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T Jelinek

Publications and source records attributed to T Jelinek.

97 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis in southern Germany (Bavaria).

Alveolar echinococcosis is considered to be the most dangerous endemic parasitic disease for man in Central Europe. In Germany, unlike the neighbouring countries of Switzerland, Austria and France, only limited data on the prevalence and incidence of echinococcosis are available. Therefore, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in order to investigate the epidemiology of echinococcosis in Bavaria, one of the two southern states of Germany. A standardised questionnaire was sent to all hospitals in Bavaria requesting information about patients seen from 1985 to 1989. In a second step a team of reviewers was sent to all relevant hospitals for active case finding in hospital statistics and medical records. A total of 216 patients with echinococcosis were detected of whom 58 had alveolar echinococcosis. According to these data, the prevalence in Bavaria was calculated to be 0.5 per 100,000 inhabitants with peak values in the counties of Swabia (2.4) and Upper Bavaria (0.6). The annual mean incidence of newly diagnosed cases amounted to 0.03 per 100,000. The distribution of prevalence in man was closely correlated to the infection rates in foxes throughout Bavaria (p < 0.05). Farmers are the occupational group with the highest risk to acquire echinococcosis with a prevalence/odds ratio of 14.6 for Swabia and 8.8 for Upper Bavaria, when compared to the general rural population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Resistance in vivo of Plasmodium falciparum to co-trimoxazole in western Uganda.

In the context of the 'integrated management of childhood illnesses' (IMCI) programme the World Health Organization recommends treating children in malarious areas presenting with fever and respiratory symptoms with co-trimoxazole. In order to verify its effectiveness in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria we carried out a study in vivo in western Uganda: 180 children under 5 years old were enrolled and treated with 40/8 mg/kg/d co-trimoxazole over 5 d, and 159 could be followed on days 3, 7 and 14. Effectiveness of treatment was found to be significantly different in various parts of the study area. In Bundibugyo District, bordering République Democratique du Congo (Zaire), 59.1% (39/66) of children were clinically cured after 14 d and 56.1% were parasitologically cured. In the east of Kabarole District (43 children), the figures were 76.7% and 65.1%, respectively. In western Kabarole (50 children) the rates were 96.0% and 90.0%, respectively. We conclude that, in view of the high level of clinical failures in parts of the study area, co-trimoxazole should not be used in the IMCI programme for combined treatment of malaria and pneumonia in the region. Assessment of therapeutic effectiveness of antimalarial drugs needs to consider the microepidemiology of resistance.

Antimalarials↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of giardiasis in German travelers.

BACKGROUND: Giardiasis has been well characterized in individuals traveling from areas of low to high endemicity. METHODS: Clinical features, travel and medical histories in 352 patients with giardiasis who presented to a German outpatient clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases were investigated in order to identify common epidemiological factors and potential strategies of prevention. RESULTS: Compared to the total patient population of the outpatient clinic during the period of investigation (n=13, 566 patients), patients who presented with giardiasis traveled longer (median 28 days versus 19 days, p <.001). While only 19.2% of the total patient population had traveled to the Indian subcontinent prior to referral, 32.1% of the patients with giardiasis acquired the infection there (p <.0001). Similar results were obtained for West Africa: in contrast to 19% of patients with giardiasis (p <. 0001), only 5.4% of the total patient population traveled there. CONCLUSION: The risk of infection appears to be highest when making an extended journey to the Indian subcontinent. Short-time visitors to other parts of Asia and Latin America are apparently at a markedly lower risk. Risk factors such as type, duration and destination of the journey should be considered in pretravel counseling.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of dipstick tests for the rapid diagnosis of malaria in nonimmune travelers.

BACKGROUND: Swift diagnosis of falciparum malaria in nonendemic areas is frequently complicated by lack of experience on the side of involved laboratory personnel. Diagnostic tools based on the dipstick principle for the detection of plasmodial histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP-2) (ICT Malaria P.f. (R)) and parasite-specific lactate-dehydrogenase (pLDH) (OptiMal(R)), respectively, have become available for the qualitative detection of falciparum malaria. METHODS: In order to evaluate currently available assays, a series of studies was conducted: sensitivity and specificity were evaluated by investigation of specimens from 231 febrile returnees from endemic areas, cross reactivity in patients with rheumatoid factor (RF) was assessed among 92 patients from a rheumatology unit, and the quality of dipstick self-use by febrile travelers was tested in Kenya. RESULTS: Whereas the test kit based on the detection of HRP-2 performed with a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 98.3%, the kit for the detection of pLDH showed a sensitivity of 88.5% and a specificity of 99.4%. Cross-reactions with sera positive for rheumatoid factor occurred in 6.6% with the ICT Malaria P.f.(R), and in 3.3% with the OptiMal(R) test. Only ICT Malaria P.f.(R) was tested for quality of self-use among travelers. This dipstick assay was performed successfully by 67 patients (68.4%), but 31 (31.6%) were unable to obtain a result. CONCLUSION: Dipstick tests have the potential of enhancing speed and accuracy of the diagnosis of falciparum malaria, especially if nonspecialized laboratories are involved. However, microscopical testing remains mandatory in every single patient with the possible diagnosis of malaria. Self-use of dipstick tests for malaria diagnosis by travelers should only be recommended after appropriate instruction and training, including a successful performance of the test procedure.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical features and epidemiology of tick typhus in travelers.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic features of tick typhus among German travelers has not been surveyed recently. METHODS: Clinical features, travel and medical histories in 78 patients with tick typhus who presented to a German outpatient clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases were investigated, in order to identify common epidemiological factors and potential strategies of prevention. Diagnosis was confirmed by serological detection of IgG- and IgM-antibodies to Rickettsia conorii by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The majority of patients (71.8%) had visited southern Africa prior to presentation. All patients presented with fever as the main symptom. An eschar was still present in 68 patients (87.2%) with regional lymphadenitis in 19.2%. However, only a minority of patients (17.9%) remembered a tick bite at the location of the eschar. CONCLUSION: Efforts to reduce the incidence of tick typhus in travelers should focus on preventive measures targeting behavioral changes. Avoiding tick bites during travel to endemic areas appears to be the single most important prophylactic action. Taking this into consideration, it should be possible to decrease the number of travelers returning with tick typhus significantly by adequate pretravel counseling.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Imported schistosomiasis in Europe: sentinel surveillance data from TropNetEurop.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a major parasitic disease, increasingly imported into temperate climates by immigrants from and travelers to endemic areas. METHOD: To generate valid data on imported infectious diseases to Europe and to recognize trends over time, the European Network on Imported Infectious Diseases Surveillance (TropNetEurop) was founded in 1999. Three hundred and thirty-three reports of schistosomiasis were analyzed for epidemiologic and clinical features. RESULTS: Male patients accounted for 64% of all cases. The average age of all patients was 29.5 years. The majority of patients were of European origin (53%). Europeans traveled predominantly for tourism (52%). Main reasons for travel for people from endemic areas were immigration and refuge (51%) and visits to relatives and friends (28%). The majority of infections were acquired in Africa; 92 infections were clearly attributable to Schistosoma haematobium, 130 to Schistosoma mansoni, and 4 to Schistosoma intercalatum. Praziquantel was the only treatment used. No deaths were recorded. CONCLUSION: TropNetEurop sentinel provides valuable epidemiologic and clinical data on imported schistosomiasis to Europe.

Adolescent↗