Department of Medical Microbiology, Split University School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
Euro Surveill. 2013 Jul 18;18(29):20533.
The prevalence of asymptomatic leishmaniasis in the general population of Croatia has not been studied to date. To assess the prevalence of Leishmania infantum specific IgG antibodies among immunocompetent residents of Croatia, sera from 2,035 persons (eastern coast of Adriatic Sea, n=1,186; Adriatic islands, n=653; mainland, n=196), were tested by an enzyme immunoassay. A total of 231 (11.4%) persons had anti-Leishmania antibodies. Multivariate analysis revealed that seropositivity was associated with geographic location and age. Residents of coastal areas and islands were significantly more seropositive than mainland residents (odds ratios (OR) 20.37 to 28.51). Moderate to high anti-Leishmania seroprevalence was found throughout the eastern Adriatic coast and islands (4.0% to 22.2%) including the sites previously considered non-endemic. A highly endemic focus was identified in central coastal Dalmatia (seroprevalence 22.2%; OR: 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-2.22). Regarding age, children aged 0-9 years were the most vulnerable group for asymptomatic Leishmania infection (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.16-4.14).
迄今为止，尚未对克罗地亚普通人群中无症状利什曼病的流行情况进行研究。为了评估克罗地亚免疫功能正常居民中利什曼原虫特异性 IgG 抗体的流行率，采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测了 2035 人（亚得里亚海东部海岸，n=1186；亚得里亚海岛屿，n=653；大陆，n=196）的血清。共有 231 人（11.4%）具有抗利什曼原虫抗体。多变量分析显示，血清阳性与地理位置和年龄有关。沿海地区和岛屿的居民明显比大陆居民的血清阳性率更高（比值比（OR）20.37 至 28.51）。在整个亚得里亚海东部沿海地区和岛屿（4.0%至 22.2%）发现了中度至高度抗利什曼血清流行率，包括以前被认为是非流行地区的地点。在达尔马提亚沿海中部发现了一个高度流行的焦点（血清流行率为 22.2%；OR：1.72；95%置信区间（CI）1.33-2.22）。关于年龄，0-9 岁的儿童是无症状利什曼感染的最脆弱群体（OR：2.19；95% CI：1.16-4.14）。
