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From Bedside to Exposure: Infections of Leisure

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A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 9578

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Loukas Kakoullis

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Internal Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Interests: antibiotic resistance; tropical medicine; travel medicine; host-pathogen interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the key characteristics of any infectious disease specialist is their ability to ascertain what their patients have been exposed to, in order to determine their pre-test probability for having a specific infection. This skill is critical to guiding the differential diagnosis and further testing. The study of exposures also provides insight into how humans interact with their enviroment, and how specific activities predispose us to different pathogens.

This Special Issue will focus on infections associated with specific exposure to environmental factors, animals, and activities. Examples include all zoonoses, protozoan, and parasitic infections associated with human activities (consumption of specific food items and especialy raw food, consumption of stream water, use of night soil in agriculture), infections associated with sports and leusure (swimming, speuloking, white water rafting, camping) and many others.

We are inviting our colleagues to submit original research articles, reviews, and case reports, which focus on how specific exposures are associated with the development of infectious diseases. Priority will be given to articles focusing on rare or tropical diseases, however we invite submissions for all types of infectious diseases, so long as exposure to a specific enviromental factor or activity is a critical element to the development of the disease. For case reports, we ask that the specific activity that predisposed the patient to developing the infection is explored in detail.

We look forward to reading your submissions.

Dr. Loukas Kakoullis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

zoonoses
sports
parasitic infections
protozoan infections
helminthic infections
camping
white water rafting
swimming in fresh water

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 5907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Vaccination among Tourists in a High-Prevalence Area (Italy, 2023): A Cross-Sectional Study

by Matteo Riccò, Silvia Corrado, Federico Marchesi and Marco Bottazzoli

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(11), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8110491 - 2 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1802

Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) represents a potential health threat for tourists in high-risk areas, including the Dolomite Mountains in northeastern Italy. The present questionnaire-based survey was, therefore, designed in order to assess knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices (KAP) in a convenience sample of Italian tourists visiting the Dolomite Mountains, who were recruited through online discussion groups. A total of 942 participants (39.2% males, with 60.2% aged under 50) filled in the anonymous survey from 28 March 2023 to 20 June 2023. Overall, 24.1% of participants were vaccinated against TBE; 13.8% claimed to have previously had tick bites, but no cases of TBE were reported. The general understanding of TBE was relatively low; while 79.9% of participants acknowledged TBE as a potentially severe disease, its occurrence was acknowledged as high/rather high or very high in the Dolomites area by only 51.6% of respondents. Factors associated with the TBE vaccine were assessed by the calculation of adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals through a logistic regression analysis model. Living in areas considered at high risk for TBE (aOR 3.010, 95%CI 2.062–4.394), better knowledge on tick-borne disorders (aOR 1.515, 95%CI 1.071–2.142), high risk perception regarding tick-borne infections (aOR 2.566, 95%CI 1.806–3.646), a favorable attitude toward vaccinations (aOR 3.824, 95%CI 1.774–8.224), and a tick bite(s) in a previous season (aOR 5.479, 95%CI 3.582–8.382) were characterized as being positively associated with TBE vaccination uptake. Conversely, being <50 years old (aOR 0.646, 95%CI, 0.458–0.913) and with a higher risk perception regarding the TBE vaccine (aOR 0.541, 95%CI 0.379–0.772) were identified as the main barriers to vaccination. In summary, tourists to the high-risk area of the Dolomites largely underestimate the potential occurrence of TBE. Even though the uptake of the TBE vaccine in this research was in line with European data, public health communication on TBE is required in order to improve acceptance of this effective preventive option. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Bedside to Exposure: Infections of Leisure)

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Other

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7 pages, 554 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCase Report

Aseptic Meningitis Linked to Borrelia afzelii Seroconversion in Northeastern Greece: An Emerging Infectious Disease Contested in the Region

by Dimitrios Kouroupis, Maria Terzaki, Nikoletta Moscha, Anastasia Sarvani, Elisavet Simoulidou, Sofia Chatzimichailidou, Evangelia Giza, Georgios Sapouridis, Emmanouil Angelakis, Konstantinos Petidis and Athina Pyrpasopoulou

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9010025 - 19 Jan 2024

Viewed by 2729

Abstract

Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is a zoonosis, mediated to humans and small mammals through specific vectors (ticks), with increasing global incidence. It is associated with a variety of clinical manifestations and can, if not promptly recognized and left untreated, lead to significant disability. In Europe, the main Borrelia species causing disease in humans are Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia spielmanii. 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 aseptic meningitis associated with antibody seroconversion against Borrelia afzelii in a young female patient from the prefecture of Thasos without any relevant travel history. 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. In the absence of typical erythema migrans, serological evidence of infection is required for diagnosis. Although atypical in terms of clinical presentation, the seasonality and geographical location of potential disease transmission in the reported patient should raise awareness among clinicians for a still controversial and potentially underreported emerging infectious disease in Greece. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Bedside to Exposure: Infections of Leisure)

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37 pages, 9828 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceSystematic Review

Seroprevalence of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Occupational Settings: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Matteo Riccò, Antonio Baldassarre, Silvia Corrado, Marco Bottazzoli and Federico Marchesi

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(9), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8090452 - 19 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1682

Abstract

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Virus can cause a serious human disease, with the case fatality ratio previously estimated to be 30–40%. Our study summarized seroprevalence data from occupational settings, focusing on the following occupational groups: animal handlers, abattoir workers, farmers, healthcare workers, veterinarians, rangers, and hunters. Systematic research was performed on three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, MedRxiv), and all studies reporting seroprevalence rates (IgG-positive status) for CCHF virus were retrieved and their results were reported, summarized, and compared. We identified a total of 33 articles, including a total of 20,195 samples, i.e., 13,197 workers from index occupational groups and 6998 individuals from the general population. Pooled seroprevalence rates ranged from 4.751% (95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.834 to 11.702) among animal handlers, to 3.403% (95% CI 2.44 to 3.932) for farmers, 2.737% (95% CI 0.896 to 8.054) among rangers and hunters, 1.900% (95% CI 0.738 to 4.808) for abattoir workers, and 0.644% (95% CI 0.223–1.849) for healthcare workers, with the lowest estimate found in veterinarians (0.283%, 95% CI 0.040–1.977). Seroprevalence rates for abattoir workers (odds ratio (OR) 4.198, 95% CI 1.060–16.464), animal handlers (OR 2.399, 95% CI 1.318–4.369), and farmers (OR 2.280, 95% CI 1.419 to 3.662) largely exceeded the official notification rates for CCHF in the general population. CCHF is reasonably underreported, and pooled estimates stress the importance of improving the adherence to personal protective equipment use and appropriate preventive habits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Bedside to Exposure: Infections of Leisure)

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8 pages, 8422 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCase Report

Burying Hatchets into Endemic Diagnoses: Disseminated Blastomycosis from a Potentially Novel Occupational Exposure

by Kusha Davar, Arthur Jeng and Suzanne Donovan

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(7), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8070371 - 18 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1196

Abstract

Background: Blastomycosis is an endemic fungal disease predominantly observed in the northern regions of North America. It manifests primarily as pulmonary disease but can also involve dissemination to the skin, bones, and genitourinary tract. Detailed Case Description: We describe a case of a patient in Southern California with disseminated blastomycosis following his occupational exposure to decaying wood. The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin therapy followed by oral itraconazole therapy with full resolution of his symptoms. Conclusions: The patient’s case presentation serves as a reminder regarding Blastomyces infections diagnosed outside of endemic regions and suggests a potential link between blastomycosis and a novel occupational exposure surrounding axe throwing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Bedside to Exposure: Infections of Leisure)

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7 pages, 571 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Headache, Fever, and Myalgias in an HIV-Positive Male with a History of Tuberculosis: Epstein–Barr Virus Aseptic Meningitis

by Loukas Kakoullis, Claudia Hentschel and Robert Colgrove

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(4), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040191 - 26 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1534

Abstract

Background: We describe a case of EBV aseptic meningitis in a patient with HIV with an extensive history of prior infections and exposures. Detailed Case Description: A 35-year-old man with a history of HIV, syphilis, and partially treated tuberculosis presented with headache, fever, and myalgias. He reported recent exposure to dust from a construction site and had sexual contact with a partner with active genital lesions. An initial workup revealed mildly elevated inflammatory markers, significant pulmonary scarring from tuberculosis with a classic “weeping willow sign”, and lumbar puncture findings consistent with aseptic meningitis. An extensive evaluation was conducted to identify causes of bacterial and viral meningitis, including syphilis. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and isoniazid-induced aseptic meningitis were also considered based on his medications. EBV was ultimately isolated through PCR from the patient’s peripheral blood. The patient’s condition improved, and he was discharged on his home antiretroviral and anti-tuberculous treatment. Conclusion: Central nervous system infections represent unique challenges in patients with HIV. EBV reactivation can present with atypical symptoms and should be considered as a cause of aseptic meningitis in this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Bedside to Exposure: Infections of Leisure)

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