bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPORTAMIENTO CIRCADIANO DEL GASTERÓPODO NERITA SCABRICOSTA EN EL INTERMAREAL ROCOSO DE ISLA LA PALMA, PACÍFICO COLOMBIANO
Authors: Flórez Jaramillo Luz Ángela , Cuéllar Luis Cuéllar Luis
Published: October 2017

We studied the circadian behavior during the foraging activity of the gastropod Nerita scabricosta at low tide. To measure the behavior we recorded the traveled distance and corresponding duration during foraging activity, according to the dial periods (day and night) in April 2010. Gastropods were measured and weighed after fiishing their activity. Finally, values of air temperature and humidity were recorded for each sampling time and dial period. The foraging activity by N. scabricosta did not vary signifiantly between day and night. However duration increased at night, period characterized by lower temperature and higher humidity. In addition, it was found that the activity was continuous, regardless the period.
INVENTARIO DE LARVAS DE PECES REGISTRADAS PARA EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO
Authors: Medellín Mora Johanna , Polanco F. Andrea , Navas S. Gabriel R.
Published: October 2017

A taxonomic checklist of larval stages of fish species recorded in the Colombian Caribbean is presented, as a product of an extensive literature review of studies on the topic. Eighty five family records included in 21 orders, with a total of 129 species were found. In terms of composition, the order Perciformes has shown the highest number of families (41), genera (66) and species (46). The families Carangidae and Exocoetidae were the richest. In terms of distribution, it was evident a bigger sampling effort in La Guajira, Magdalena and San Andrés y Providencia provinces.
PRIMER REGISTRO DE LIGIA BAUDINIANA (CRUSTACEA: ISOPODA: ONISCIDEA) PARA EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO
Authors: López Orozco Carlos Mario , Bermúdez Adriana , Navas S. Gabriel R.
Published: October 2017

The isopod Ligia baudiniana is reported for the first time from the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Specimens of this species were collected on a rocky, intertidal substrate on the beaches of Marbella, Cartagena de Indias. A diagnosis is included along with illustrations of main taxonomic characters.
ACERCA DE LA PRESENCIA DE PSEUDOCARCHARIAS KAMOHARAI (MATSUBARA) (LAMNIFORMES: PSEUDOCARCHARIIDAE) EN AGUAS AL SUROESTE DE LA ISLA DE MARGARITA, ESTADO NUEVA ESPARTA, VENEZUELA
Authors: Rodríguez Acosta Edilia Del Valle , Figueredo Rodríguez Arnaldo José , Espinoza Moya Harry Luis , Ron Esteves Ernesto José
Published: October 2017

Given the ecological importance and elasmobranch susceptibility to frequent bycatch, the surveillance of their fisheries has high relevance. Considering the lack of information about elasmobranch diversity associated with billfish fishery in the fishing port of Robledal, Margarita Island, Venezuela, a monitoring study was achieved between January 2014 and January 2015. Three specimens of Pseudocarcharias kamoharai were caught about 100 km southwest of the island, at a depth of about 150 m. Some anatomical, meristic and morphometric characters relevant to the species were determined, which allowed taxonomical identification. These records confirm the presence of the species in Venezuelan waters, extending its distribution range; and providing new data on chromatic patterns and reproductive aspects.
NUEVOS REGISTROS DE PECES DE ESQUELETO CARTILAGINOSO PARA EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO Y UNO COMO AMPLIACIÓN DE SU DISTRIBUCIÓN GEOGRÁFICA EN EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO PARA BOCAS DE CENIZA, DEPARTAMENTO DE ATLÁNTICO, COLOMBIA
Authors: Anguila Rafael , Nieto Alvarado Luis Eduardo , Hernández Beracasa Luis
Published: October 2017

Three new records of cartilaginous fishes are added and the area of distribution of one species is expanded for the Colombian Caribbean. These are: the bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus (Bonaterre), the sand tiger shark Odontaspis ferox (Risso), the roughtail stingray Dasyatis centroura (Mitchill) and the bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus (Bonaterre). The animals were captured by artisanal fishermen from Las Flores, Barranquilla, using long-lines, at Bocas de Ceniza, next to the mouth of the Magdalena river (Atlántico Department), Colombian Caribbean
Renaissance of an Old Topic: From Borazines to BN-doped Nanographenes
Authors: Lorenzo-García María Mercedes , Bonifazi Davide
Published: October 2017

Graphene is one of the leading materials in today's science, but the lack of a band gap limits its application to replace semiconductors in optoelectronic devices. To overcome this limitation, the replacement of C=C bonds by isostructural and isoelectronic bonds is emerging as an effective
strategy to open a band gap in monoatomic graphene layers. First prepared by Stock and Pohland in 1926, borazine is the isoelectronic and isostructural inorganic analogue of benzene, where the C=C bonds are replaced by B–N couples. The strong polarity of the BN bonds widens the molecular
HOMO–LUMO gap, imparting strong UV-emission/absorption and electrical insulating properties. These properties make borazine a valuable molecular scaffold to be inserted as doping units in graphitic-based carbon materials to tailor a relevant band gap. It is with this objective that we
became interested in the development of new synthetic organic methodologies to gain access to functionalized borazine derivatives. In particular, we have described the synthesis of borazine derivatives that, featuring aryl substituents at the B-centers bearing ortho-functionalities,
are exceptionally stable against hydrolysis. Building on these structural motifs, we prepared hybrid BN-doped polyphenylene nanostructures featuring controlled doping patterns, both as dosage and orientation. Finally, exploiting the Friedel-Craft electrophilic aromatic substitution, we could
develop the first rational synthesis of the first soluble hexa-peri-hexabenzoborazinocoronene and measured its optoelectronic properties, showing a widening of its gap compared to its full-carbon congener.
Identification of rare Lewis oligosaccharide conformers in aqueous solution using enhanced sampling molecular dynamics
Authors: Alibay Irfan , Burusco Kepa K. , Bruce Neil J. , Bryce Richard A.
Published: October 2017

Determining the conformations accessible to carbohydrate ligands in aqueous solution is important for understanding their biological action. In this work, we evaluate the conformational free energy surfaces of Lewis oligosaccharides in explicit aqueous solvent using a multidimensional variant of the swarm-enhanced sampling molecular dynamics (msesMD) method; we compare with multi-microsecond unbiased MD simulations, umbrella sampling and accelerated MD approaches. For the sialyl Lewis A tetrasaccharide, msesMD simulations in aqueous solution predict conformer landscapes in general agreement with the other biased methods and with triplicate unbiased 10 ms trajectories; these simulations find a predominance of closed conformer and a range of low occupancy open forms. The msesMD simulations also suggest closed-to-open transitions in the tetrasaccharide are facilitated by changes in ring puckering of its GlcNAc residue away from the 4C1 form, in line with previous work. For sialyl Lewis X tetrasaccharide, msesMD simulations predict a minor population of an open form in solution, corresponding to a rare lectin-bound pose observed crystallographically. Overall, from comparison with biased MD calculations, we find that triplicate 10 ms unbiased MD simulations may not be enough to fully sample glycan conformations in aqueous solution. However, the computational efficiency and intuitive approach of the msesMD method suggest potential for its application in glycomics as a tool for analysis of oligosaccharide conformation.
Biopolímeros: aplicações farmacêutica e biomédica
Authors: Trovatti Eliane , Dos Santos Aline Martins , Amaral André Capaldo , Meneguin Andréia Bagliotti , Matos Bruna Driussi Mistro , Pacheco Guilherme , De Carvalho Renata Aquino , Lazarini Silmara Cristina , Cardoso Valéria Maria de Oliveira , Lustri Wilton Rogério , Barud Hernane da Silva
Published: October 2017

The study and development of polymers for pharmaceutical and biomedical use has been increasing due to their peculiar properties that contribute for the improvement of the life quality, such as the polymers used in regenerative medicine and in drug release systems. The development of new polymer based materials and its composites depends on several steps, such as the synthesis approach, the extraction, the composition, the influence of their properties on the specific applications, and others. This review describes the use of conventional and new polymers with potential application in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, highliting the properties that allow them to be useful for such pourposes.
Widespread distribution of mcr-1-bearing bacteria in the ecosystem, 2015 to 2016
Authors: Chen Kaichao , Chan Edward Wai-Chi , Xie Miaomiao , Ye Liangwei , Dong Ning , Chen Sheng
Published: October 2017

The recently discovered colistin resistance-encoding element, mcr-1, adds to the list of mobile resistance genes whose products rapidly erode the antimicrobial efficacy of not only the commonly used antibiotics, but also the last line agents of carbapenems and colistin. The relative prevalence of mcr-1-bearing strains in various ecological niches including 1,371 food samples, 480 animal faecal samples, 150 human faecal samples and 34 water samples was surveyed using a novel in-house method. Bacteria bearing mcr-1 were commonly detected in water (71% of samples), animal faeces (51%), food products (36%), and exhibited stable carriage in 28% of human subjects surveyed. Such strains, which exhibited variable antibiotic susceptibility profiles, belonged to various Enterobacteriaceae species, with Escherichia coli being the most dominant in each specimen type. The mcr-1 gene was detectable in the chromosome as well as plasmids of various sizes. Among these, two conjugative plasmids of sizes ca 33 and ca 60 kb were found to be the key vectors that mediated mcr-1 transmission in organisms residing in various ecological niches. The high mcr-1 carriage rate in humans found in this study highlights the importance of continued vigilance, careful antibiotic stewardship, and the development of new antimicrobials.
West Nile virus lineage 2 isolated from Culex modestus mosquitoes in the Czech Republic, 2013: expansion of the European WNV endemic area to the North?
Authors: Rudolf I , Bakonyi T , Šebesta O , Mendel J , Peško J , Betášová L , Blažejová H , Venclíková K , Straková P , Nowotny N , Hubálek Z
Published: October 2017

We report the detection and isolation of four almost identical strains of West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 from Culex modestus mosquitoes collected at three fish ponds in South Moravia, Czech Republic, during August 2013. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the Czech WNV strains isolated are closely related to Austrian, Italian and Serbian strains reported in 2008, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Our findings show the current northernmost range of lineage 2 WNV in Europe.
Multidrug-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain in a men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) community in the United States: comment
Authors: van de Laar M J , Monnet D L , Herida M
Published: October 2017

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Public health response to an avian influenza A (H5N1) poultry outbreak in Suffolk, United Kingdom, in November 2007
Authors: Munasinghe S , Brown G , Pereira A , Keeble B , Nair P , Sundkvist T
Published: October 2017

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a poultry farm in Suffolk, United Kingdom, in November 2007 prompted a comprehensive public health response to stop the transmission of avian influenza to humans. A total of 176 of 178 potentially exposed (99%) received oseltamivir prophylaxis. The majority of them, 169 people (96%), received the influenza vaccine during the outbreak. Thirty people who had been given post-exposure prophylaxis were actively followed up for one week. None of them developed symptoms suggestive of influenza-like illness. Serological investigation (28-day testing) of those who reported symptoms is ongoing.
Reflections on an evaluation of the Dutch infectious diseases surveillance information system
Authors: van Benthem B HB , van Vliet J A
Published: October 2017

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Surveillance and epidemiology of hepatitis B and C in Europe – a review
Authors: Rantala Merja , van de Laar M J
Published: October 2017

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are frequent causes of acute and chronic hepatitis worldwide and leading causes for hepatic cirrhosis and cancer. There is a distinct geographical variation in HBV and HCV incidence and prevalence in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association (EEA/EFTA) member states and neighbouring countries. The HBV carrier prevalence ranges from 0.1 to 8.0% and that of HCV from 0.1 to 6.0%. Within the last few years, the HBV incidence has decreased while the HCV incidence has increased. Both diseases are concentrated in certain subpopulations, such as injecting drug users, with tens of times higher prevalence than in the general population. Most EU and EEA/EFTA countries have a surveillance system for HBV and HCV infections, but due to differences in system structures, reporting practices, data collection methods and case definitions used, the surveillance data are difficult to compare across countries. The harmonisation and strengthening of HBV and HCV surveillance at the European level is of utmost importance to obtain more robust data on these diseases.
Introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination into national immunisation schedules in Europe: Results of the VENICE 2007 survey
Authors: King L A , Lévy-Bruhl D , O'Flanagan D , Bacci S , Lopalco P L , Kudjawu Y , Salmaso S , VENICE country specific gate keepers and contact points Collective
Published: October 2017

The European Union Member States are simultaneously considering introducing HPV vaccination into their national immunisation schedules. The Vaccine European New Integrated Collaboration Effort (VENICE) project aims to develop a collaborative European vaccination network. A survey was undertaken to describe the decision status and the decision-making process regarding the potential introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination into their national immunisation schedules. A web-based questionnaire was developed and completed online in 2007 by 28 countries participating in VENICE. As of 31 October 2007, five countries had decided to introduce HPV vaccination into the national immunisation schedule, while another seven had started the decision-making process with a recommendation favouring introduction. Varying target populations were selected by the five countries which had introduced the vaccination. Half of the surveyed countries had undertaken at least one ad hoc study to support the decision-making process. According to an update of the decision-status from January 2008, the number of countries which had made a decision or recommendation changed to 10 and 5 respectively. This survey demonstrates the rapidly evolving nature of HPV vaccine introduction in Europe and the existence of expertise and experience among EU Member States. The VENICE network is capable of following this process and supporting countries in making vaccine introduction decisions. A VENICE collaborative web-space is being developed as a European resource for the decision-making process for vaccine introduction.
Nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Kedougou infection in infants linked to infant formula milk, Spain, 2008
Authors: Soler P , Herrera S , Rodríguez J , Cascante J , Cabral R , Echeita-Sarriondia A , Mateo S , on behalf of the National Surveillance Network of Spain Collective
Published: October 2017

On 5 August 2008, the National Reference Laboratory of Salmonella (NRLS) noted an increase in the number of isolates of Salmonella enterica serotype Kedougou. As of 22 August, 29 isolates have been reported during 2008, which is ten times more than the average number of isolates identified by the NRLS during 2002-2007. All isolates have a typical, indistinguishable Pulse Field pattern (SALKEDXB-1, Spanish code) and are fully sensitive to the standard suite of antimicrobials.
Genetic diversity of Streptococcus suis clinical isolates from pigs and humans in Italy (2003-2007)
Authors: Princivalli M S , Palmieri C , Magi G , Vignaroli C , Manzin A , Camporese A , Barocci S , Magistrali C , Facinelli B
Published: October 2017

Streptococcus suis, a major porcine pathogen, is emerging as a zoonotic agent capable of causing severe invasive disease in humans exposed to pigs or pork products. S. suis infection is rare in industrialised countries and usually arises as sporadic cases, with meningitis the most common clinical presentation in humans. Recent reports of two cases of meningitis in Sardinia and north-eastern Italy prompted this first characterisation of Italian S. suis isolates. Fifty-nine S. suis strains, the two recent human strains and 57 swine clinical isolates collected between 2003 and 2007 from different Italian herds and regions, were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, PCR-screened for virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, and subjected to molecular typing. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis demonstrated an overall high genetic diversity among isolates, the majority of which were resistant to macrolides (78%) and tetracyclines (90%). The erm(B), tet(O), mosaic tet(O/W/32/O), tet(W), and tet(M) genes were detected. The tet(O/W/32/O) gene, the most frequent tet gene after tet(O), had never been described in the genus Streptococcus before. In addition, a virulent cps2, erm(B) tet(O) clone, belonging to sequence type 1 (ST1) of the ST1 complex, was found to be prevalent and persistent in Italian swine herds. Finally, the two human isolates (both ST1) carrying cps2, erm(B) and tet(W) were seen to be closely related to each other.
Surveillance of Hospitalisations for 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) in the Netherlands, 5 June – 31 December 2009
Authors: van ‘t Klooster T M , Wielders C C , Donker T , Isken L , Meijer A , van den Wijngaard C C , van der Sande M A , van der Hoek W
Published: October 2017

We analysed and reported on a weekly basis clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients hospitalised in the Netherlands for the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) using information from the national mandatory notification system. The notification criteria changed on 15 August 2009 from all possible, probable and confirmed cases to only laboratory-confirmed pandemic influenza hospitalisations and deaths. In the period of comprehensive case-based surveillance (until 15 August), 2% (35/1,622) of the patients with pandemic influenza were hospitalised. From 5 June to 31 December 2009, a total of 2,181 patients were hospitalised. Of these, 10% (219/2,181) were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and 53 died. Among non-ICU hospitalised patients, 56% (961/1,722) had an underlying medical condition compared with 70% (147/211) of the patients in ICU and 46 of the 51 fatal cases for whom this information was reported. Most common complications were dehydration among non-ICU hospitalised patients and acute respiratory distress syndrome among patients in ICU and patients who died. Children under the age of five years had the highest age-specific hospitalisation rate (62.7/100,000), but relatively few were admitted to an ICU (1.7/100,000). Characteristics and admission rates of hospitalised patients were comparable with reports from other countries and previous influenza seasons. The national notification system was well suited to provide weekly updates of relevant monitoring information on the severity of the pandemic for professionals, decision makers, the media and the public, and could be rapidly adapted to changing information requirements.
Protection against poliomyelitis in Europe
Authors: Nokleby H , De Carvalho Gomes H , Johansen K , Kreidl P
Published: October 2017

The reappearance of circulating wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV 1) in Tajikistan is the first outbreak from imported wild poliovirus since the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region was declared polio-free in 2002. The risk of poliomyelitis importation to the European Union and European Economic Area countries has probably not increased, but the current outbreak is a reminder that high vaccination coverage, monitoring of protective immunity and maintaining surveillance are important to sustain the present polio-free situation.
Ongoing outbreak of West Nile virus infections in humans in Greece, July – August 2010
Authors: Papa A , Danis K , Baka A , Bakas A , Dougas G , Lytras T , Theocharopoulos G , Chrysagis D , Vassiliadou E , Kamaria F , Liona A , Mellou K , Saroglou G , Panagiotopoulos T
Published: October 2017

Between early July and 22 August 2010, 81 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease were reported in the region of Central Macedonia, northern Greece. The median age of cases was 70 years. Encephalitis, meningoencephalitis or aseptic meningitis occurred mainly in patients aged 50 years or older. This is the first time that West Nile virus (WNV) infection has been documented in humans in Greece. Enhanced surveillance and mosquito control measures have been implemented.
Urban–rural differences of age- and species-specific campylobacteriosis incidence, Hesse, Germany, July 2005 – June 2006
Authors: Fitzenberger J , Uphoff H , Gawrich S , Hauri A M
Published: October 2017

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Update on the ongoing outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome due to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serotype O104, Germany, May 2011
Authors: Askar M , Faber M S , Frank C , Bernard H , Gilsdorf A , Fruth A , Prager R , Höhle M , Suess T , Wadl M , Krause G , Stark K , Werber D
Published: October 2017

Since early May 2011, a large outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and bloody diarrhoea related to infections with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has been observed in Germany. The outbreak is focused in the north, but cases have been reported from all German states and other countries. Since our report last week, the number of HUS cases has increased to 470 and STEC serotype O104 has been confirmed in many cases.
Outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome and bloody diarrhoea due to Escherichia coli O104:H4, south-west France, June 2011
Authors: Gault G , Weill F  X , Mariani-Kurkdjian P , Jourdan-da Silva N , King L , Aldabe B , Charron M , Ong N , Castor C , Macé M , Bingen E , Noël H , Vaillant V , Bone A , Vendrely B , Delmas Y , Combe C , Bercion R , d'Andigné E , Desjardin M , Rolland P , de Valk H
Published: October 2017

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Four multifaceted countrywide campaigns to promote hand hygiene in Belgian hospitals between 2005 and 2011: impact on compliance to hand hygiene
Authors: Costers M , Viseur N , Catry B , Simon A
Published: October 2017

Four consecutive one-month campaigns were organised to promote hand hygiene in Belgian hospitals between 2005 and 2011. The campaigns included a combination of reminders in wards, educational sessions for healthcare workers, promotion of alcohol-based hand rub use, increasing patient awareness, and audits with performance feedback. Prior and after each one month intervention period, the infection control teams measured hand hygiene compliance of healthcare workers by direct observation using a standardised observation roster. A total of 738,367 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed over the four campaigns. Compliance with hand hygiene significantly increased from 49.6% before to 68.6% after the intervention period for the first, from 53.2% to 69.5% for the second, from 58.0% to 69.1% for the third, and from 62.3% to 72.9% for the fourth campaign. The highest compliance rates were consistently observed in paediatric units. Compliance rates were always markedly lower among physicians than nurses. After patient contact and body fluid exposure risk, compliance rates were noticeably higher than before patient contact and performing aseptic procedures. We conclude that repeated countrywide campaigns to promote hand hygiene result in positive long-term outcomes. However, lower compliance rates among physicians compared with nurses, before patient contact, and before performing aseptic procedures remain challenges for future campaigns.
2012 outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Indian Ocean Islands: identification of Coxsackievirus A24 in a returned traveller
Authors: Aubry C , Gautret P , Nougairede A , Dussouil A S , Botelho-Nevers E , Zandotti C , De Lamballerie X , Brouqui P , Parola P
Published: October 2017

In May 2012, a Coxsackievirus A24 haemorrhagic conjunctivitis was diagnosed in Marseille, France, in a traveller returning from the Comoros Islands. This case allowed identification of the cause of an ongoing outbreak of haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Indian Ocean Islands, illustrating that returning travellers may serve as sentinels for infectious diseases outbreaks in tropical areas where laboratory investigation is limited.
I-MOVE: a European network to measure the effectiveness of influenza vaccines
Authors: Valenciano M , Ciancio B  C , on behalf of the I-MOVE study team Collective
Published: October 2017

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Current application and future perspectives of molecular typing methods to study Clostridium difficile infections
Authors: Knetsch C W , Lawley T D , Hensgens M P , Corver J , Wilcox M W , Kuijper E  J
Published: October 2017

Molecular typing is an essential tool to monitor Clostridium difficile infections and outbreaks within healthcare facilities. Molecular typing also plays a key role in defining the regional and global changes in circulating C. difficile types. The patterns of C. difficile types circulating within Europe (and globally) remain poorly understood, although international efforts are under way to understand the spatial and temporal patterns of C. difficile types. A complete picture is essential to properly investigate type-specific risk factors for C. difficile infections (CDI) and track long-range transmission. Currently, conventional agarose gel-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotyping is the most common typing method used in Europe to type C. difficile. Although this method has proved to be useful to study epidemiology on local, national and European level, efforts are made to replace it with capillary electrophoresis PCR ribotyping to increase pattern recognition, reproducibility and interpretation. However, this method lacks sufficient discriminatory power to study outbreaks and therefore multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) has been developed to study transmission between humans, animals and food. Sequence-based methods are increasingly being used for C. difficile fingerprinting/typing because of their ability to discriminate between highly related strains, the ease of data interpretation and transferability of data. The first studies using whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism typing of healthcare-associated C. difficile within a clinically relevant timeframe are very promising and, although limited to select facilities because of complex data interpretation and high costs, these approaches will likely become commonly used over the coming years.
Decline in influenza vaccine effectiveness with time after vaccination, Navarre, Spain, season 2011/12
Authors: Castilla J , Martínez-Baz I , Martínez-Artola V , Reina G , Pozo F , García Cenoz M , Guevara M , Moran J , Irisarri F , Arriazu M , Albéniz E , Ezpeleta C , Barricarte A , Primary Health Care Sentinel Network Collective , Network for Influenza Surveillance in Hospitals of Navarre Collective
Published: October 2017

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Vaccine effectiveness of 2011/12 trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care in the United Kingdom: evidence of waning intra-seasonal protection
Authors: Pebody R  G , Andrews N , McMenamin J , Durnall H , Ellis J , Thompson C I , Robertson C , Cottrell S , Smyth B , Zambon M , Moore C , Fleming D M , Watson J  M
Published: October 2017

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Q fever in Europe
Authors: Editorial Committee Collective
Published: October 2017

In order to give a European overview, members of the editorial board of Eurosurveillancewere asked a few questions about the surveillance of Q fever in the countries they represent and the possible occurrence of similar outbreaks in recent years. We rece
Surveillance of tuberculosis in the WHO European region in 1995 : results of the feasibility study
Authors: Perrocheau A , Schwoebel V , Veen J ,   the national co-ordinators for tuberculosis surveillance in 46 countries3 of the WHO European Region
Published: October 2017

Efforts to assess the changing epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in Europe have been limited by differences in definitions and in the quality of tuberculosis surveillance systems between countries. In order to standardise the surveillance of TB among Euro
Imported malaria in continental France in 1996
Authors: Legros F , Gay F , Belkaid M , Danis M
Published: October 2017

Malaria ceased to be endemic in France in 1960, although sporadic cases were reported until 1970 in the department of Corse. No indigenous case of malaria have been reported since then. We report below the epidemiological data on imported malaria in 1996.
Recommendations for HIV surveillance in Europe
Authors: Hamers F F ,   for the group of experts and national coordinators of HIV/AIDS surveillance from the countries of the WHO European Region
Published: October 2017

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe is now at an important turning point. In western Europe, AIDS incidence has been declining since 1996, partly as a result of new, more effective treatment of HIV infections. As these treatments delay the progression of HIV
Sentinel surveillance of sexually transmitted diseases in Italy
Authors: Giuliani M , Suligoi B , the STD Surveillance Working Group Collective
Published: October 2017

Statutory notifications suggest that the incidence of gonorrhoea and syphilis have fallen in the past 30 years in Italy, as in other developed countries. Nevertheless, during the 1980s, the annual notification rates in Italy were from 15 to 50 times lower
ESEN : a comparison of vaccination programmes Part two : pertussis
Authors: Lévy-Bruhl D , Pebody R G , Osborne K , Veldhuijzen I , Valenciano M ,   members who provided data, on behalf of the ESEN project
Published: October 2017

This article is the second of a series of three, which compare vaccination programmes, immunisation schedules, vaccine coverage, and the epidemiological impact of vaccination for diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella in eight countries (Denma
Botulism in Norway
Authors: Kuusi M , Hasseltvedt V , Aavitsland P
Published: October 2017

Botulism is a severe neuroparalytic disease caused by toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic spore-forming bacillus. Physicians in Norway are required to notify the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) of cases of botulism immediately
Classic and emergent forms of botulism: the current status in Italy
Authors: Aureli P , Fenica L , Franciosa G
Published: October 2017

Botulism is a rare, severe, neuroparalytic disease. Four forms of botulism are described in humans: foodborne botulism and the more recently described wound botulism, infant botulism, and ‘infant-like’ botulism. The two last forms are sometimes grouped un
An outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infection associated with iced cake
Authors: D'Argenio P , Romano A , Autorino F
Published: October 2017

Several people developed severe symptoms of gastroenteritis after attending a first holy communion banquet in Benevento, a town of 60 000 inhabitants in southern Italy. About 60 people had attended the banquet, held on 14 June 1998, between 1400 and 1800
The Spanish multidrug resistant tuberculosis network
Authors: Samper S , Iglesias M. J. , Tello O ,   on behalf of the Spanish Working Group on MDR-TB
Published: October 2017

The network to monitor the spread of multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Spain based on genomic typing and set up in January 1998 benefits from the participation of about 90% of the laboratories of the national health system. Of the 94 MDR-TB pa
Surveillance of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in the United Kingdom
Authors: Ward H  J T
Published: October 2017

By the end of May 2000, 54 definite cases and 13 probable cases of vCJD had been notified in the United Kingdom by the National CJD Surveillance Unit set up in 1990. All definite cases for whom data are available are methionine homozygous at codon 129 of
The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in Germany
Authors: Ammon A ,   O Hamouda,   T Breuer,   L R Petersen
Published: October 2017

The German Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), which started in January 1996, is part of a national effort to improve research capacity for the epidemiology of infectious diseases in Germany. The aim of the two year programme is to develop a cadre of epidemiologists capable of performing outbreak investigations, epidemiological research, and surveillance at an international standard measured in articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. These epidemiologists will also be instructed to train future epidemiologists and public health personnel. The programme is similar to the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET). The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research funded the costs of a senior epidemiologist who was seconded from the CDC to help initiate this programme.
The EUVAC-NET survey: national pertussis surveillance systems in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland
Authors: Schmidt J- E , Tozzi A E , Rava L , Glismann S ,   on behalf of the EUVAC-NET country contacts
Published: October 2017

A questionnaire was mailed out to member states of the European Union (EU) plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland, to inquire about the type of information routinely recorded in national pertussis surveillance systems. Information was requested on surveillance methods, type of information recorded for cases of pertussis, vaccination schedule, type of vaccine used, and methods for estimating vaccination coverage. Local surveillance methods, vaccination strategies, and methods to estimate vaccination coverage were found to differ widely across the participating countries.
Confirmed interruption of indigenous measles transmission in Catalonia
Authors: Salleras L , Domínguez A , Torner N
Published: October 2017

From November 1998 to December 2000, 84 suspected measles cases were reported in Catalonia (6 090 040 inhabitants). Of the 73 laboratory tested cases (87%), 20 showed IgM antibodies specific to measles and 3 were epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case. Among these 23 confirmed cases, 13 were indigenous, the last two cases reported dating back from June 1999 and July 2000. These results confirm the success of the measles elimination programme implemented in 1998 in Catalonia.
Report on the Sixth International Meeting of the European Laboratory Working Group on Diphtheria, Brussels, Belgium
Authors: Lai S , Efstratiou A ,   on behalf of the European Laboratory Working Group on Diptheria
Published: October 2017

In addition to the Eastern European resurgence of diphtheria during the last decade, there has also been an emergence of infections caused by non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae and non-toxigenic, toxin gene bearing C. diphtheriae. Given that these strains may manifest as symptomatic infections of differing degrees of severity, their clinical and epidemiological significance need to be assessed. The persistence of toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae in circulation, together with genotypic and biotype variability means that innovative measures to vaccinate populations are pertinent. The most effective method of protecting the currently most vulnerable population group (adults) is to implement a booster dose of vaccine amongst the adult populations. Furthermore, in combination with an efficient surveillance system, effective antibiotic prophylaxis and an up-to-date vaccination programme, serological studies needs to be maintained to monitor the immunity status of the population.
Vaccination campaign following an increase in incidence of serogroup C meningococcal diseases in the department of Puy-de-Dôme (France)
Authors: Lévy-Bruhl D , Perrocheau A , Mora M , Taha M K , Dromell-Chabrier S ,   J Beytout,   I Quatresous
Published: October 2017

In the department of Puy-de-Dôme, France, 17 cases of invasive meningococcal disease C were notified between March 2001 and the first week of 2002. Among the 15 confirmed cases, 11 (73%) were serogroup C, 2 (13%) serogroup B, and 2 could not be identified. The rapid increase in the number of cases in a period of low endemicity for the rest of the country and the severity of the disease (case fatality ratio 27%, purpura fulminans 64%) led the health authorities to initiate a vaccination campaign targeting children and young adults from 2 months up to 20 years living in a limited area of the department. Around 80 000 people were immunised between 16/01/02 and 09/02/02. More than half of the 1390 immediate side effects were headache and dizziness. As of mid-March, no further case of meningococcal disease has been notified since 6 January.
Notified cases of legionnaires’ disease in France in 2001
Authors: Campese C , Decludt B
Published: October 2017

In 2001, 807 cases of Legionnaires' disease were reported to the Institut de veille sanitaire (French national public health centre). The incidence of the disease was 1.35 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, compared to a mean European incidence of 0,6 per 100 000. The median age was 59 years [16-97], the group aged more than 80 being the most affected. The sex ratio M/W was 3.1. The outcome of the disease was known in 69% of all cases, the case fatality ratio rating 19.9%. Among the contributing factors found in 558 cases, 11% had a cancer or blood disease, 12% received an immunosuppressant treatment, 10% were diabetic and 40% were smokers. In 2001, 13% (105/807) cases stayed in a hospital or a clinic during the incubation period, compared to 20% in 2000, and 11% were travel-associated.
Antimicrobial drug resistance in isolates of Salmonella enterica from cases of salmonellosis in humans in Europe in 2000: results of international multi-centre surveillance
Authors: Threlfall E J , Fisher I. S.T. , Berghold C , Gerner-Smidt P , Tschäpe H , Cormican M , Luzzi L , Schneider F , Wannet W J B , Machado J , Edwards G
Published: October 2017

The Enter-net surveillance system received results of antimicrobial sensitivity tests for isolates from over 27 000 cases of human salmonellosis in 2000 in 10 European countries. Almost 40% of isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, with 18% multiresistant. Resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphonamides and tetracyclines was common, with over 20% of isolates resistant to at least one of these antimicrobials. Clinical resistance to ciprofloxacin was rare, with only 0.5% of isolates exhibiting such resistance (MIC >1.0 mg/l). Resistance to nalidixic acid coupled with a decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC 0.25-1.0 mg/l) was more common, with 14% of isolates showing these properties. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was rare with only 0.6% of isolates resistant to cefotaxime. In all countries multiple resistance was most common in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, with 51% of isolates multiresistant in total. In England and Wales multiple resistance was also prevalent in S. Virchow and S. Hadar, whereas in other countries multiple resistance was common in serotypes such as S. Blockley.
Measles in Europe in 2001-2002
Authors: Muscat M , Glismann S , Bang H
Published: October 2017

A total of 17 928 measles cases were reported to EUVAC.NET in 2001-02, with a 41% increase between the 2 years, giving a crude incidence of 2.36 and 3.37 per 100 000 population respectively. Most reported cases were aged 1-9 years. Outbreak related measles cases amounted to 18% of reported cases in 2001 and 20% in 2002. Less than 1% of cases were known to be imported in 2001 and 2002. Encephalitis as a severe complication was reported in 21 in 2001 and 6 cases 2002. One death attributed to measles was reported in 2001. The proportion of reported cases with known vaccination status increased from 56% of cases in 2001 to 72% in 2002. Overall, the proportion of reported measles cases that were unvaccinated rose from 50% in 2001 to 66% in 2002.
European Survey on Campylobacter surveillance and diagnosis 2001
Authors: Takkinen J , Ammon A , Robstad O , Breuer T ,   The Campylobacter Working Group
Published: October 2017

Two surveys have been conducted on behalf of the Campylobacter Working Group with the aim of assessing the feasibility of a European network on human Campylobacter infections. The first survey, conducted in 18 countries, collected information about diagnostic methods used for surveillance purpose while the second one, conducted among 10 European countries, gathered data on diagnostic methods and procedures in primary laboratories. Seventeen of the 18 countries had a surveillance system for Campylobacter infections and 13 a national reference laboratory. The case definition used for the surveillance in all these countries included laboratory confirmation. No commonly applicable subtyping methods were applied. Concerning primary laboratories dealing with Campylobacter infections, only a few of them reported directly to the national level, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by about half of the laboratories. These surveys indicated that a basic infrastructure for a wide European Campylobacter surveillance exists.
Rubella control in France
Authors: Lévy-Bruhl D , Six C , Parent du Châtelet I
Published: October 2017

In the pre-vaccination era, rubella was regarded as only a mild exanthematous acute viral infection of children. The devastating effects of the disease were first identified in the early 1940s by an Australian ophthalmologist, and further confirmed during the 1962-65 rubella pandemic in Europe and the United States. They result from the transmission of the virus by infected pregnant women to their fetus. The resulting congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) comprises a lengthy list of abnormalities. The most common ones are deafness, ocular and cardiac defects and mental retardation. The objective of rubella vaccination, to which France has subscribed, is the elimination of CRS [1].
Surveillance data on paediatric HIV infection and AIDS in Greece
Authors: Nikolopoulos G , Konte V , Masgala A , Eleni E , Tsantes A , Paraskeva D
Published: October 2017

In Greece, HIV/AIDS surveillance is conducted by the Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control. The AIDS case reporting system was implemented in 1984, followed by notification of HIV infections in 1998. This article presents surveillance and trend analysis of paediatric HIV infection and AIDS, including cases identified prior to 1998.
The number of HIV infected children in Greece is relatively low, raising to a cumulative total of 69 cases by June 2003, 44 (64%) of whom are thought to have been infected through mother-to-child transmission. Thirty three paediatric AIDS cases have been reported since the onset of epidemic, with Pneumonocystis carinii pneumonia being the most frequent opportunistic infection.
How to prevent transmission of MRSA in the open community?
Authors: Vandenesch F , Etienne J
Published: October 2017

In the past 20 to 30 years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have been present in hospitals and have become a major cause of hospital-acquired infection. Methicillin resistance rates of S. aureus vary considerably between countries, with a high prevalence in the United States, and southern Europe (>20%) and a low prevalence in northern Europe (< or =5%). Community-acquired MRSA emerged worldwide in the late 1990s. There has been great confusion in the literature between healthcare-associated MRSA infections occurring in the community in patients who are at risk of acquiring hospital MRSA (such as those with past history of hospital admission, immunocompromised status, etc.), and true CA-MRSA infections due to strains that are present in the community only.
Eighth International Meeting of the European Laboratory Working Group on Diphtheria and the Diphtheria Surveillance Network - June 2004: Progress is needed to sustain control of diphtheria in European Region
Authors: De Zoysa A , Efstratiou A ,   on behalf of the European Diphtheria Surveillance Network and the European Laboratory Working Group on Diphtheria
Published: October 2017

The Eighth International Meeting of the European Laboratory Working Group on Diphtheria (ELWGD) and the Diphtheria Surveillance Network (DIPNET) was held and co-organised with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark, in June 2004. This article provides an international updated review of progress in clinical, epidemiological and microbiological aspects of diphtheria in the European region as presented at the meeting. It highlights the need for improved immunisation coverage, surveillance and epidemiological studies to sustain control of diphtheria in European Region.
The epidemiology of infectious syphilis in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Cronin M , Domegan L , Thornton L , Fitzgerald M , Hopkins S , O’Lorcain P , Creamer E , O'Flanagan D
Published: October 2017

In response to the increasing numbers of syphilis cases reported among men having sex with men (MSM) in Dublin, an Outbreak Control Team (OCT) was set up in late 2000. The outbreak peaked in 2001 and had largely ceased by late 2003. An enhanced syphilis surveillance system was introduced to capture data from January 2000. Between January 2000 and December 2003, 547 cases of infectious syphilis were notified in Ireland (415 were MSM). Four per cent of cases were diagnosed with HIV and 15.4% of cases were diagnosed with at least one other STI (excluding HIV) within the previous 3 months. The mean number of contacts reported by male cases in the 3 months prior to diagnosis was 4 (range 0-8) for bisexual contacts and 6 for homosexual contacts (range 1-90). Thirty one per cent of MSM reported having had recent unprotected oral sex and 15.9% of MSM reported having had recent unprotected anal sex. Sixteen per cent of cases reported having had sex abroad in the three months prior to diagnosis. The results suggest that risky sexual behaviour contributed to the onward transmission of infection in Dublin. The outbreak in Dublin could be seen as part of a European-wide outbreak of syphilis. The rates of co-infection with HIV and syphilis in Ireland are comparable with rates reported from other centres. There is a need to improve surveillance systems in order to allow real time evaluation of interventions and ongoing monitoring of infection trends.