Fourteen-year seroepidemiological study of zoonoses in a Greek village.

Abstract

Abstract. A seroepidemiological study carried out in a high-risk village in Crete in 1985-1987 and 1998 showed that although the awareness of the people concerning zoonoses had increased during this period, the situation did not improve: there was a significant increase of the spread of seroprevalence in time and space of Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia typhi, Brucella sp., and Entamoeba histolytica. Toxoplasma gondii, Rickettsia conorii, Borrelia burgdorferi, Echinococcus granulosus, Leishmania sp., and Fasciola hepatica stayed at the same levels. This first study of Bartonella henselae in Crete showed that 15.9% of the children tested were seropositive. The results indicate that reservoirs and vectors of the pathogens studied are widespread in the environment, and the way of life of the people favors contact with them. Seven of 30 milk samples were positive for Brucella sp. by seminested polymerase chain reaction.

Seroprevalence of IgG Antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus in the Population of the Region of Thessaly, Central Greece

“…Our study supports the above findings, alongside with a previous study in the same area, that determined ultrasonograhic prevalence of Echinococcus [10]. Moreover, similar results were found in a study in the island of Crete, that determined Echinococcous seroprevalence with counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) [11].…”

Human bartonellosis: seroepidemiological and clinical features with an emphasis on data from Brazil - A review

“…From the data presented in Table II and those discussed above, it is clear that Bartonella largely circulates among human populations (Jackson et al 1996, Comer et al 1996, Rotily et al 1996, Noah et al 1997, Blanco et al 1998 Jacobs & Schutze 1998, Sander et al 1998, Harrison & Doshi 1999, Maruyama et al 2000, Guibal et al 2001, Kumasaka et al 2001, Antoniou et al 2002, Kikuchi et al 2002, Ramos et al 2002, Smith et al 2002, Tea et al 2003, Koehler et al 2003, Al-Majali & Al-Qudah 2004, Massei et al 2004, Garcia-Garcia et al 2005, McGill et al 2005, Ferres et al 2006, Seki et al 2006, Ehrenborg et al 2007, Zarkovic et al 2007. B. bacilliformis serology performed in endemic areas is notably high (Amano et al 1997, Kosek et al 2000, Chamberlin et al 2002.…”

Mediterranean Spotted Fever in Crete, Greece

“…Since the 1980s, seroepidemiological studies using IFAT and Western blotting have been undertaken in healthy populations all over Greece. In 1987, in a seroepidemiological survey conducted in southern Greece, Crete, R. conorii incidence rate was found to be 5,967/1,000 4,5 . In 1991, in a similar survey conducted in central Greece, Fokida, the seroprevalence of specific IgG antibodies to R. conorii was estimated at 58.3% (cut off ≥ 32) by using IFA, and at 45.3% by using Western blotting analysis 6 .…”