@article{Banović2023,

title = {Emerging tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsioses in the Balkans},

author = {Pavle Banović and Adrian Alberto Díaz-Sánchez and Angélique Foucault-Simonin and Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez and Alejandra Wu-Chuang and Clemence Galon and Verica Simin and Dragana Mijatović and Ivana Bogdan and Belkis Corona-González and Liani 

 Coronado Báez and Joanna Kulisz and Aneta Woźniak and Zbigniew Zając and Dasiel Obregón and Sara Moutailler and Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105400},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-05},

urldate = {2023-01-05},

journal = {Infection, Genetics and Evolution},

volume = {107},

abstract = {The impact of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) on human health has increased in the last decades, since the incidence of emerging and re-emerging infectious and zoonotic tick-borne diseases has increased worldwide. Tick-borne rickettsiae of the Spotted Fever group (SFGR) are considered as emerging pathogens that can infect humans and cause a variety of non-specific clinical symptoms. Here, we report nine cases of atypical tick-borne diseases (9/460; 1.95%) that occurred over a period of four months (from 15 April 2021 to 16 August 2021) in Serbia, from which five cases were classified as confirmed SFGR infection, two cases as probable SFGR infection and two cases as suspected SFGR infection. Within cases of confirmed SFGR infection, R. helvetica was detected as the causative agent in two cases. The most common clinical finding was non-expanding persistent circular redness, followed by eschar and enlargement of regional lymph nodes, and pain at lesion site. Rickettsia outer membrane protein B (ompB) and citrate synthase (gltA) gene fragments were amplified from clinical samples and ticks attached to patients and IgG reacting with Rickettsia conorii antigen were detected in sera samples of patients, which are highly suggestive of exposure to SFGR. Surveillance and monitoring of rickettsial diseases in Serbia should continue and extended to new areas due to the increasing trend of clinical infections caused by SFGR in the country.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Grujic2022,

title = {Personal Freedom and Public Responsibility: Remaining Questions after First Case of HIV Transmission via Blood Transfusion in North Serbia},

author = {Jasmina Grujic and Nevenka Bujandric and Pavle Banović},

editor = {Vito Fiore},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081397},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-07-27},

urldate = {2022-07-27},

journal = {Healthcare},

volume = {10},

number = {8},

abstract = {The reduction in the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (including HIV infection) is an essential part of transfusion patient care. Here, we report the first incident of HIV transmission via transfusion in north Serbia due to blood donor dishonesty, and the failure of the laboratory screen tests to detect the presence of HIV particles in his blood. Infected blood products were distributed to two recipients, and HIV infection was confirmed in one. This incident finally led to the implementation of Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology as mandatory testing of blood donors for HIV infection in Serbia and raised many questions related to the responsibility and ethics of all the participants in the blood transfusion supply chain. There is a need for the implementation of modern and non-discriminative laws in Serbia in order to reduce transfusion-transmissible infections. In addition, transfusion institutes in Serbia need to be obliged to pursue the constant upgrade of their diagnostic capacities in order to prevent similar incidents and to provide the best possible care for blood donation recipients.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{M2022,

title = {Recommendations to Improve Tick-Borne Encephalitis Surveillance and Vaccine Uptake in Europe},

author = {Kunze M and Banović P and Bogovič P and Briciu V and Čivljak R and Dobler G and Hristea A and Kerlik J and Kuivanen S and Kynčl, J and Lebech A-M and Lindquist L and Paradowska-Stankiewicz I and Roglić S and Smíšková D and Strle F and Vapalahti O and Vranješ N and Vynograd N and Zajkowska JM and Pilz A and Palmborg A and Erber, W},

editor = {Pat Nuttall},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071283},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-06-27},

journal = {Microorganisms},

volume = {10},

number = {7},

abstract = {There has been an increase in reported TBE cases in Europe since 2015, reaching a peak in some countries in 2020, highlighting the need for better management of TBE risk in Europe. TBE surveillance is currently limited, in part, due to varying diagnostic guidelines, access to testing, and awareness of TBE. Consequently, TBE prevalence is underestimated and vaccination recommendations inadequate. TBE vaccine uptake is unsatisfactory in many TBE-endemic European countries. This review summarizes the findings of a scientific workshop of experts to improve TBE surveillance and vaccine uptake in Europe. Strategies to improve TBE surveillance and vaccine uptake should focus on: aligning diagnostic criteria and testing across Europe; expanding current vaccine recommendations and reducing their complexity; and increasing public education of the potential risks posed by TBEV infection.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Banović2022b,

title = {Unexpected TBEV Seropositivity in Serbian Patients Who Recovered from Viral Meningitis and Encephalitis},

author = {Pavle Banović and Adrian Alberto Díaz-Sánchez and Selena Đurić and Siniša Sević and Vesna Turkulov and Dajana Lendak and Sandra Stefan Mikić and Verica Simin and Dragana Mijatović and Ivana Bogdan and Aleksandar Potkonjak and Sara Savić and Dasiel Obregón and Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz},

editor = {Libor Grubhoffer},

doi = {10.3390/pathogens11030371},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-03-17},

journal = {Pathogens},

abstract = {The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes a life-threatening disease named Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The clinical symptoms associated with TBE range from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system and are very similar to the clinical presentation of other viral meningitis/encephalitis. In consequence, TBE is often misclassified by clinical physicians , mainly in the non-identified high-risk areas where none or only a few TBE cases have been reported. Considering this situation, we hypothesized that among persons from northern Serbia who recovered from viral meningitis or encephalitis, there would be evidence of TBEV infection. To test this hypothesis, in this observational study, we evaluated the seroreactivity against TBEV anti-gens in patients from northern Serbia who were hospitalized due to viral meningitis and/or viral encephalitis of unknown etiology. Three cases of seroreactivity to TBEV antigens were discovered among convalescent patients who recovered from viral meningitis and/or encephalitis and accepted to participate in the study (n = 15). The clinical and laboratory findings of these patients overlap with that of seronegative convalescent patients. Although TBE has been a notifiable disease in Serbia since 2004, there is no active TBE surveillance program for the serologic or molecular screening of TBEV infection in humans in the country. This study highlights the necessity to increase the awareness of TBE among physicians and perform active and systematic screening of TBEV antibodies among patients with viral meningitis and/or encephalitis.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}