the AAT component, approximately 1000 survey records were included, corresponding to 450 distinct survey sites and 37,000 tested bovines. AAT was found in all surveyed regions, although data for the tsetse-free North and North-East are lacking. Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma congolense were the dominant species, while Trypanosoma brucei infections were much less numerous. Conclusions The atlas of tsetse and AAT in Mali provides a synoptic view of the vector and disease situation at the national level. Still, major geographical gaps affect the North, the North-East and the West, and there is also a severe lack of data over the past five years. Trypanosomosis remains a major animal health problem in Mali. However, despite its prevalence and distribution, monitoring and control activities are presently very limited. Efforts should be made to strengthen the progressive control of AAT in Mali, and the atlas provides a new tool to identify priority areas for intervention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2324
Author(s):  
Kacper Toczylowski ◽  
Ewa Bojkiewicz ◽  
Marta Barszcz ◽  
Marta Wozinska-Klepadlo ◽  
Paulina Potocka ◽  
...  

Little is known about the causes and the frequency of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland. We did a retrospective single-center cohort study of children under 18 years old hospitalized with infectious meningitis or encephalitis. Incidence rates were calculated using collected data from patients from the North-East Poland only. A total of 374 children hospitalized between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 were included in the study. A total of 332 (89%) children had meningitis, and 42 (11%) had encephalitis. The etiology of the infection was established in 331 (89%) cases. Enteroviruses accounted for 224 (60%) of all patients. A total of 68 (18%) cases were tick-borne infections. Bacterial pathogens were detected in 26 (7%) children. The median length of hospital stay for children with enteroviral meningitis was 7 days (IQR 7–9), increasing to 11 days (8–13) in those treated with antibiotics. The incidence of meningitis was estimated to be 32.22 (95% CI, 25.33–40.98) per 100,000 and that of encephalitis to be 4.08 (95% CI, 2.07–8.02) per 100,000. By the broad use of molecular diagnostic methods, we managed to identify etiology of the infection in the majority of children. Our data suggest that thorough diagnostics of central nervous system infections are needed to rationalize treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 26-31
Author(s):  
S. N. Svetozarsky ◽  
S. V. Kopishinskaya ◽  
M. A. Korotysh ◽  
I. A. Velichko ◽  
D. A. Smirnova

Huntington's disease (HD) is a steadily progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene, with progressive motor, cognitive and mental impairments.The aim of the study is to determine the validity of the North‑East Visual Hallucinations Interview (NEVHI) in a Russian sample of patients.Materials and methods. 78 subjects were examined: 26 patients at the manifest stage of HD, 21 pre‑manifest carriers of the HD gene and 31 volunteers of the control group.Results. The low incidence of visual hallucinations according to the NEVHI does not allow us to conclude about their specificity for HD. Failure to achieve the level of statistical significance in this case suggests a high risk of type II error associated with the low occurrence of the symptom and the relatively small group size.Conclusion. The study showed that the NEVHI questionnaire can serve as an adequate method for the diagnosis of visual hallucinations in HD.


1908 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 500-509
Author(s):  
W. F. Hume

1. The ancient core of the North-East African Continent consists of the Cataract and Sudan banded gneisses, which may represent a very ancient igneous magma. They are usually much veined by granitic dykes.2. In certain places in the Arabian Desert, Cataracts, etc., these underlie highly metamorphosed schists (the mica-schists of Sikait, the calcareous schists of Um Garaiart and Haimar and of the Amara Cataracts, also the dolomites of the latter region) which are sharply separated from the banded gneisses and are possibly the oldest sedimentary representatives in Egypt.3. The greater part of the mountainous regions of the Eastern Desert and Sinai are occupied by two types of rocks, a schistose constituent overlying or being surrounded by the acid member. (a) The first-named, the Dokhan volcanic rocks and schists, are partly volcanic in origin and partly sedimentary, the former being represented by lavas of various types, while the latter are clearly altered sedimentary strata (grits, conglomerates, etc.). No fossils have yet been found, but they have their nearest lithological analogues in the latest pre-Cambrian and Cambrian series. Here are included some of the most interesting rocks of Egypt, such as the Imperial Porphyry and the Breccia Verde Antico. (b) The igneous member intruded into these ancient sediments, etc., includes a great diversity of igneous rocks, varying from highly basic to acid types.Contact-phenomena of complex nature occur at the junctions of (a) and (b).4. Red granite and dyke rocks, whose parallelism and extent of distribution present one of the most conspicuous features of the Eastern Desert of Egypt, mark the final eruptive action before Carboniferous times.5. Three periods of volcanic activity have been subsequently noted—(a) In Western Sinai in late Carboniferous times.(b) An undated series of eruptions interbedded with the base of the Nubian Sandstone or intrusive into it with marked contact alterations.(c) The basic intrusions near Cairo and the Fayum, etc., which are intimately associated with the Oligocena Continental Period in Egypt.


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