eva vassalou - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by eva vassalou

Eurosurveillance, 2012

Malaria, which was endemic in Greece in the past, was officially eliminated in 1974. Since that t... more Malaria, which was endemic in Greece in the past, was officially eliminated in 1974. Since that time and up to 2010, a number of imported cases (ranging from 19 to 76) have been annually reported. The total number of reported laboratory-confirmed cases between 1975 and 2010 was 1,419. Plasmodium falciparum was identified in 628 (44%) of these cases, while P. vivax was found in 524 (37%). Of the total cases, 1,123 (79%) were male (ratio males vs. females: 3.78). Age was only available for 490 cases, of which 352 (72%) belonged to the 18-40 year-age group. Of the 382 malaria cases reported from 1999 to 2010 for which the region/country of acquisition was known, 210 (55%) were from Africa and 142 (37%) from Asia. The massive introduction of economic migrants, in the period from 1990 to 1991 and from 2006 onwards, mainly from countries where malaria is endemic, resulted in the appearance of introduced sporadic cases. In Peloponnese, Central and East Macedonia, Thrace and East Attica, mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles (e.g. Anopheles sacharovi, A. superpictus and A. maculipenis) that can act as plasmodia vectors are abundant and during the summer of 2011, 27 P. vivax cases were reported in Greek citizens residing in the agricultural area of Evrotas in Lakonia and without travel history. As further P. vivax malaria cases occurred in the Lakonia and East Attica areas in 2012, it is becoming urgent to strengthen surveillance and perform integrated mosquito control that will help eliminate the potential risk of malaria reintroduction and reestablishment.

Reviews in Medical Microbiology, 2009

Brucella spp. are small, slow-growing, Gram-negative coccobacilli that are responsible for brucel... more Brucella spp. are small, slow-growing, Gram-negative coccobacilli that are responsible for brucellosis, the most common zoonotic disease worldwide. Brucellosis is a notifiable disease in most countries. Brucellosis is also considered as an occupational, laboratory and travel-acquired disease. Brucella spp. are transmitted through consumption of raw animal products (food-borne brucellosis) and animal contact. They may be spread through droplets in the air; they are traditionally classified as a class B bioterrorism agent. Brucellosis incidents have been reported in relation to domestic animals. Brucella strains have been isolated from terrestrial and marine mammals. Brucella melitensis, B. suis and B. abortus differ in host range, pathogenicity and virulence. B. canis infections have rarely been reported. Current global trends on the incidence of brucellosis are reviewed. Brucellosis is often overlooked and can mimic other conditions; it may be acute, subacute or chronic in presentation, and may involve various body sites. Recent studies on endocarditis, osteoarticular, haematological, neurological and other involvements are reviewed. Relapses in brucellosis should also be considered. Collaboration between the microbiologist and the clinician is important for diagnosis, since diagnosis of brucellosis is based on laboratory testing by serology and, ultimately by culture, in the context of clinical presentation and history of recent or past exposure. Advanced PCR-based techniques may also be used to diagnose brucellosis. Today a combination of antibiotics are recommended in treatment, whereas further therapeutic approaches are possible. New challenges posed by international travel, animal trade, animal movement, and occupational migration to/from endemic countries may increase incidence of human cases and the risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in previously brucellosis free regions such as Northern and Central Europe. Animals are considered to be lifelong carriers of Brucella spp. providing a large continuous source of human infection. A lower incidence of human brucellosis is likely to result from a decrease in incidence of animal brucellosis. Control and surveillance strategies may depend on the level of healthcare development and the prevalence of reservoir hosts in the affected region.

Eurosurveillance, 2012

Malaria, which was endemic in Greece in the past, was officially eliminated in 1974. Since that t... more Malaria, which was endemic in Greece in the past, was officially eliminated in 1974. Since that time and up to 2010, a number of imported cases (ranging from 19 to 76) have been annually reported. The total number of reported laboratory-confirmed cases between 1975 and 2010 was 1,419. Plasmodium falciparum was identified in 628 (44%) of these cases, while P. vivax was found in 524 (37%). Of the total cases, 1,123 (79%) were male (ratio males vs. females: 3.78). Age was only available for 490 cases, of which 352 (72%) belonged to the 18-40 year-age group. Of the 382 malaria cases reported from 1999 to 2010 for which the region/country of acquisition was known, 210 (55%) were from Africa and 142 (37%) from Asia. The massive introduction of economic migrants, in the period from 1990 to 1991 and from 2006 onwards, mainly from countries where malaria is endemic, resulted in the appearance of introduced sporadic cases. In Peloponnese, Central and East Macedonia, Thrace and East Attica, mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles (e.g. Anopheles sacharovi, A. superpictus and A. maculipenis) that can act as plasmodia vectors are abundant and during the summer of 2011, 27 P. vivax cases were reported in Greek citizens residing in the agricultural area of Evrotas in Lakonia and without travel history. As further P. vivax malaria cases occurred in the Lakonia and East Attica areas in 2012, it is becoming urgent to strengthen surveillance and perform integrated mosquito control that will help eliminate the potential risk of malaria reintroduction and reestablishment.

Reviews in Medical Microbiology, 2009

Brucella spp. are small, slow-growing, Gram-negative coccobacilli that are responsible for brucel... more Brucella spp. are small, slow-growing, Gram-negative coccobacilli that are responsible for brucellosis, the most common zoonotic disease worldwide. Brucellosis is a notifiable disease in most countries. Brucellosis is also considered as an occupational, laboratory and travel-acquired disease. Brucella spp. are transmitted through consumption of raw animal products (food-borne brucellosis) and animal contact. They may be spread through droplets in the air; they are traditionally classified as a class B bioterrorism agent. Brucellosis incidents have been reported in relation to domestic animals. Brucella strains have been isolated from terrestrial and marine mammals. Brucella melitensis, B. suis and B. abortus differ in host range, pathogenicity and virulence. B. canis infections have rarely been reported. Current global trends on the incidence of brucellosis are reviewed. Brucellosis is often overlooked and can mimic other conditions; it may be acute, subacute or chronic in presentation, and may involve various body sites. Recent studies on endocarditis, osteoarticular, haematological, neurological and other involvements are reviewed. Relapses in brucellosis should also be considered. Collaboration between the microbiologist and the clinician is important for diagnosis, since diagnosis of brucellosis is based on laboratory testing by serology and, ultimately by culture, in the context of clinical presentation and history of recent or past exposure. Advanced PCR-based techniques may also be used to diagnose brucellosis. Today a combination of antibiotics are recommended in treatment, whereas further therapeutic approaches are possible. New challenges posed by international travel, animal trade, animal movement, and occupational migration to/from endemic countries may increase incidence of human cases and the risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in previously brucellosis free regions such as Northern and Central Europe. Animals are considered to be lifelong carriers of Brucella spp. providing a large continuous source of human infection. A lower incidence of human brucellosis is likely to result from a decrease in incidence of animal brucellosis. Control and surveillance strategies may depend on the level of healthcare development and the prevalence of reservoir hosts in the affected region.