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Query: UMLS:C0009450 (infectious diseases)
 83,438 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Lyme borreliosis is a zoonosis transmitted via lxodes ticks. The causal agent--the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato--triggers a multisystem disease that manifests in particular in the skin, heart, nervous system and joints. Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in the Northern hemisphere. In Europe the Lyme disease spirochetes are heterogeneous and comprise three species that infect humans: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and B. afzelii. The microbiological diagnosis is based primarily on the detection of antibodies, and secondarily on the detection of the pathogen. Suitable material for the detection of the pathogen are various body fluids (cerebrospinal fluid, joint fluid) and biopsy material (in particular skin). Antibodies are usually detected in the serum. Negative serology does not exclude an early manifestation, and a positive finding is no proof of a clinically manifest infection--it may simply reflect an earlier Lyme infection.
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PMID:[Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. How to corroborate suspected borreliosis]. 1084 72

Leptospirosis, a zoonosis with worldwide distribution, may have a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations that can delay the diagnosis, especially in wet climates where other conditions may dissimulate the main aspects. The authors describe 42 cases of patients with leptospirosis admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit of a general hospital since 1990. The goal was to analyse epidemiological features, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and evolution. There were 23 males (54.7%) and 19 females (45.2%), with ages ranging from 17 to 82 years. Most cases occurred in occupational settings, especially in those in contact with animals or stagnant water. All the cases had serological confirmation (by MAT or ELISA methods). Anicteric forms represented 42.9% of the total, which implies that in many cases a diagnosis is not immediately evident. The main symptoms, other than fever (97.6%) and jaundice (57.1%), were myalgia (71.4%), headache (42.8%) and nausea (33.3%). Renal involvement was common (52%), but the most severe forms occurred in 3 patients who required hemodialysis; followed by D.I.C. in 9.5%; meningitis in 4.7% and pulmonary involvement in 2.3% of the cases. The serovars most commonly identified were L. icterohaemorraghiae (28.5%), L. australis (14.3%), L. grippothyphosa (11.9%) and L. canicola (9.5%). The patients were treated with penicillin G (83.3%) or doxycyclin (9.5%). Two of them deceased (4.7%) and the remainder had a good evolution. The diagnosis of leptospirosis may be delayed if physicians fail to include this infection in the initial differential diagnosis. In view of this, the authors emphasize that when nonspecific clinical manifestations occur, a good epidemiological history is useful in proposing this diagnosis.
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PMID:[Human leptospirosis. A short review concerning a caseload]. 1089 35

With the purpose of studying the involvement of physicians to zoonosis, investigation on the consciousness was performed by disseminating a questionnaire to members of Medical Associations of Kobe City (2,584 members) and Fukuoka City (1,814 members). From the members in Kobe, 1,165 replies were collected (answer ratio: 45.1%) and 774 replies from the members in Fukuoka (answer ratio: 42.7%). About 70-80% of all physicians answering the questionnaire stated that they had examined the patients with infectious diseases at a ratio of less than 10% to a total of patients examined. Among them, 70% of the doctors had asked the patients as to whether or not the patients were keeping pet animals or had traveled overseas recently when infectious diseases was suspected. There were 738 doctors (38.1%) (1,355 cases), who had suspected or made definitive diagnosis on 15 diseases of zoonosis as stipulated in the new Infectious Disease Control Law for the recent 5 years. In all, 365 doctors (18.9%) examined the patients who were suspected to have had an infection from pet animals. The causative animals primarily included dogs, cats, and birds such as parakeet, while monkeys, tortoises, etc. were found in several cases. About one half of the physicians felt that the cases of infectious diseases and zoonosis would increase in the future. In the entry of free opinions relating to the effective measures for the prevention of zoonosis, 712 physicians (39.8%) entered 1,050 proposals. The details of these proposals were: 444 proposals on "administrative measures". 244 on the need of "education" to citizens, and 201 on the importance of "medical management". About 80% of the physicians replied that they would cooperate for the secondary investigation. It appears that the physicians place much expectation on adequate measures against zoonosis. Namely, they expect much on the establishment of a reliable network, i.e. the network of administrative authorities--physicians--veterinarians--pet animal suppliers--pet animal keepers.
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PMID:[Investigation on zoonosis by disseminating questionnaire to members of medical associations in Kobe and Fukuoka]. 1135 17

Callitrichid hepatitis (CH) is a highly fatal, rodent-borne zoonosis of New World primates (family Callitrichidae) caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). It is unclear whether virulence in Callitrichidae is associated with specific genetic or phylogenetic markers of the virus as only a partial S RNA sequence of a single CH-associated isolate is known. In a period of 10 months, three pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea) and one Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii) died from CH in a German zoo. LCMV was most likely transmitted by wild mice. Infection was associated with characteristic histopathological lesions in liver, brain, and lymphoid tissue. Virus sequences from all callitrichids and a captured mouse were > or =99.2% identical. LCMV strains from a pygmy marmoset and the Goeldi's monkey were isolated in cell culture and the 3.4-kb S RNA was completely sequenced. Both strains differed considerably in their genetic and phylogenetic characteristics from known LCMV strains, including the previously described CH-associated strain. These data show that CH is widespread and can be caused by distantly related LCMV strains.
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PMID:First outbreak of callitrichid hepatitis in Germany: genetic characterization of the causative lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strains. 1138 20

Pet-assisted therapy in the nursing home setting, as a vital component of the Eden Alternative or Human Habitat program, is gaining widespread recognition and implementation. Programs such as this help to improve the quality of life of nursing home residents by offsetting resident loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. However, use of companion animals (and, frequently, birds and fish) may be associated with the introduction of infectious entities that are normally uncommon in this setting (zoonosis). Examples include psittacosis, bartonellosis, toxocariasis, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, pasturellosis, Q fever, and leptospirosis, to name but a few. Hence vigilance for unusual clinical manifestations that may herald such diseases is necessary. In addition, prevention of such illnesses by routine veterinary screening of both resident and visiting companion animals is mandatory. Infection control policies and procedures geared toward management and prevention of zoonotic illnesses should be developed and implemented in all nursing homes offering pet-assisted therapy.
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PMID:Pet-assisted therapy in the nursing home setting: potential for zoonosis. 1139 Dec 80

Emerging infectious diseases involving zoonosis have become important global health problems. The 1998 outbreak of severe febrile encephalitis among pig farmers in Malaysia caused by a newly emergent paramyxovirus, Nipah virus, is a good example. This disease has the potential to spread to other countries through infected animals and can cause considerable economic loss. The clinical presentation includes segmental myoclonus, areflexia, hypertension, and tachycardia, and histologic evidence includes endothelial damage and vasculitis of the brain and other major organs. Magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated the presence of discrete high-signal-intensity lesions disseminated throughout the brain. Nipah virus causes syncytial formation in Vero cells and is antigenically related to Hendra virus. The Island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus; the fruit bat) is a likely reservoir of this virus. The outbreak in Malaysia was controlled through the culling of >1 million pigs.
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PMID:Nipah virus encephalitis outbreak in Malaysia. 1193 96

Despite the availability of vaccines against hepatitis A and B, acute viral hepatitis due to these agents continues to be among the most commonly reported notifiable infectious diseases in the United States. Currently available hepatitis A and B vaccines are highly immunogenic and well tolerated, but vaccine coverage needs to be expanded. Use of the hepatitis A vaccine in children age 2 years and older should be more widespread than is currently the case. Hepatitis A vaccine has been shown to be cost effective when given to children in regions with high attack rates and to patients with chronic hepatitis C. Routine newborn immunization against hepatitis B has been a successful approach to disease control and is among the most cost-effective interventions. Use of the hepatitis B vaccine for all sexually active individuals with more than one sex partner should be recommended for this sexually transmitted disease. The availability of a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine should facilitate vaccine coverage in those individuals at risk for both infections. For those hepatitis infections for which no vaccine is currently available, namely hepatitis C, D, and E, reducing exposure risk by modifying lifestyle behaviors is the only control measure available. Early education and counseling about high-risk behaviors for the acquisition of blood-borne hepatitis viruses needs to be expanded to young children and adolescents. The eventual eradication of hepatitis virus infections through universal immunization is plausible for those agents for whom human beings are the only host and effective vaccines have been developed. If hepatitis E is shown to be a zoonosis with an extensive reservoir in pigs, eradication of this agent may be very difficult.
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PMID:Prevention of Viral Hepatitis. 1240 82

As the incidence of infectious diseases has recently decreased, we are faced with new problems, such as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, food poisoning, zoonosis, and bio-terrorism. In light of these new conditions, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Local Institutes of Public Health, public health offices, and other medical organization must maintain close relationship in order to protect the health and safety of the citizens.
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PMID:Importance of National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Institutes of Public Health on control of infectious diseases in the new century. 1260 25

Yellow fever is an infectious and non-contagious disease caused by an arbovirus, the yellow fever virus. The agent is maintained in jungle cycles among primates as vertebrate hosts and mosquitoes, especially Aedes in Africa, and Haemagogus and Sabethes in America. Approximately 90% of the infections are mild or asymptomatic, while 10% course to a severe clinical picture with 50% case-fatality rate. Yellow fever is largely distributed in Africa where urban epidemics are still reported. In South America, between 1970-2001, 4,543 cases were reported, mostly from Peru (51.5%), Bolivia (20.1%) and Brazil (18.7%). The disease is diagnosed by serology (detection of IgM), virus isolation, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Yellow fever is a zoonosis and cannot be eradicated, but it is preventable in man by using the 17D vaccine. A single dose is enough to protect an individual for at least 10 years, after which revaccination is recommended. In this paper, the main concepts about yellow fever as well as the fatal adverse effects of the vaccine are updated.
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PMID:[Yellow Fever]. 1280 65

Infectious diseases represent a limiting factor for the further development of Italian aquaculture. The recent introduction and spreading of new pathogens, along with the global climatic change, has contributed to a considerable decrease in trout production. Emerging pathologies in rainbow trout culture include viral diseases, e.g. infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), bacterial diseases, such as lactococcosis and visceral flavobacteriosis, and parasitical diseases, e.g. proliferative kidney disease (PKD). Higher mortality rates in trout fry and fingerlings are generally induced by visceral flavobacteriosis and IHN, while the main losses in large trout during the warm season are due to lactococcosis and PKD. Mariculture has at present a better sanitary status compared to trout culture, but a rapid dissemination of pathogens, including zoonosis agents, is envisaged also for seabass and seabream. Emerging pathologies in sea bass include VNN, pseudotuberculosis, streptococcosis and tuberculosis. Seabream is much more resistant and is mainly affected by novel Vibrio infections and enteromyxidiosis. A good sanitary management of fish farms is essential for avoiding or limiting losses caused by emerging pathologies. Transmission of zoonosis agents to man, through the consumption of cultured fish, is very remote in Italy. On the contrary, transmission of Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio vulnificus and Mycobacterium marinum by means of improper manipulation of infected fish, could represent a potential hazard for fish farmers and fish processors, as well as for people preparing fish meals.
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PMID:Emerging pathologies in aquaculture: effects on production and food safety. 1453 54


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