SVIBOR - Project code: 3-01-040

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Strossmayerov trg 4, HR - 10000 ZAGREB
tel.: +385 1 459 44 44, fax: +385 1 459 44 69
E-mail: ured@znanost.hr

SVIBOR

SVIBOR - Collecting Data on Projects in Croatia


Project code: 3-01-040


SPECIES AND IMPORTANCE OF RICKETTSIOSES IN THE MIDDLE PART OF SOUTHERN CROATIA


Main researcher: PUNDA, VOLGA (39312)



Assistants
Type of research: applied
Duration from: 01/01/91. to 12/15/95.

Papers on project (total): 21
Papers on project quoted in Current Contents: 5
Institution name: Medicinski fakultet, Zagreb (108)
Department/Institute: Department of Microbiology, Medical School Zagreb-Medical Study Split and Clinical Hospital Split
Address: Spinčićeva 1
City: 21000 - Split, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (0)021-515-055
Fax: 385 (0)021-365-738

Summary: In the middle part of southern Croatia (Split and Kastelas;urban, suburban, and semirural environment) epidemiological andclinical features of rickettsioses caused by Rickettsia conorii,R. typhi, R. prowazekii and Coxiella burnetii are surveyed. Bloodspecimens are taken from healthy persons who participated in anepidemiological questionnaire. Blood are collected from domesticanimals, which may have an important role inepidemio-epizootiological chain of rickettsiae. Human and animalsera are tested by complement fixation (CF) and indirectimmunofluorescence (IF) tests with specific rickettsial antigens.Patients with acute febrile illness with clasical symptoma ofrickettsioses (fever, rash, headache, eschar), atypical pneumoniaand with syndrome of undetermined febrile illness are clinicallyand serologically examined at least twice within the period of2-4 weeks of illness onset. Clinical, serological andepidemiological features of rickettsioses are studied. Thekinetics of specific antibodies in acute and convelescent serumare studied by CF, IFA and Weil-Felix tests.

Keywords: Rickettsies, Natural focus, Seroepidemiology, Clinical features

Research goals: To survey the seroprevalence of antibodies to R. conorii, R.typhi, R. prowazekii and C. burnetii among humans and domesticanimalis living in the studied area. To prove the endemicity ofthese rickettsial species in Southern Croatia. To detect thedifferences between frequency and spreading of rickettsiae. Tocharacterize epidemiological features and correlation of theillness onset with risk factors (occupation, sex, age,environment, season, presence of domestic animals orarthropodes). To investigate the incidence of rickettsioses insouthern Croatia. To find out atypical, severe forms of thedisease which might be due to rickettsial strain characteristicfor studing area. To evaluate serologic tests in detecting acuteinfection as well as in sero-epidemiological surveys. Todetermine the role of domestic animals inepidemo-epizootical chainof studied rickettsioses. An important outcome of the study will be the determinationof presence, diffusion and frequency of rickettsial species inthe southern Croatia. The results of the survey should provideevidence about significant activity of R. conorii throughout thenatural environment of the region. This survey should allow theevaluation of actual importance of rickettsioses for publichealth. According to the results of this study measures ofcontrol of rickettsioses will be proposed. Identification ofrickettsial species will enhance our knowledge and permits arapid and specific diagnosis of rickettsioses. With thisinformation it may be possible to select and begin appropriatetherapy for treatment of rikettsioses, which can be fatal.


COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: Zavod za javno zdravstvo županije Splitsko-dalmatinske
    Type of institution: Institution whose primary activities ar
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: 21000 - Split, Croatia

  2. Name of institution: Veterinarski fakultet
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Occasional exchange of information
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

  3. Name of institution: University of Maryland at Baltimore
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Systematic exchange of information
    City: 21201 MD - Baltimore, USA

  4. Name of institution: Medical College of Wisconsin
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint publishing of scientific papers
    City: 53226 WI - Milwaukee, USA

Other information about the project.
MZT Croatian language SVIBOR Alphabetic list Sorted on project code Sorted on institutions Search help
Ministry of
Science and
Technology
Croatian
language
Svibor
homepage
Alphabetic
list
Sorted on
project code
Sorted on
institutions
Search Help

Last update: 09/28/95
Information: svibor@znanost.hr