Theocharidou Dionysia, Maltezos Efstratios, Constantinidis Theodoros C, Papa Anna
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.
Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.
J Vector Borne Dis. 2019 Jul-Sep;56(3):244-251. doi: 10.4103/0972-9062.289399.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in Greece, with sporadic cases reported annually both in the mainland and in coastal areas. Seroepidemiological studies across Greece report seropositivity rates from 0.5 to 15%, in different parts of the country. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Leishmania seropositivity rate of the general population of Drama prefecture, a rich in water supply region, in northern Greece.
Serum samples collected from 347 healthy individuals were tested for IgG Leishmania infantum antibodies. Furthermore, 132 domestic dogs, clinically suspected to suffer from canine leishmaniasis, from all across the prefecture, were also evaluated.
Among 347 healthy individuals tested, 24 (6.9%) were positive for IgG L. infantum antibodies. Age, gender, occupational and leisure time activities didn't show significant relation to IgG seropositivity, whereas low altitude of place of residency and residency at places with surface water were significantly related to IgG seropositivity. All seropositive individuals follow a geographic pattern, gathering themselves in Drama basin (rich in surface and underground water bodies), whereas canine leishmaniasis cases show a wide distribution across the prefecture.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Evaluation of both human seroprevalence and high incidence of canine leishmaniasis, as well as favorable landscape and climatic conditions of the study area, indicates that high level of clinical awareness need to be employed by physicians, as human and canine visceral leishmaniasis constitutes a serious public health concern.
内脏利什曼病在希腊呈地方性流行，每年在希腊大陆和沿海地区均有散发病例报告。希腊各地的血清流行病学研究报告称，该国不同地区的血清阳性率在0.5%至15%之间。本研究的目的是评估希腊北部水资源丰富的德拉马州普通人群的利什曼原虫血清阳性率。
对从347名健康个体采集的血清样本进行婴儿利什曼原虫IgG抗体检测。此外，还对全州范围内临床疑似患有犬利什曼病的132只家犬进行了评估。
在接受检测的347名健康个体中，24人（6.9%）婴儿利什曼原虫IgG抗体呈阳性。年龄、性别、职业和休闲活动与IgG血清阳性率无显著相关性，而居住地海拔低和居住在有地表水的地方与IgG血清阳性率显著相关。所有血清阳性个体呈现出一种地理分布模式，聚集在德拉马盆地（地表水和地下水体丰富），而犬利什曼病病例则在全州广泛分布。
对人类血清阳性率和犬利什曼病高发病率的评估，以及研究区域有利的景观和气候条件表明，由于人类和犬类内脏利什曼病构成严重的公共卫生问题，医生需要保持高度的临床警觉。
