Q fever is a widespread zoonosis in Bulgaria, caused by Coxiella burnetii. The major route of transmission from animals to humans is by infected aerosols. Over the past decade, the number of both sporadic cases and outbreaks in Bulgaria has increased
In the beginning of February 2007, a marked increase in the number of cases of acute gastroenteritis in Samokov, a region in western Bulgaria, south of the capital Sofia, was noted by the Regional Inspectorate for Public Health Protection and Control.
Background: Ixodid ticks are widely studied due to their epidemiological and epizootic importance. It is of great value to know vertebrate host preferences of ticks in order to understand their ecological relationships and distribution. Earlier studies report birds as important hosts of Ixodid tick and a total of 136 ticks species have been frequently found in birds worldwide. However, only few studies related to host preferences of ticks among wild birds in Bulgaria were conducted till now. Aim: To obtain new data on the host preferences of ixodid ticks among wild birds at three locations in Bulgaria. Material and methods: The study was conducted between 2010 – 2020 in three sites in Bulgaria – Biological Experimental Station Kalimok (Silistra region), near Brodilovo village (Burgas region), and the city of Sofia (city park). The birds were caught by mist nets and inspected for ticks. Ticks found were removed by fine tweezers or a special removal tool for ectoparasites. Tick identification was based on external morphological characteristics. Results: A total of 2419 individual birds belonging to 78 species were examined. Of these, 70 individuals (16 species) carried ticks, thus representing 2.9% infestation rate. A total of 262 ticks were collected and identified as: Ixodes ricinus, Hyalomma marginatum, Haemaphysalis punctata, Hae. concinna, Hae. sulcata and two specimens could only be identified to the genus Haemaphysalis. Ixodes ricinus was the most commonly encountered tick (224/262), predominantly nymphs, followed by Hyalomma marginatum (27/262). The highest prevalence of tick infestation was observed among the Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula (28.6%), followed by the common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos (12.9%) and the common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs (11.3%). These three bird species harboured the majority of ticks on their heads – some single individuals were infested by 10 up to 25 ticks per bird. Conclusion: Ixodes ricinus was found as the predominant tick species in this study. Nymphs were the most frequently observed stage. Infesting both birds and humans, this tick species has the potential to spread local tick-borne infections.
Objectives The first COVID-19 wave caused case fatality rates (CFRs) of above 7% globally. In 2021 and 2022 the values of the same indicator went down to 2%. Differences between countries are still observed. The present study aimed to assess the CFRs dynamics in Bulgaria in relation with the specificity of the epidemic process in the country. Methods Descriptive analysis of cumulative incidence, mortality rates, and hospital admissions during the Delta and Omicron waves in Bulgaria and in the EU was performed. Differences in stringency index and testing capacities were analyzed to provide reasoning behind the findings. Indicator values were compared temporally and quantitatively. Results Data was reviewed for 27 EU countries. Opposing trends in Bulgaria and in the EU were reported. During the Delta wave incidence in Bulgaria was 25% higher than in the EU and increased by 67% during the Omicron period. In the EU, the increase during the Omicron wave was five-fold. Mortality in Bulgaria decreased by 38% between the two waves but it continued to be above the median mortality rate in the EU. Hospital admissions followed similar trends. Out of 16 countries only 5 experienced a drop of the number of new hospital patients. In Bulgaria admissions shrank by 45% during the Omicron predominance. Conclusions Higher incidence during the Delta wave resulted in accumulation of population with recently obtained natural immunity. Given evidence from countries with good vaccination coverage, it is reasonable to conclude that some of the mortality in Bulgaria could have been averted. Due to the observed positive association between acceptance of vaccines and other anti-epidemic measures, we recommend that future risk communication efforts highlight the importance of personal decision-making and social behaviour.
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