Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in different regions of Serbia

Abstract

The aim of our study were to examine the prevalence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, etiological agent of Human Monocytotropic Ehrlichiosis, in population of Serbia we assayed the presence of specific antibodies in human sera by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Sera from 273 healthy persons and 138 patients with unclear rheumatoid and influenza-like clinical symptoms from several localities with different geographical, climatic and lifestyle characteristics were tested. In this survey, for the first time, we detected presence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis-specific antibodies in the sera of healthy volunteers from the mountain/forest areas of Serbia. In addition, our findings suggest that some of the patients with unclear clinical symptoms experienced the infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and most probably suffered from Human Monocytotropic Ehrlichiosis. These findings contribute to the investigation of the prevalence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in Southeast Europe. Our study also revealed lack of awareness of Ehrlichioses and points the urge for the measures that would help improving current situation in the region.

Cilj naše studije je bio da ispitamo prevalencu Ehrlichi-je chaffeensis, etiološkog uzročnika humane monocitotropične erlihioze u Srbiji utvrđivanjem prisustva specifičnih antitela u humanom serumu metodom indirektne imunofluoroscencije. Testirani su serumi 273 zdrave osobe i 138 pacijenata sa nejasnim reumatoidnim i gripu sličnim kliničkim simptomima iz različitih geografskih, klimatskim i socijalnih sredina. Na taj način smo po prvi put, detektovali prisustvo Ehrlichia chaffeensis-specifičnih antitela u serumu zdravih dobrovoljaca iz planinskih oblasti Srbije.Naš nalaz ukazuje da su neki od pacijenata sa nejasnim kliničkim simptomima bili izloženi infekciji sa Ehrlichijom chaffeensis najverovatnije oboleli od humane monocitotropične erlihioze. Ovaj nalaz doprinosi utvrđivanju prevalence Ehrlichije chaffeensis u jugoistočno Evropi. Naša studija je takođe otkrila da se ova bolest vrlo često previđa i ukazuje na mere koje bi poboljšale trenutnu situaciju u regionu.