RESUMEN
We describe a series of severe neuroinvasive infections caused by Toscana virus, identified by real-time reverse transcription PCR testing, in 8 hospitalized patients in Bucharest, Romania, during the summer seasons of 2017 and 2018. Of 8 patients, 5 died. Sequencing showed that the circulating virus belonged to lineage A.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Bunyaviridae , Virus de Nápoles de la Fiebre de la Mosca de los Arenales , Humanos , RumaníaAsunto(s)
Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Infección por el Virus Zika/diagnóstico , Virus Zika/inmunología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Europa (Continente) , Humanos , Israel , Resultados Negativos , Pruebas de Neutralización , ARN Viral/genética , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Virus Zika/genética , Virus Zika/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
During an entomological investigation carried out in Bucharest and surroundings in fall of 2012, 45 adult mosquitoes (38 females and 7 males) of Aedes albopictus were collected in a neighborhood from the southern area of the city. The morphological identification of the species was further confirmed by sequencing 2 mitochondrial DNA markers: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 genes. Aedes albopictus was collected again in 2013 in the same area from July until October. During late summer the species was found also in another location in the city, downtown Bucharest. Larvae were found in water barrels and other types of household containers, as well as in rain catch basins. In 2014, following a nuisance complaint of a Bucharest inhabitant, the entomological investigation found aggressive Ae. albopictus adults on his property that harbored many mosquito larvae in container-type breeding habitats. These findings are the 1st records of this invasive species and of its breeding population in Romania, and show maintenance of the species over 2 winter seasons. Surveillance of the species outside the area of the capital city was not performed, therefore it is not known whether Ae. albopictus has been introduced in other regions of the country. The presence of Ae. albopictus has been reported every year (2012-14) to competent public health authorities, stressing on the importance of surveillance and of implementation of control measures.
Asunto(s)
Aedes/clasificación , Aedes/fisiología , Distribución Animal/fisiología , Especies Introducidas , Aedes/genética , Animales , ADN Mitocondrial/genética , Femenino , Marcadores Genéticos , Masculino , Rumanía , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is the commonest arthropod-borne infection worldwide. In recent years, rapid growth in global air travel has resulted in a considerable increase in the incidence of imported cases. In Romania it is now the second most frequent cause for hospitalization (after malaria) in patients arriving from tropical regions. METHODS: Serological and molecular diagnostics were applied to samples obtained between 2008 and 2013 from travelers with suspected dengue. Molecular typing was performed by RT-PCR followed by sequencing of the E-NS1 junction. RESULTS: Twelve of 37 suspected cases were confirmed and three remained probable. The infections were acquired in endemic regions in Asia, Africa and in Europe (Madeira Island). Dengue virus nucleic acid was detected and sequenced in nine cases. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the viruses were of genotypes I and V of serotype 1, cosmopolitan genotype of serotype 2 and genotypes I and III of serotype 3. CONCLUSIONS: Romanian tourists traveling to dengue-endemic countries are at risk of acquiring dengue infection. Appropriate prevention measures prior to travel and upon return should be taken, particularly as the dengue secondary vector Aedes albopictus is now established in Bucharest.
Asunto(s)
Virus del Dengue/genética , Dengue/epidemiología , Dengue/virología , Viaje , Aedes/virología , África , Animales , Asia , Europa (Continente) , Humanos , Incidencia , Epidemiología Molecular , Tipificación Molecular , Filogenia , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Rumanía/epidemiología , Análisis de Secuencia de ADNRESUMEN
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has been confirmed by serological methods during recent years in Romania. In the present study, focus-reduction neutralization tests (FRNT) confirmed Dobrava hantavirus (DOBV) as the causative agent in some HFRS cases, but could not distinguish between DOBV and Saaremaa virus (SAAV) infections in other cases. DOBV was detected by a DOBV-specific TaqMan assay in sera of nine patients out of 22 tested. Partial sequences of the M genomic segment of DOBV were obtained from sera of three patients and revealed the circulation of two DOBV lineages in Romania. Investigation of rodents trapped in Romania found three DOBV-positive Apodemus flavicollis out of 83 rodents tested. Two different DOBV lineages were also detected in A. flavicollis as determined from partial sequences of the M and S genomic segments. Sequences of DOBV in A. flavicollis were either identical or closely related to the sequences obtained from the HFRS patients. The DOBV strains circulating in Romania clustered in two monophyletic groups, together with strains from Slovenia and the north of Greece. This is the first evidence for the circulation of DOBV in wild rodents and for a DOBV etiology of HFRS in Romania.