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Weitzel T, Brown A, Libman M, Perret C, Huits R, Chen L, Leung DT, Leder K, Connor BA, Menéndez MD, Asgeirsson H, Schwartz E, Salvador F, Malvy D, Saio M, Norman FF, Amatya B, Duvignaud A, Vaughan S, Glynn M, Angelo KM. Intestinal protozoa in returning travellers: a GeoSentinel analysis from 2007 to 2019. J Travel Med 2024; 31:taae010. [PMID: 38245913 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged diarrhoea is common amongst returning travellers and is often caused by intestinal protozoa. However, the epidemiology of travel-associated illness caused by protozoal pathogens is not well described. METHODS We analysed records of returning international travellers with illness caused by Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora cayetanensis or Cystoisospora belli, reported to the GeoSentinel Network during January 2007-December 2019. We excluded records of travellers migrating, with an unascertainable exposure country, or from GeoSentinel sites that were not located in high-income countries. RESULTS There were 2517 cases, 82.3% giardiasis (n = 2072), 11.4% cryptosporidiosis (n = 287), 6.0% cyclosporiasis (n = 150) and 0.3% cystoisosporiasis (n = 8). Overall, most travellers were tourists (64.4%) on long trips (median durations: 18-30 days). Cryptosporidiosis more frequently affected people < 18 years (13.9%) and cyclosporiasis affected people ≥ 40 years (59.4%). Giardiasis was most frequently acquired in South Central Asia (45.8%) and sub-Saharan Africa (22.6%), cryptosporidiosis in sub-Saharan Africa (24.7%) and South-Central Asia (19.5%), cyclosporiasis in South East Asia (31.3%) and Central America (27.3%), and cystoisosporiasis in sub-Saharan Africa (62.5%). Cyclosporiasis cases were reported from countries of uncertain endemicity (e.g. Cambodia) or in countries with no previous evidence of this parasite (e.g. French Guiana). The time from symptom onset to presentation at a GeoSentinel site was the longest amongst travellers with giardiasis (median: 30 days). Over 14% of travellers with cryptosporidiosis were hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS This analysis provides new insights into the epidemiology and clinical significance of four intestinal protozoa that can cause morbidity in international travellers. These data might help optimize pretravel advice and post-travel management of patients with travel-associated prolonged gastrointestinal illnesses. This analysis reinforces the importance of international travel-related surveillance to identify sentinel cases and areas where protozoal infections might be undetected or underreported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weitzel
- Travel Medicine Program, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina (ICIM), Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7590943, Chile
| | - Ashley Brown
- Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Michael Libman
- J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Cecilia Perret
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
| | - Ralph Huits
- Department of Infectious Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona 37024, Italy
| | - Lin Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Daniel T Leung
- International Travel Clinic, University of Utah Hospital and Clinics, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Karin Leder
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Bradley A Connor
- New York Center for Travel and Tropical Medicine, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - Marta D Menéndez
- Tropical Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz Carlos III, CIBERINFECT, Madrid 28046, Spain
| | - Hilmir Asgeirsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 57, Sweden
| | - Eli Schwartz
- The Center of Geographical Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer 52621, Israel
- Ramat Gan & Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Fernando Salvador
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona 08001, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Denis Malvy
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux 33076, France
| | - Mauro Saio
- Department of Tropical and Travel Medicine, The Nairobi Hospital, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Francesca F Norman
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, CIBERINFEC, IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares 28801, Spain
| | - Bhawana Amatya
- CIWEC Hospital and Travel Medicine Center, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
| | - Alexandre Duvignaud
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux 33076, France
| | - Stephen Vaughan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, South Health Campus, Calgary, AB T3M 1M4, Canada
| | - Marielle Glynn
- Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Kristina M Angelo
- Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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2
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Hommes F, Dörre A, Behnke SC, Stark K, Faber M. Autochthonous and imported giardiasis cases: An analysis of two decades of national surveillance data, Germany, 2002 to 2021. Euro Surveill 2024; 29:2300509. [PMID: 38757286 PMCID: PMC11100295 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2024.29.20.2300509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BackgroundGiardia duodenalis is a major cause of gastroenteritis globally, and is the most common food- and waterborne parasitic infection in Europe.AimTo describe the epidemiology of reported acute giardiasis cases in Germany and compare demographic and clinical characteristics between imported and autochthonous cases.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive analysis of giardiasis cases that fulfilled the national case definition and were reported between January 2002 and December 2021. We defined an imported case as having at least one place of exposure abroad in the 3-25 days before symptom onset. We analysed case numbers and incidence by age, sex, month reported and geographic region, both overall and stratified by autochthonous and imported cases.ResultsFrom 2002 to 2021, 72,318 giardiasis cases were reported in Germany, corresponding to a mean annual incidence of 4.4 per 100,000 population. Annual incidence gradually decreased since 2013, declining sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. Of 69,345 cases reported between 2002 and 2019, 35% were imported. Incidence of autochthonous cases (overall yearly mean: 3.1/100,000) was highest in males and young children (< 5 years); imported cases were predominantly adults aged 20-39 years. We identified seasonal patterns for imported and autochthonous cases.ConclusionsGiardiasis in Germany is typically assumed to be imported. Our data, however, underline the importance of autochthonous giardiasis. Travel advice might reduce imported infections, but prevention strategies for autochthonous infections are less clear. Dietary, behavioural and environmental risk factors need to be further investigated to enhance infection prevention measures for autochthonous giardiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hommes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, Field Epidemiology path (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Achim Dörre
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne C Behnke
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Stark
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirko Faber
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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Sundling C, Yman V, Mousavian Z, Angenendt S, Foroogh F, von Horn E, Lautenbach MJ, Grunewald J, Färnert A, Sondén K. Disease-specific plasma protein profiles in patients with fever after traveling to tropical areas. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2350784. [PMID: 38308504 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Fever is common among individuals seeking healthcare after traveling to tropical regions. Despite the association with potentially severe disease, the etiology is often not determined. Plasma protein patterns can be informative to understand the host response to infection and can potentially indicate the pathogen causing the disease. In this study, we measured 49 proteins in the plasma of 124 patients with fever after travel to tropical or subtropical regions. The patients had confirmed diagnoses of either malaria, dengue fever, influenza, bacterial respiratory tract infection, or bacterial gastroenteritis, representing the most common etiologies. We used multivariate and machine learning methods to identify combinations of proteins that contributed to distinguishing infected patients from healthy controls, and each other. Malaria displayed the most unique protein signature, indicating a strong immunoregulatory response with high levels of IL10, sTNFRI and II, and sCD25 but low levels of sCD40L. In contrast, bacterial gastroenteritis had high levels of sCD40L, APRIL, and IFN-γ, while dengue was the only infection with elevated IFN-α2. These results suggest that characterization of the inflammatory profile of individuals with fever can help to identify disease-specific host responses, which in turn can be used to guide future research on diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Sundling
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Victor Yman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Stockholm South Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zaynab Mousavian
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sina Angenendt
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fariba Foroogh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ellen von Horn
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maximilian Julius Lautenbach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Grunewald
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Färnert
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klara Sondén
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Potin M, Carron PN, Genton B. Injuries and medical emergencies among international travellers. J Travel Med 2024; 31:taad088. [PMID: 37405992 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tropical infectious diseases and vaccine-preventable emergencies are the mainstay of pre-travel consultations. However, non-communicable diseases, injuries and accidents that occur during travel are not emphasized enough in these settings. METHODS We performed a narrative review based on a literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, UpToDate, DynaMed and LiSSa and on reference textbooks and medical journals dedicated to travel, emergency and wilderness medicine. Relevant secondary references were extracted. We also aimed to discuss newer or neglected issues, such as medical tourism, Coronavirus Disease 2019, exacerbations of co-morbidities associated with international travel, insurance coverage, health care seeking abroad, medical evacuation or repatriation and tips for different types of travellers' emergency medical kits (personal, group, physician handled). RESULTS All sources reviewed led to the selection of >170 references. Among epidemiological data on morbidity and deaths while abroad, only retrospective data are available. Deaths are estimated to occur in 1 in 100 000 travellers, with 40% caused by trauma and 60% by diseases, and <3% linked to infectious diseases. Trauma and other injuries acquired during travel, such as traffic accidents and drowning, can be reduced by up to 85% with simple preventive recommendations such as avoiding simultaneous alcohol intake. In-flight emergencies occur on 1 in 604 flights on average. Thrombosis risk is two to three times greater for travellers than for non-travellers. Fever during or after travel can occur in 2-4% of travellers, but in up to 25-30% in tertiary centres. Traveller's diarrhoea, although rarely severe, is the most common disease associated with travel. Autochthonous emergencies (acute appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, dental abscess) can also occur. CONCLUSIONS Pre-travel medicine encounters must include the topic of injuries and medical emergencies, such as the risk-taking behaviours and foster better planning in a comprehensive approach along with vaccines and infectious diseases advices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Potin
- ISTM CTH (Certificate of Travel Health), Chemin des Croix-Rouges 12, Lausanne CH-1007, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Nicolas Carron
- Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 46, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland
| | - Blaise Genton
- Policlinic of Tropical, Travel Medicine and Vaccination, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Unisanté, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 44, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland
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5
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Differenzialdiagnose: Diarrhoe als Symptom nach Tropenaufenthalt. COLOPROCTOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00053-022-00653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Cutaneous Larvae Migrans Treated with a Single Dose of Ivermectin. Case Rep Med 2022; 2022:8215335. [PMID: 36439709 PMCID: PMC9683989 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8215335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (HrCLM) is a clinical diagnosis based on a history of exposure to contaminated soil and is associated with a characteristic red serpiginous lesion that migrates within the epidermis. Our patient presented with a red, tortuous migratory rash with localized pruritus on the left plantar foot of 1-month duration. He lacked recent travel history outside the southeastern United States. Upon admission, he presented with peripheral blood eosinophilia, an uncommon feature of HrCLM. A single dose of ivermectin was sufficient for treatment, and symptoms resolved within 3 days. This case highlights the increased incidence of domestically acquired hookworm infections, explores this epidemiological shift, and emphasizes relevant differential diagnoses.
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7
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Saboyá-Díaz MI, Nicholls RS, Castellanos LG, Feldmeier H. Current status of the knowledge on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Americas. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2022; 46:e124. [PMID: 36060204 PMCID: PMC9426953 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2022.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives. To present the state-of-the-knowledge on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Region of the Americas. Methods. A search of publications on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Americas was performed in PubMed and LILACS databases from January 2007 to June 2021. In addition, a manual literature search on articles on the epidemiology of tungiasis was performed. Results. A total of 83 articles were analyzed which contained relevant information on tungiasis cases and their geographical distribution, prevalence and risk factors, life cycle, sites where transmission takes place, and zoonotic aspects. The on-host and off-host life cycles have been researched in detail. In certain contexts, the whole life cycle is completed indoors enabling transmission around the whole year. Cases were reported from 10 countries; 71% of them were from Brazil. In the general population, the prevalence varied between 1.0% and 82.6% according to the settings. Age-specific prevalence indicated that children and the elderly bear the highest disease burden. Risk factor studies indicate that tungiasis is associated with severe poverty. Conclusions. In the Americas, there are important gaps in information and knowledge of tungiasis. Understanding the burden, epidemiology, distribution, magnitude, related risk factors, and reservoirs, among others, is needed to develop and implement integrated control measures tailored to the context and patterns of transmission in the affected communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Idalí Saboyá-Díaz
- Pan American Health Organization Washington, DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rubén Santiago Nicholls
- Pan American Health Organization Washington, DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Luis Gerardo Castellanos
- Pan American Health Organization Washington, DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Hermann Feldmeier
- University Medicine Berlin Berlin Germany University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Bravo C, Castells VB, Zietek-Gutsch S, Bodin PA, Molony C, Frühwein M. Using social media listening and data mining to understand travellers' perspectives on travel disease risks and vaccine-related attitudes and behaviours. J Travel Med 2022; 29:6515801. [PMID: 35085399 PMCID: PMC8944297 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taac009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Travellers can access online information to research and plan their expeditions/excursions, and seek travel-related health information. We explored German travellers' attitude and behaviour toward vaccination, and their travel-related health information seeking activities. METHODS We used two approaches: web 'scraping' of comments on German travel-related sites and an online survey. 'Scraping' of travel-related sites was undertaken using keywords/synonyms to identify vaccine- and disease-related posts. The raw unstructured text extracted from online comments was converted to a structured dataset using Natural Language Processing Techniques. Traveller personas were defined using K-means based on the online survey results, with cluster (i.e. persona) descriptions made from the most discriminant features in a distinguished set of observations. The web-scraped profiles were mapped to the personas identified. Travel and vaccine-related behaviours were described for each persona. RESULTS We identified ~2.6 million comments; ~880 k were unique and mentioned ~280 k unique trips by ~65 k unique profiles. Most comments were on destinations in Europe (37%), Africa (21%), Southeast Asia (12%) and the Middle East (11%). Eight personas were identified: 'middle-class family woman', 'young woman travelling with partner', 'female globe-trotter', 'upper-class active man', 'single male traveller', 'retired traveller', 'young backpacker', and 'visiting friends and relatives'. Purpose of travel was leisure in 82-94% of profiles, except the 'visiting friends and relatives' persona. Malaria and rabies were the most commented diseases with 12.7 k and 6.6 k comments, respectively. The 'middle-class family woman' and the 'upper-class active man' personas were the most active in online conversations regarding endemic disease and vaccine-related topics, representing 40% and 19% of comments, respectively. Vaccination rates were 54%-71% across the traveller personas in the online survey. Reasons for vaccination reluctance included perception of low risk to disease exposure (21%), price (14%), fear of side effects (12%) and number of vaccines (11%). CONCLUSIONS The information collated on German traveller personas and behaviours toward vaccinations should help guide counselling by healthcare professionals.
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Lόpez-Vélez R, Lebens M, Bundy L, Barriga J, Steffen R. Bacterial travellers' diarrhoea: A narrative review of literature published over the past 10 years. Travel Med Infect Dis 2022; 47:102293. [PMID: 35247581 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Travellers' diarrhoea (TD) is the most frequent illness experienced by international travellers to lower-income countries with bacterial agents considered to account for 80-90% of cases. In this review, we summarise evidence published on bacterial TD over the past 10 years, focusing on the epidemiology and aetiology of TD. Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) continue to be the most commonly implicated bacteria in TD, although Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) now appear to be predominant where Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was previously considered most prevalent globally. Where fluroquinolone resistance had primarily been documented for Campylobacter in Southeast Asia, widespread resistance has been observed in most regions of the world for multiple enteropathogens, including Shigella, Salmonella, ETEC and EAEC. Implementation of novel molecular methods for pathogen detection has led to identification of bacterial pathogens, including Clostridium difficile (with and without the use of prior antibiotics), Arcobacter species and Bacteroides fragilis, as aetiological agents in TD. The widespread resistance to first-line antibiotics in multiple bacterial enteropathogens warrants continued surveillance and re-evaluation of current treatment practices. Further investigations are required to determine the prevalence and geographical distribution of bacterial enteropathogens that have been more recently implicated in TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogelio Lόpez-Vélez
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Michael Lebens
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Box 435, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Leah Bundy
- Elements Communications Ltd, Westerham, TN16 1RQ, UK.
| | - Juan Barriga
- Department of Medical Affairs Europe, Emergent BioSolutions, 1455, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Robert Steffen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Travelers' Health, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001, Zurich, Switzerland; Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences Division, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, Texas, USA.
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10
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Risk factors for and management of metronidazole-refractory giardiasis in international travellers: A retrospective analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis 2021; 43:102090. [PMID: 34082086 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Giardia lamblia is a common cause of diarrhoea in returning travellers. Failure of the recommended first-line treatment, metronidazole, has frequently been observed. Recommendations for treatment of metronidazole-refractory giardiasis lack clarity and evidence. METHODS We conducted a retrospective data analysis of returned travellers with confirmed giardiasis at the Bernhard-Nocht-Clinic in Hamburg, Germany, between 2007 and 2016. RESULTS We identified 339 cases of giardiasis, mostly acquired in South Asia (n = 157). 308 patients received metronidazole as first-line treatment, leading to treatment failure in 93 cases. Statistical analysis suggested by far the highest risk of metronidazole treatment failure for travellers returning from South Asia (Odds Ratio 8.73). Second-line therapy consisted of various different therapy regimens. Combination therapy as second-line treatment seemed to be more effective than monotherapy. A repeat course of metronidazole proved to be futile. CONCLUSION This study reveals a strikingly low effectiveness of metronidazole, especially in patients returning from South Asia. Second-line treatment showed inconsistency of regimens and yielded unsatisfactory results. These findings require reconsideration of treatment strategies for giardiasis. Large prospective trials are urgently needed to assess new first-line treatment options and to help implement advice for effective, agreed second-line treatment strategies. Translational projects should be created to link the understanding of resistance mechanisms with epidemiological data and clinical outcome.
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Ascani A, Faggian A, Montresor S. The geography of COVID-19 and the structure of local economies: The case of Italy. JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 61:407-441. [PMID: 33362296 PMCID: PMC7753650 DOI: 10.1111/jors.12510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this article is to analyze the subnational spread of COVID-19 in Italy using an economic geography perspective. The striking spatial unevenness of COVID-19 suggests that the infection has hit economic core locations harder, and this raises questions about whether, and how, the subnational geography of the disease is connected to the economic base of localities. We provide some first evidence consistent with the possibility that the local specialization in geographically concentrated economic activities acts as a vehicle of disease transmission. This could generate a core-periphery pattern in the spatiality of COVID-19, which might follow the lines of the local economic landscape and the tradability of its outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ascani
- Social SciencesGran Sasso Science InstituteL'AquilaItaly
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Wu Y, Liu MY, Wang JL, Zhang HY, Sun Y, Yuan Y, Zhou SX, Wang YX, Wang ZB, Zhu YX, Han Y, Liu MM, Li WM, Wang LP, Guo XH, Fang LQ, Liu W. Epidemiology of imported infectious diseases, China, 2014-18. J Travel Med 2020; 27:6018450. [PMID: 33283238 PMCID: PMC7757385 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The frequent movement of population between countries brings an increasing number of travel-related infections. This study aims to define the spectrum and dynamics of imported infections observed from international travel in the Chinese mainland. METHODS Sick travellers were screened by inbound sentinel surveillance and post-travel clinic visits from 2014 to 18. The infections were classified as respiratory, gastrointestinal, vector-borne, blood/sexually transmitted and mucocutaneous. The analysed variables included the place of origin of the travellers (Chinese or foreign) and the time when travel-related infection was present (at the time of return, during travel and post-travel visits to the clinic). RESULTS In total, 58 677 cases were identified amongst 1 409 265 253 travellers, with an incidence of 41.64/million, comprising during-travel incidence of 27.44/million and a post-travel incidence of 14.20/million. Respiratory infections constituted the highest proportion of illnesses during travel (81.19%, 31 393 of 38 667), which mainly came from Asian countries and tourists; with influenza virus and rhinovirus infections being mainly diagnosed. Vector-borne diseases constituted the highest proportion of post-travel illnesses (98.14%, 19 638 of 20 010), which were mainly diagnosed from African countries and labourers; with malaria and dengue fever being mainly diagnosed. The differential infection spectrum varied in terms of the traveller's demography, travel destination and travel purpose. As such, a higher proportion of foreign travellers had blood/sexually transmitted diseases (89.85%, 2832 of 3152), while Chinese citizens had a higher prevalence of vector-borne diseases (85.98%, 19 247 of 22 387) and gastrointestinal diseases (79.36%, 1115 of 1405). The highest incidence rate was observed amongst travellers arriving from Africa, while the lowest was observed amongst travellers arriving from Europe. CONCLUSIONS The findings might help in preparing recommendations for travellers and also aid in primary care or other clinics that prepare travellers before trips abroad. The findings will also help to identify locations and the associated types of infections that might require attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Meng-Yang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Long Wang
- Division of Science and Technology, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Yang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yu Sun
- Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Xia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Xing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Xuan Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yong Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Meng-Meng Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Ming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Li-Ping Wang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xiu-Hua Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China.,Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China
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13
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Norman FF, Comeche B, Chamorro S, Pérez-Molina JA, López-Vélez R. Update on the major imported protozoan infections in travelers and migrants. Future Microbiol 2020; 15:213-225. [PMID: 32065535 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2019-0212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Globalization has contributed to the emergence of specific parasitic diseases in novel geographical areas, and in these regions, these infections in travelers and immigrants may cause a considerable burden of disease. Timely diagnosis and treatment of protozoan infections to decrease mortality and prevent associated complications are essential. In this respect, the increased availability of specific DNA-detection procedures has improved the diagnosis of many imported parasitic infections. Travelers and immigrants with associated comorbidities or immunosuppression may pose a special challenge regarding management. An updated review of the main protozoan infections in mobile populations (malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, enteric protozoan infections) is provided, focusing on the changing epidemiology of these diseases, recent developments in diagnosis and management and the possibility of local transmission of imported infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca F Norman
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Ctra Colmenar, Km 9,100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Comeche
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Ctra Colmenar, Km 9,100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Chamorro
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Ctra Colmenar, Km 9,100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - José-Antonio Pérez-Molina
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Ctra Colmenar, Km 9,100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rogelio López-Vélez
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Ctra Colmenar, Km 9,100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Fieber nach Tropenaufenthalt. HAUTNAH DERMATOLOGIE 2019. [PMCID: PMC7149204 DOI: 10.1007/s15012-019-3090-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Bei Fieber nach einem Tropenaufenthalt kommen viele mögliche Erkrankungen infrage. Anhand der Anamnese und einfacher Basisuntersuchungen können Sie rasch die Schwere und Bedeutung der Erkrankung — ob lebensbedrohlich oder ansteckend — feststellen.
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15
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Wiemer D, Frickmann H, Krüger A. [Dengue fever : Symptoms, epidemiology, entomology, pathogen diagnosis and prevention]. Hautarzt 2019; 68:1011-1020. [PMID: 29147722 PMCID: PMC7096031 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-017-4073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Dengueinfektionen gehören zu den häufigsten Ursachen fieberhafter Erkrankungen im tropischen Umfeld. Die Infektion wird durch ein Flavivirus verursacht, das durch Aedes-Moskitos übertragen wird. Hauptüberträger für Dengueviren sind die weltweit in den Tropen verbreiteten Aedes-aegypti-Stechmücken. Da diese einerseits tagaktiv und andererseits sog. „container breeder“ sind, bedarf es besonderer Vorbeugungs- und Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen. Die Schwere der Symptomatik variiert und kann vom milden grippeähnlichen klinischen Bild bis hin zu schweren Hämorrhagien und Schock reichen. Zu den häufigsten Symptomen bei Reisenden gehören Fieber, Muskelschmerzen, Kopfschmerzen und Hautausschlag. Zur Diagnostik kommen, in Abhängigkeit vom Stadium der Infektion, patientennah einsetzbare Schnellteste oder – in der virämischen Phase – molekulare Erregerdirektnachweise infrage. Die serologische Diagnostik ist aufgrund von serologischen Kreuzreaktionen mit anderen Flaviviren hinsichtlich ihrer Interpretation anspruchsvoll.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Wiemer
- Fachbereich Tropenmedizin am Bernhard-Nocht Institut, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg, Bernhard-Nocht Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | - H Frickmann
- Fachbereich Tropenmedizin am Bernhard-Nocht Institut, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg, Bernhard-Nocht Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Deutschland.
| | - A Krüger
- Fachbereich Tropenmedizin am Bernhard-Nocht Institut, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg, Bernhard-Nocht Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Deutschland
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16
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Löscher T, Alberer M, Herbinger KH. Fieber nach Tropenaufenthalt. MMW Fortschr Med 2018; 160:44-54. [PMID: 30350043 PMCID: PMC7100522 DOI: 10.1007/s15006-018-0026-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bei Fieber nach Tropenaufenthalt kommen eine Vielzahl möglicher Erkrankungen in Frage. Anhand der Anamnese und einfacher Basisuntersuchungen können Sie rasch die Schwere und Bedeutung (lebensbedrohlich? ansteckend?) der Erkrankung feststellen.
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17
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Puca E, Qato M, Pipero P, Akshija I, Kote M, Kraja D. Two cases of imported hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and systematic review of literature. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 28:86-90. [PMID: 30114480 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Many factors are involved in the epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Imported cases, as well as those by emigrants, have been reported in literature worldwide. Our goal is to document two cases of HFRS, imported by two immigrants from two countries, and to make a review of the imported HFRS literature data. We performed a systematic literature review (PRISMA guidelines) of imported cases of HFRS and herein describe our two clinical cases. We found 20 published papers, with 16 of them in English and 4 in other languages. Twenty-three patients with travel- or immigration-associated HFRS, including our two cases, were identified. We included only papers that were in English. The average age of the patients was 35.9 ± 15.13 years, and the ratio of male to female was 8:1. Imported disease from Europe to Europe occurred in seven cases, America to Europe occurred in four cases, Europe to America occurred in two cases, America to America occurred in two cases, Asia to Asia in one case, Asia to Europe in one case, and Europe to Asia in one case. The results of the two cited cases are based on the clinical-laboratory, anamnestic, and serologic data for both the patients who tested positive for HFRS. Our systematic analysis shows that international travelers are important sources of infectious diseases. HFRS related to travel and immigration is a rare event. Principal risk factors for travelers and immigrants are camping outside recommended areas or under unsuitable conditions. In recent years, various publications have shown that international travelers and immigrants have expanded the spectrum of imported infectious diseases. The literature data show that the actual reported numbers of imported case of HFRS are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond Puca
- Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania; ESCMID Study Group for Infections in Travellers and Migrants (ESGITM), Albania.
| | - Migena Qato
- Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania
| | - Pellumb Pipero
- Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania
| | - Ilir Akshija
- Statistic Service, University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania
| | | | - Dhimiter Kraja
- Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania
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18
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German travelers' preferences for travel vaccines assessed by a discrete choice experiment. Vaccine 2018; 36:969-978. [PMID: 29338877 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many travelers to regions with endemic infectious diseases do not follow health authorities' recommendations regarding vaccination against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, before traveling. The determinants of individual travelers' decisions to vaccinate before traveling are largely unknown. This study aimed to provide this information using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) administered to four types of German travelers: (1) business travelers; (2) travelers visiting friends and relatives (VFR); (3) leisure travelers; and (4) backpackers. METHODS A DCE survey was developed, pretested and administered online. It included a series of choice questions in which respondents chose between two hypothetical vaccines, each characterized by four disease attributes with varying levels describing the of risk, health impact, curability and transmissibility of the disease they would prevent (described with four disease attributes with varying levels of risk, health impact, curability and transmissibility), and varying levels of four vaccine attributes (duration of protection, number of doses required, time required for vaccination, and vaccine cost). A random-parameters logit model was used to estimate the importance weights each traveler type placed on the various attribute levels. These weights were used to calculate mean monetary equivalents (MMEs) of changes in each attribute (holding all others constant) and of hypothetical disease-vaccine combinations. RESULTS All traveler types' choices indicated that they attached the greatest importance to the risk and health impact of disease and to the vaccine cost whereas the other disease and vaccine attributes were less important for their decisions about travel vaccines. An option of not choosing any of the vaccine-pairs presented was rarely selected indicating that travelers' generally prefer to be vaccinated rather than not. The MMEs of changes in vaccine attributes indicated a very high variability between the individual travelers within each type. CONCLUSIONS The travelers' responses indicated strong preferences for selecting vaccination rather than opting out of vaccination, and disease risk, health impact and vaccine cost were the most important features for vaccine choice.
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19
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Lääveri T, Vilkman K, Pakkanen SH, Kirveskari J, Kantele A. A prospective study of travellers' diarrhoea: analysis of pathogen findings by destination in various (sub)tropical regions. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 24:908.e9-908.e16. [PMID: 29133155 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Eighty million travellers visiting (sub)tropical regions contract travellers' diarrhoea (TD) each year, yet prospective data comparing the prevalence of TD pathogens in various geographical regions are scarce. Our recent study using modern molecular methods found enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enteroaggregative (EAEC) Escherichia coli to be the most frequent pathogens, followed by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and Campylobacter. We revisited our data to compare the findings by geographical region. METHODS A total of 459 prospectively recruited travellers provided stool samples and completed questionnaires before and after visiting destinations in various geographical regions. A multiplex quantitative real-time PCR assay was used to analyse Salmonella, Yersinia, Campylobacter jejuni/Campylobacter coli, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae, EPEC, EAEC, ETEC, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and enteroinvasive E. coli. RESULTS TD was contracted by 69% (316/459) of the subjects; EPEC and EAEC outnumbered ETEC and Campylobacter in all regions. Multiple pathogens were detected in 42% (133/316) of the samples. The proportions of all pathogens varied by region. The greatest differences were seen for Campylobacter: while relatively frequent in South Asia (n = 11; 20% of the 55 with TD during travel) and Southeast Asia (15/84, 15%), it was less common in East and West Africa (5/71, 7% and 1/57, 2%) and absent in South America and the Caribbean (0/40). CONCLUSIONS EPEC and EAEC outnumbered ETEC and Campylobacter everywhere, yet the proportions of pathogen findings varied by region, with ETEC and Campylobacter rates showing the greatest differences. The high frequency of multibacterial findings in many regions indicates a need for further investigation of the clinical role of each pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lääveri
- Inflammation Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland and University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - K Vilkman
- Inflammation Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland and University of Helsinki, Finland; Aava Travel Clinic, Medical Centre Aava, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S H Pakkanen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Kirveskari
- Department of Bacteriology, Helsinki University Hospital Laboratory (HUSLAB), Finland
| | - A Kantele
- Inflammation Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland and University of Helsinki, Finland; Aava Travel Clinic, Medical Centre Aava, Helsinki, Finland; Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Finland; Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine/Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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20
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Giardia is a common intestinal parasite worldwide, and infection can be associated with clear and sometimes persistent symptomatology. However, in children in high-prevalence settings, it is not associated with or is perhaps even protective against acute diarrhea, and the association with long-term outcomes has been difficult to discern. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have made progress in helping us disentangle this apparent paradox. First, prospective, well-characterized cohort studies have added to the data on the association between Giardia and diarrhea in these settings and have further characterized associations between Giardia infection and nutrition, gut function, and growth. Second, animal models have further characterized the host response to Giardia and helped elucidate mechanisms by which Giardia could impair child development. Finally, new work has shed light on the heterogeneity of human Giardia strains, which may both explain discrepant findings in the literature and help guide higher-resolution analyses of this pathogen in the future. SUMMARY The true clinical impact of endemic pediatric giardiasis remains unclear, but recent prospective studies have confirmed a high prevalence of persistent, subclinical Giardia infections and associated growth shortfalls. Integrating how nutritional, microbial, metabolic, and pathogen-strain variables influence these outcomes could sharpen delineations between pathogenic and potentially beneficial attributes of this enigmatic parasite.
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The human gut microbiome of Latin America populations: a landscape to be discovered. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2017; 29:528-37. [PMID: 27479024 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The gut microbiome is critical for human health, and its alteration is associated with intestinal, autoimmune and metabolic diseases. Numerous studies have focused on prevention or treatment of dysbiotic microbiome to reduce the risk or effect of these diseases. A key issue is to define the microbiome associated with the state of good health. The purpose of this review is to describe factors influencing the gut microbiome with special emphasis on contributions from Latin America. In addition, we will highlight opportunities for future studies on gut microbiome in Latin America. RECENT FINDINGS A relevant factor influencing gut microbiome composition is geographical location associated with specific genetic, dietary and lifestyle factors. Geographical specificities suggest that a universal 'healthy microbiome' is unlikely. SUMMARY Several research programs, mostly from Europe and North America, are extensively sequencing gut microbiome of healthy people, whereas data from Latin America remain scarce yet slowly increasing. Few studies have shown difference in the composition of gut microbiome between their local populations with that of other industrialized countries (North American populations). Latin America is composed of countries with a myriad of lifestyles, traditions, genetic backgrounds and socioeconomic conditions, which may determine differences in gut microbiome of individuals from different countries. This represents an opportunity to better understand the relationship between these factors and gut microbiome.
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22
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Adeel AA. Schistosomiasis in International Refugees and Migrant Populations. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-017-0128-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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23
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Mòdol JM, Roure S, Smithson À, Fernández-Rivas G, Esquerrà A, Robert N, Méndez M, Ramos J, Carreres A, Valerio L. Epidemiological and clinical assessment of a shared territorial malaria guideline in the 10 years of its implementation (Barcelona, North Metropolitan Area, Catalonia, Spain, 2007-2016). Malar J 2017; 16:365. [PMID: 28893258 PMCID: PMC5594461 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria remains a major source of morbi-mortality among travellers. In 2007, a consensual multicenter Primary Care-Hospital shared guideline on travel-prior chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis and clinical management of imported malaria was set up in the Barcelona North Metropolitan area. The aim of the study is to assess the evolution of malaria cases in the area as well as its clinical management over the 10 years of its implementation. RESULTS A total of 190 malaria cases, all them imported, have been recorded. The overall estimated malaria crude incidence was of 0.47 cases per 10,000 population/year (95% CI 0.34-0.59) with a slight significant positive slope especially at the expense of an increase in Indian sub-continent Plasmodium vivax cases. The number of patients who attended the pre-travel consultation was low (13.7%) as well as those with prescribed chemoprophylaxis (10%). Severe malaria was diagnosed in 34 (17.9%) patients and ICU admittance was required in 2.6% of them. Organ sequelae (two renal failures and one post-acute distress respiratory syndrome) were recorded in 3 patients at hospital discharge, although all three were recovered at 30 days. None of the patients died. Patients complying with severity criteria were significantly males (p = 0.04), came from Africa (p = 0.02), were mainly non-immigrant travellers (p = 0.01) and were attended in a hospital setting (p < 0.001). The most frequently identified species was Plasmodium falciparum (64.2%), P. vivax (23.2%), Plasmodium malariae (1.6%) and Plasmodium ovale (1.1%). Those patients diagnosed with P. falciparum malaria came more often from sub-Saharan Africa (p < 0.001) and those with P. vivax came largely from the Indian sub-continent (p = 0.003). Among the 126 patients in whom an immunochromatographic antigenic test was performed, the result was interpreted as falsely negative in 12.1% of them. False negative results can be related to cases with <1% parasitaemia. CONCLUSIONS After 10 years of surveillance, a moderate increase in malaria incidence was observed, mostly P. vivax cases imported from the Indian sub-continent. Although severe malaria cases have been frequently reported, none of the patients died and organ sequelae were rare. Conceivably, the participation of the Primary Care and the District and Third Level Hospital professionals defining surveillance, diagnostic tests, referral criteria and clinical management can be considered a useful tool to minimize malaria morbi-mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep M. Mòdol
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Sílvia Roure
- Unitat de Salut Internacional Metropolitana Nord, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Catalonia Spain
| | - Àlex Smithson
- Internal Medicine Service, Hospital de l’Esperit Sant, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Gema Fernández-Rivas
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Anna Esquerrà
- Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Neus Robert
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia Spain
| | - María Méndez
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Javier Ramos
- Internal Medicine Service, Hospital de l’Esperit Sant, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Anna Carreres
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Lluís Valerio
- Unitat de Salut Internacional Metropolitana Nord, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Catalonia Spain
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Kuhn KG, Nielsen EM, Mølbak K, Ethelberg S. Epidemiology of campylobacteriosis in Denmark 2000-2015. Zoonoses Public Health 2017; 65:59-66. [PMID: 28597535 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Campylobacter is the most frequently occurring cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in Europe. Unlike other zoonotic diseases, European-wide incidences of Campylobacter infections have increased during the past decade, resulting in a significant disease burden. In Denmark, campylobacteriosis is notifiable by laboratory and a unique registration system of electronic transfer and storage of notified Campylobacter cases linked to the national person register of age, gender and geographical location allows collection of comprehensive case data. Using national surveillance data, we describe Campylobacter infections in Denmark from 2000 to 2015, focusing on age-specific incidences, geography, seasonality and outbreaks. During the observed period, a total of 60,725 Campylobacter infections were registered with a mean annual incidence of 69.3 cases/100,000 population. From 2000 to 2014, the incidence of campylobacteriosis decreased by 20%, followed by an apparent increase of 20% from 2014 to 2015. Approximately one-third of cases were travel-related. Incidences were highest in males, young adults aged 20-29 years and children under 5 years of age. Generally, children under 10 years of age living in rural areas were at higher risk of infection. Infection patterns were seasonal with an increase from May to October, peaking in August. Outbreaks were identified each year, including four large waterborne outbreaks which all occurred following heavy rainfall events. For the most part, patterns of Campylobacter infection in Denmark during 2000 to 2015 remained remarkably constant and followed what is known about the disease with respect to demographic, temporal and spatial characteristics. To establish better targeted prevention and control measures, the current knowledge gaps regarding both Campylobacter microbiology (degree of clonal diversity and clustering) and the importance of different risk factors (food versus environment/climate) need to be filled.
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Affiliation(s)
- K G Kuhn
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - E M Nielsen
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K Mølbak
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S Ethelberg
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Travellers' diarrhea (TD) continues to be the most frequent health problem in travellers with destinations in lower income parts of the world as compared with where they reside, even if that risk has slightly decreased. METHODS A systematic review was published 18 months ago; now PubMed was searched for more recent publications relating to travel, diarrhea, epidemiology, incidence, risk. RESULTS A trend to decreasing incidence rates have been noted in this as compared with the last century, but TD remains frequent. The clinical picture varies from a trivial ailment to severe with subsequent hospitalization. Of great concern are long-term sequelae, particularly post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. The most important risk factors are the destination and duration of exposure among the environmental factors, whereas the age is the most relevant host factor. CONCLUSIONS Even if improved hygienic conditions in low-income countries often visited by travellers have resulted in slightly diminished incidence rates of TD, this remains a frequent health problem. Visitors to such destinations must be informed about that health risk and it is beneficial to equip them with instructions and a travel kit to enable them to some extent self-manage TD occurring abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Steffen
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Traveller's Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Division of Epidemiology Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
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Herbinger KH, Hanus I, Schunk M, Beissner M, von Sonnenburg F, Löscher T, Bretzel G, Hoelscher M, Nothdurft HD, Huber KL. Elevated Values of C-Reactive Protein Induced by Imported Infectious Diseases: A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study of 11,079 Diseased German Travelers Returning from the Tropics and Subtropics. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:938-944. [PMID: 27527624 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The present controlled cross-sectional study aimed to assess elevated values of C-reactive protein (CRP), a positive acute-phase protein, induced by imported infectious diseases (IDs) seen in patients consulting the University of Munich (1999-2015) after being in the tropics/subtropics. The analysis investigated data sets from 11,079 diseased German travelers (cases) returning from Latin America (1,986), Africa (3,387), and Asia (5,706), and from 714 healthy Germans who had not recently traveled (controls). The proportions of elevated values of CRP (> 0.5 mg/dL) were significantly larger among cases (44.3%) than among controls (20.7%). Among cases, this proportion was largest among males (49.2%) in comparison to females (39.9%), among travelers with short travel duration of 1-14 days (49.6%) in comparison to travelers with a travel duration of > 180 days (30.8%), and with travel destination in Africa (47.0%) in comparison to Asia (44.2%) and Latin America (39.9%), among all-inclusive travelers (47.4%) in comparison to business travelers (46.7%) and backpackers (44.1%), and among patients presenting with fever (70.9%) and arthralgia (54.3%). The study identified various imported IDs with significantly larger proportions of elevated values of CRP including viral (cytomegalovirus infection [94.7%], influenza [88.9%], infectious mononucleosis [71.8%]), bacterial (typhoid fever [100%], paratyphoid fever [92.9%], shigellosis [76.8%], rickettsiosis [74.2%], Salmonella enteritis [71.3%], Campylobacter infection [68.7%]), and protozoan (vivax malaria [100%], ovale malaria [100%], falciparum malaria [95.4%], noninvasive Entamoeba infection [65.9%]) IDs. This study demonstrates that elevated values of CRP can be a useful laboratory finding for travelers returning from the tropics/subtropics, as these findings are typically caused mainly by certain imported bacterial IDs, but also by viral and protozoan IDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Heinz Herbinger
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Ingrid Hanus
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mirjam Schunk
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus Beissner
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank von Sonnenburg
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Löscher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gisela Bretzel
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Hoelscher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany. German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Dieter Nothdurft
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Lydia Huber
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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27
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Herbinger KH, Hanus I, Felbinger TW, Weber C, Beissner M, von Sonnenburg F, Löscher T, Bretzel G, Nothdurft HD, Hoelscher M, Alberer M. Elevated Values of Clinically Relevant Transferases Induced by Imported Infectious Diseases: A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study of 14,559 Diseased German Travelers Returning from the Tropics and Subtropics. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:481-7. [PMID: 27215300 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this controlled cross-sectional study was to assess the clinical validity of elevated values of three clinically relevant transferase enzymes (aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT], and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT]) induced by imported infectious diseases (IDs) seen among patients consulting the Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (from 1999 to 2014) after being in the sub-/tropics. Data sets of 14,559 diseased German travelers returning from Latin America (2,715), Africa (4,574), or Asia (7,270) and of 1,536 healthy controls of German origin without recent travels were analyzed. Among the cases, the proportions of those with elevated values of AST (7.8%) and of ALT (13.4%) were significantly larger than among controls (4.0% and 10.6%, respectively), whereas for GGT, no significant difference was found (cases: 10.0%; controls: 11.4%). The study identified IDs with significantly larger proportions of both AST and ALT (hepatitis A [100%/100%], cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection [77%/81%], chronic hepatitis C [67%/67%], infectious mononucleosis [65%/77%], typhoid fever [50%/50%], cyclosporiasis [45%/66%], dengue fever [43%/35%], malaria [20%/27%], and rickettsiosis [20%/24%]), of AST alone (paratyphoid fever [42%]), of ALT alone (giardiasis [20%]), and of GGT (hepatitis A [100%], infectious mononucleosis [71%], CMV infection [58%], rickettsiosis (20%], and dengue fever [19%]). The study demonstrates that the determination of AST and ALT among travelers returning from the sub-/tropics has a high clinical validity, as their elevated values are typically caused by several imported viral, bacterial, and protozoan IDs, whereas no additional clinical validity was found by the determination of GGT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Heinz Herbinger
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Ingrid Hanus
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas W Felbinger
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Neuperlach Medical Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Christine Weber
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus Beissner
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank von Sonnenburg
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Löscher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gisela Bretzel
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Dieter Nothdurft
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Hoelscher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany. German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Alberer
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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