@article{nokey,

title = {Real-world evidence of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Serbia: Nation-wide observational study (2017–2019)},

author = {Pavle Banović and Dragana Mijatović and Verica Simin and Nenad Vranješ and Eleftherios Meletis and Polychronis Kostoulas and Dasiel Obregon and Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2024.102697},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-02-17},

journal = {Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease},

abstract = {Background

Rabies remains a deadly zoonotic disease, primarily prevalent in Eastern European countries, with a significant global burden in Asia and Africa. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is critical to prevent clinical rabies. Serbia, a country with a relatively low animal rabies incidence, has been implementing a 4-dose Essen PEP regimen for 13 years. This real-world study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the 4-dose Essen regimen, considering demographic and clinical factors, after WHO Category III exposure.



Method

The study included 601 patients who received the 4-dose Essen PEP and 79 who received an additional 5th dose.



Results

Age emerged as a critical factor influencing seroconversion rates after the 4-dose regimen, with older individuals exhibiting lower RVNA titers. Logistic regression indicated a 3.18% decrease in seroconversion odds for each added year of age. The Cox proportional hazards mixed model highlighted age-related risks, with age groups 45–60 and 75–92 at the highest risk of non-seroconversion. Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG) administration was associated with lower RVNA values after the 4-dose regimen, suggesting interference with vaccine immunogenicity among people who received larger doses of HRIG.



Conclusions

This study provides valuable real-world evidence for rabies PEP in a non-homogeneous population with potential comorbidities. The results underscore the importance of optimizing PEP strategies, particularly in older individuals, and reconsidering HRIG dosing to improve seroconversion rates.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Banović2023c,

title = {Evidence of tick-borne encephalitis virus neutralizing antibodies in Serbian individuals exposed to tick bites},

author = {Pavle Banović and Dragana Mijatović and Ivana Bogdan and Verica Simin and Eleftherios Meletis and Polychronis Kostoulas and Katarina Resman Rus and Nataša Knap and Misa Korva and Tatjana Avsic Zupanc and Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz},

doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1314538},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-12-12},

urldate = {2023-11-23},

journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},

volume = {14},

abstract = {Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging vector-borne and food-borne disease caused by the tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV; Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis), with a distribution spanning the Eurasian continent. Despite its significant public health impact in various European regions, TBE remains largely underdiagnosed in Serbia due to limited awareness and diagnostic challenges. In response to this, our study aimed to comprehensively assess TBEV exposure in individuals infested with ticks and to identify potential TBEV foci within Serbia. From 2019 to 2021, we conducted an observational study involving 450 patients who reported tick infestations. Our demographic analysis revealed a median age of 38 years, with a slight male predominance among the participants. We documented tick infestations in 38 municipalities across 14 districts of Serbia, with a notable concentration in proximity to Fruška Gora Mountain. The ticks most frequently removed were Ixodes ricinus, with nymphs and adult females being the predominant stages. On average, nymphs were removed after about 27.1 hours of feeding, while adult females remained attached for approximately 44.4 hours. Notably, we found age as a significant predictor of infestation time for both nymphs and adult females. Furthermore, we detected TBEV-neutralizing antibodies in 0.66% of the serum samples, shedding light on potential TBEV foci, particularly in Fruška Gora Mountain and other regions of Serbia. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the urgent need for active TBE surveillance programs, especially in areas suspected of hosting TBEV foci, in order to assess the true TBE burden, identify atrisk populations, and implement effective preventive measures.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dragonjić2023,

title = {Cordylobia anthropophaga Myiasis Mimicking Hyperproliferative Skin Disorder in Traveler Returning from Sub-Saharan Africa},

author = {Lidija Popović Dragonjić and Andrija Jović and Irena Janković and Jelena Miladinović and Aleksandar Ranković and Maja Cvetanović and Relja Beck and Dinko Novosel and Thomas Pape and Pavle Banović},

editor = {Harunor Rashid},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8110505},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-11-20},

journal = {Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease},

abstract = {Myiasis is one of the most common skin diseases found in travelers returning from tropical and subtropical regions, where humans living in or visiting the African continent are most commonly infested by C. anthropophaga during the rainy season in regions with a warm climate. Here, we present a case of furuncular myiasis caused by C. anthropophaga in a Serbian patient returning from temporary work in Kenya, where the initial histology of skin lesion mimicked hyperproliferative skin disorder.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Banović2023b,

title = {Current Status and Challenges Associated with Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases: Where Do We Stand?},

author = {Pavle Banović and Islay Rodríguez González and Dejan Jakimovski},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12101271},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-10-23},

journal = {Pathogens},

volume = {12},

number = {1271},

issue = {10},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}