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Biomedical subjects

B Borcić

Publications and source records attributed to B Borcić.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Improvements for multipurpose bacteriological identification tables to suit the diagnosis of Vibrio cholerae.

The aim of the study was to reduce to key tests the 4 extensive polyvalent diagnostic biochemical tables most widely used in Croatia and to adapt them for the demonstration of Vibrio cholerae and its differentiation from the 3 Vibrios (V. alvinolyticus, V. mentschikovii, V. fluvialis) important in differential diagnosis. The fourth table has now been adapted to differentiate among all 12 Vibrio species known to be human pathogens (V. mimicus, V. cincinatiensis, V. holisae, V. damsela, V. furnisi, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. carchariae). Using the inductive Learning by Logic Minimization Method (ILLM), we analyzed 2 tables (i.e. identification matrices) that were a part of bioMérieux's commercial packaged polyvalent identification systems widely used in Croatia (API 20E and ATB 32E), as well as 2 compilation tables by M. T. Kelly et al. The tables contained 27, 32, 59 and 8 tests, respectively. Cutting these solely to the key tests involved rationalizing them from 59 to the 5 necessary to differentiate Vibrio cholerae from 3 related Vibrios. Further rationalizations were from 32 to 2 and from 27 to the 3 necessary to differentiate Vibrio cholerae from 2 related Vibrios. By reducing the table of 8 tests to 7, and adding 4 new ones to these we achieved an optimization permitting mutual differentiation of all 12 known human Vibrio pathogens. Use of the selective TCBS plating medium was the only precondition for making these tables effective.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1999

Some epidemiological data on TBE and Lyme borreliosis in Croatia.

TBE in Croatia was first discovered in 1953 but its mandatory reporting, as a distinct nosological entity, was instituted in 1987. Data presented here concern the 1989-1998 decade. During this period a total of 500 cases of TBE was recorded, ranging from 23 (1990) to 87 (1994) per year, with an average of 50 cases annually. There is only one natural focus in the northern part of the country, between the rivers Sava and Drava. Alleged cases of TBE, as occurring out of the focus (Zadar and Pula), have not been certified. The seasonal distribution of TBE cases is typical, most cases occurring from May to July (75%). As for the age distribution of TBE, a substantial rise is seen after the age of 20, only some 3% of cases occurring in children younger than 10 years. The first documented cases of human Lyme borreliosis in Croatia were published in 1986, its official compulsory reporting starting in 1991. Since then 1464 cases were recorded with an annual average of some 150 cases, varying from 93 (1992) up to 335 (1996). The age distribution is somewhat different from TBE, since the age group 0-9 years recruits 20% of all cases. Nevertheless, most of the diseased are of adult age. About 92% of the cases occur between May and August. The disease occurs mostly in the inland, above the 45th parallel, and only sporadically on the Adriatic coast.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

A comparative study of reactogenicity and immunogenicity of an oral and an inactivated polio vaccine.

Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the oral live attenuated (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) were studied in primary vaccination of toddlers. Three doses were administered simultaneously with DPT following the usual schedule valid in Croatia. The two groups of children had about 100 children each. Postvaccinal reactions were recorded for three days after each vaccination, and seroconversion was determined one month after the last injection. Although a conclusive analysis of postvaccinal reactions is not possible, since the staff of four different health centers apparently did not observe the same criteria, vaccination with IPV + DPT was not associated with remarkably more adverse events than OPV + DPT. Seroconversion rates attained with OPV ranged between 95.2% and 99.0%. With IPV, the rates were between 96.5% and 100%. Antibody levels for virus types 1, 2, and 3, as measured by GMT (reciprocal value), were 277, 1017, and 222 for OPV, and 465, 526, and 758 for IPV, respectively. IPV appears to be perfectly acceptable as a substitute for OPV for primary vaccination.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1998

Immunity of the Croatian population to poliomyelitis--a serosurvey.

Eight years after the last case of poliomyelitis it was of a special interest to determine the immunity level of the Croatian population to polio and thus to evaluate the possible risk of the revival of this infection. For this purpose, 200 sera samples were collected from individuals of different age and place of residence. Neutralizing antibodies (NT) for all three polioviruses were searched for. Antibody titers of > or = 1:8 were considered positive. Results of the study showed some 75% of the study subjects to have antibodies to polio type 1 and 2, and some 83% to type 3. Only 4% of the sera tested had no NT antibodies to any of the three types. The lowest mean geometric antibody titer (GMT) was for polio type 3 (GMT3 = 19.4; reciprocal value) and somewhat higher for type 1 (GMT1 = 23.5) and type 2 (GMT2 = 22.6). When the antibody titers were related with the age of the subjects, they were found not to decline with age, which was ascribed to periodical boosters with vaccinal strains. It is stressed that, in spite of the eradication of poliomyelitis achieved in Croatia, compulsory vaccination of the children should be continued until its global eradication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Immunity to diphtheria in the Croatian population in 1994].

The large outbreak of diphtheria in the former SSSR countries, which has been linked, among others, to low herd immunity, has led us to determine the level of this immunity in the Croatian population in view to undertake, if necessary, extra prophylactic measures (vaccination). For the purpose, C. diphtheriae serum antibody levels were determined in persons aged from 20 to above 60 years and coming from four major Croatian towns (Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek and Split). A commercial ELISA test and neutralization test (NT) on guinea pig were used. Whereas 223 sera were examined with ELISA, only 51 underwent NT. Both tests showed herd immunity to decline gradually with age, ELISA also revealing a wide variation range of antibody concentrations by individual age groups (Table 1). There was not a single serum sample below the "critical" level of 0.01 IU/ml. in Table 2, ELISA results are classified in three groups by antibody level: up to 0.01 IU/ml, between 0.01 and 0.09 and above 0.09 IU/ml, i.e. as unprotected, partially protected and protected persons. Such grouping of findings shows that not one of the subjects belongs to the first category, that most of them belong to the third (68%), as well as that the latter are passing into the second with growing age. It is concluded that by carrying out the mandatory immunization programme, in force in Croatia, it has been possible to attain and to sustain a high level of herd immunity. Hence there is no need for booster immunizations at older age.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The role of large wildlife in the maintenance of natural foci of tick-borne meningoencephalitis in northern Croatia].

Between 1986-1988 sera from 245 game animals--37 roe deers, 102 red deers, 81 wild boars and 25 hares--shot in 8 different localities of Nort Croatia, a well-known nosoareal of tick-borne encephalitis, were tested for TBE virus heminhibiting antibodies. The following percentages of positive animals were found: 24, 39, 39 and 0% respectively. Most of the animals examined, 180 of them, were shot in lowland woods of the commune of Nasice and its surroundings. There the percentage of positive animals was somewhat higher: 36, 41, 42 and 0 respectively. As these animals regularly participate in the feeding cycle of the ubiquitous wood tick Ixodes ricinus, the main vector of the tick-borne meningoencephalitis virus, it is infered that they (the hare being excluded in this study), apart from myomorphous mammals, play an important role in the transmission chain of the tick-borne meningoencephalitis virus in the respective natural foci of this zoonosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Reactivity and immunogenicity of Engerix B, the recombinant DNA vaccine against hepatitis B].

A group of 67 health workers with no markers indicating previous hepatitis B infection were vaccinated against hepatitis B with a new DNA recombinant vaccine, Engerix B (commercially manufactured by Smith-Kline-RIT, Belgium). Three injections were given according to the 0-1-6 schedule. One month after the last injection the vaccinees were tested for anti-HBs antibodies by the enzyme-linked assay. Antibody titers equal or less than 10 mIU/ml were found only in three subjects or in 4.5% of them. Titers ranging from 11 to 99 mIU/ml were found in 7 subjects (10.4%), from 100 to 999 mIU/ml in 28 (41.8%) and those equal or more than 1000 mIU/ml in 29 subjects (43.3%). It is inferred that the seroconversion rate is 95.5%. Only one subject did not develop detectable antibodies but three subjects had titers over 10000 mIU/ml. No one developed overt hepatitis B during the trial nor did the high responders experienced inapparent infections. They were tested for anti HBc with negative results. Postvaccinal reactions were mild and almost exclusively local. There were no complications. For its high immunogenicity and acceptable reactogenicity the Engerix B vaccine has a promising future.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[An epidemic of legionnaires' disease in a hotel].

An outbreak of legionnaires' disease and epidemic control measures taken at one of our hotels are described. Twenty (1% morbidity) hotel guests were affected with one dying. As a result of field investigations and survey the hot water supply system has been identified as the source of infection. Control measures which created conditions unfavourable to Legionella growth and replication in the hot water system stopped the outbreak.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Immune response to Edmonston-Zagreb measles virus strain in monovalent and combined MMR vaccine.

The live Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine is currently produced either on chick-embryo fibroblasts (CEF) or on human diploid cells (HDC). Its stability meets the WHO requirements. Since the vaccine licensure in 1967 the Edmonston-Zagreb measles virus strain has been administered to over 20 million vaccinees either as a monovalent vaccine or as a component of the combined MR, MMR and MM vaccines. Immunogenicity studies have shown the persistence of the elicited HI antibody for a minimum of 16 years. In children aged 13-17 months a greater than 95% seroconversion was recorded after subcutaneous administration both CEF and HDC vaccines. The vaccine has also been shown to be highly immunogenic when administered intranasally. In 6-12 month old infants the Edmonston-Zagreb monovalent vaccine elicited a 100% HI antibody response after both s.c. and i.n. administration. The GMT of antibody 42 days after vaccination was significantly higher in those given HDC vaccine, regardless of the age of the vaccinees or the route of immunization.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1982

Small terrestrial mammals as reservoirs of leptospires in the Sava Valley (Croatia).

Small mammals trapped in seven sites along the river Sava in Croatia were examined for leptospiral infection by renoculture and serological methods. Of the 1749 animals caught 702 were examined by renoculture method and 626 were tested by microagglutination-lysis. The dominant animals species caught were Microtus arvalis (672 animals) and Apodemus agrarius (552 animals). Of the 115 strains of leptospires isolated the dominant serotypes were L. grippotyphosa (40) and L. pomona (35). Five strains of L. sejroe, 9 strains of L. australis, 1 strain of L. bataviae and 25 undetermined strains were isolated, the infection rate ranging from 3 to 32%. Serologic evidence of infection was demonstrated in 91 animals, the prevalence ranging from 0 to 43% of animals depending on the trapping site. Specific agglutinins most frequently encountered were those against L. pomona (50) and L. grippotyphosa (26), though agglutinins against L. jalna (5), L. bataviae (4), L. bratislava (3) etc., were also found. A high degree if association between L. grippotyphosa and the common vole as well as between L. pomona and the field mouse was found indicating that as far as these two types of leptospires are concerned the Sava valley may be considered as their vast natural focus. It was also concluded that wild small mammals in this region of Croatia may be a source of leptospiral infection for the local population as well as for outdoor-reared domestic animals (swine, bovine).

Animals↗