A Rare Case of Aseptic Meningitis Linked to Borrelia afzelii Seroconversion in Northeastern Greece | Chapter 10 | Recent Updates in Disease and Health Research Vol. 6

 

We describe an interesting case of probable Lyme disease with atypical features in a geographical region of Northern Greece, in which the emergence of Borreliosis is anticipated, but not established to date, and discuss on one hand the significance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion on a changing planet and, on the other, the difficulties establishing such a diagnosis. Lyme disease is an infectious syndrome caused by various species of Borrelia, a genus of bacteria of the spirochete phylum. The zoonosis known as Lyme disease, or Borreliosis is spreading around the world and is transmitted to humans and small mammals by certain tick vectors. It is linked to a range of clinical symptoms and has the potential to cause severe disability if neglected and not properly diagnosed. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia spielmanii are the primary Borrelia species that infect humans in Europe. The Ixodes ricinus tick is their principal vector. Although Lyme disease is considered endemic in the Balkan region and Turkey, and all three main Lyme pathogens have been detected in ticks collected in these countries, autochthonous Lyme disease remains controversial in Greece. We report a case of a 21-year-old female patient from Thasos Island in Northeastern Greece who was referred to the Emergency Department with a progressively worsening headache of 14 days duration and intermittent low-grade fever. The patient presented with fever and severe headache, and the cerebrospinal fluid examination showed lymphocytic pleocytosis. Serum analysis was positive for specific IgG antibodies against Borrelia afzelii. For a diagnosis to be made when characteristic erythema migrans are absent, serological evidence of infection is necessary. The seasonality and geographic location of possible disease transmission in the reported patient, despite the patient's unique clinical presentation, should alert clinicians to a new infectious disease in Greece that is still contentious and may be underreported.

 

Author(s) Details:-

 

Dimitrios Kouroupis
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Maria Terzaki
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Nikoletta Moscha
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Anastasia Sarvani
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Elisavet Simoulidou
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Sofia Chatzimichailidou
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Evangelia Giza
Neurology Department, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Georgios Sapouridis
Department of Radiology, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Emmanouil Angelakis
Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece.

 

Konstantinos Petidis
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Athina Pyrpasopoulou
2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

 

Please see the link here:  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rudhr/v6/355

Determination of Emitted Hydrogen (H2) from Bacterial Cultures in Closed Septum Vials by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Specific Hydrogen Sensor Techniques | Chapter 6 | Research Perspectives of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3

 

The present study primarily focuses on the determination of emitted hydrogen

(H₂) from bacterial cultures in closed septum vials and both techniques, static-GC

as well as the sensor approach. When microorganisms are cultivated in suitable

nutrient medium in closed septum vials, their emission of hydrogen (H2) is

detected using a particular hydrogen sensor in addition to headspace-gas

chromatography. Facultative anaerobes are able to release both CO2 and H2

which are important chemicals for both types of bacteria, whereas obligatory

aerobic bacteria can only create CO2 and water through aerobic oxidation. 

Obligate anaerobic bacteria emit H2 too but need an oxygen-free atmosphere

which can be achieved if the air in the septum vial is replaced by nitrogen. The

samples under investigation, either solid or liquid samples and from smears by

wads from a cotton bud, are cultured in the headspace vials and the hydrogen

emission was monitored after the necessary time of incubation and thus microbe

contamination was detected. Antibiotics added to the bacterial culture in the vial

are found to be effective if any gas emission is suppressed. If not, they are either

ineffective or the bacteria are even resistant. Antibiotics, both synthetic and

natural, were investigated and some were discovered to be resistant or

ineffective. This technique was used to look into food contamination by bacteria,

household necessities, medical specimens, and Lyme borreliosis caused by tick

infection, as well as to diagnose and treat the disease. The borrelia bacteria that

cause infection are found in ticks and, later on, in human blood after they enter

the host. The foregoing examples show how essential oils can stop bacterial

infections in various samples but this method can also be applied in human

medicine and tick-borne Lyme disease is taken here as representative for

diagnosis and therapy of diseases caused by bacterial infections in humans. The

effect of the antibiotics applied can be examined and the progress of an antibiotic

therapy can be controlled until its final success is recognized.

 

Author (s) Details

Dr. Bruno Kolb

Student Research Centre, Überlingen, Obertorstrasse, Germany

 

Please see the link:-  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rpmab/v3/370

Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma platys among Domesticated Animal Population-Study Based on Real Time PCR Methodology–in Thrissur District-Kerala, India | Chapter 4 | Newest Updates in Agriculture and Veterinary Science Vol. 3

 A very extreme prevalence of tick communicated diseases is observed between domesticated animal populace in Kerala now days. Conventional demonstrative methods established microscopy will not be sufficient to identify spirochete like Borrelia burgdorferi and germ like Anaplasma platys. The present study was aimed to use Taqman located qualitative Real Time PCR (qPCR) as an aid to think the presence of B. burgdorferi-bacterium creating Lyme disease and A. platys-germ affecting platelets, between our domesticated animal state. Previously reported, forward and reverse primers and probe sequences specific for A. platys (1) and B. burgdorferi (2) were secondhand in the study. Results of the present study shows that principal part the domesticated animal class tested from two together Wayanad and Thrissur districts were found to harbour either A. platys or Borrelia or two together pathogens. Based on the qualitative discovery of specific deoxyribonucleic acid targets, qPCR can be dependably used as an aid inaccurate and confirmatory disease up to class level. To authors knowledge this is the first report for molecular evidence of the A. platys and B. burgdorferi between domesticated animal public in the state of Kerala that should be a major concern and demands further detailed review including more number of samples from various districts describing different geographical domains.

Author(s) Details:

Sunitha Karunakaran,
Veterinary Dispensary, Koorkanchery, Department of Animal Husbandry, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

Gopika Thattat Gopinathan,
Clinical Laboratory, Animal Disease Control Project, Department of Animal Husbandry, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

Hareesh Sasidharan,
Clinical Laboratory, Animal Disease Control Project, Department of Animal Husbandry, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/NUAVS-V3/article/view/9668