Publications and scientific papers of Pasteur Institute…
PUBLICATIONS
2023 |
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Banović, Pavle; Mijatović, Dragana; Bogdan, Ivana; Simin, Verica; Meletis, Eleftherios; Kostoulas, Polychronis; Rus, Katarina Resman; Knap, Nataša; Korva, Misa; Zupanc, Tatjana Avsic; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro Evidence of tick-borne encephalitis virus neutralizing antibodies in Serbian individuals exposed to tick bites Journal Article In: Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 14, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Serbia, tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV), ticks @article{Banović2023c, 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. | |
Dragonjić, Lidija Popović; Jović, Andrija; Janković, Irena; Miladinović, Jelena; Ranković, Aleksandar; Cvetanović, Maja; Beck, Relja; Novosel, Dinko; Pape, Thomas; Banović, Pavle Cordylobia anthropophaga Myiasis Mimicking Hyperproliferative Skin Disorder in Traveler Returning from Sub-Saharan Africa Journal Article In: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: C. antropophaga, myiasis, pathohistology, returning traveller, Serbia @article{Dragonjić2023, 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. | |
Banović, Pavle; Díaz-Sánchez, Adrian Alberto; Foucault-Simonin, Angélique; Mateos-Hernandez, Lourdes; Wu-Chuang, Alejandra; Galon, Clemence; Simin, Verica; Mijatović, Dragana; Bogdan, Ivana; Corona-González, Belkis; Báez, Liani Coronado; Kulisz, Joanna; Woźniak, Aneta; Zając, Zbigniew; Obregón, Dasiel; Moutailler, Sara; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro Emerging tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsioses in the Balkans Journal Article In: Infection, Genetics and Evolution, vol. 107, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: rickettsia, Serbia, tick-borne diseases, ticks @article{Banović2023, 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. | |
2022 |
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Dragonjić, Lidija Popović; Vrbić, Miodrag; Tasić, Aleksandar; Simin, Verica; Bogdan, Ivana; Mijatović, Dragana; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro; Banović, Pavle Fatal Case of Imported Tick-Borne Encephalitis in South Serbia Journal Article In: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, vol. 7, iss. 12, no. 434, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: fatal, Serbia, tick-borne encephalitis, ticks @article{Dragonjić2022, Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is vaccine-preventable neglected zoonotic neuroinvasive disease, caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Many of the Central and Eastern European countries are affected by TBE, which is often poorly perceived by tourists visiting endemic territories. Here we are reporting a fatal case of imported TBE in Serbian resident who was exposed to a tick bite during a visit to Switzerland. | |
Banović, Pavle; Piloto-Sardiñas, Elianne; Mijatović, Dragana; Foucault-Simonin, Angélique; Simin, Verica; Bogdan, Ivana; Obregon, Dasiel; Mateos-Hernández, Lourdes; Moutailler, Sara; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro Differential detection of tick-borne pathogens in human platelets and whole blood using microfluidic PCR Journal Article In: Acta Tropica, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: platelets, rickettsia, Serbia, tick-borne diseases @article{Banović2022c, The tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) with adhesive phenotype can use platelets for dissemination and colonization of distant tissues and organs, and it has been shown that they can be found concentrated in the platelet fraction of blood. This study shows the differential presence of TBPs in samples of human platelet fraction (n = 68), whole blood samples (n = 68) and ticks collected (n = 76) from the same individuals, using an unbiased high-throughput pathogen detection microfluidic system. The clinical symptoms were characterized in enrolled patients. In patients with suspected TBP infection, serological assays were conducted to test for the presence of antibodies against specific TBPs. Tick species infesting humans were identified as Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata. Eight patients developed local skin lesions at the site of the tick bite including non-specific lesions, itching sensation at the lesion site, and eschar. Most common TBPs detected in platelet fraction were Borrelia spielmanii and Rickettsia sp., followed by Borrelia afzelii and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Multiple infections with three TBPs were detected in platelet fraction. In whole blood, most common TBPs detected were Anaplasma spp. and A. phagocytophilum, followed by Rickettsia spp. and B. afzelii. In ticks, the most common TBP detected was Rickettsia spp., followed by Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Overall, nine different pathogens with variable prevalence were identified using species-specific primers, and the most common was Rickettsia helvetica. In three patients, there were no coincidences between the TBPs detected in whole blood and tick samples. Only in one patient was detected A. phagocytophilum in both, whole blood and tick samples. These results suggest the unequal detection of TBPs in whole blood, platelet fraction and ticks collected, from the same individual. The results justify the use of both whole blood and platelet fraction for molecular diagnosis of TBPs in patients. | |
Banović, Pavle; Díaz-Sánchez, Adrian Alberto; Simin, Verica; Foucault-Simonin, Angelique; Galon, Clemence; Chuang, Alejandra Wu; Mijatović, Dragana; Obregon, Dasiel; Moutailler, Sara; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro Clinical Aspects and Detection of Emerging Rickettsial Pathogens: A “One Health” Approach Study in Serbia, 2020 Journal Article In: Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: One Health, rickettsia, Serbia, ticks @article{Banović2022, Ticks carry numerous pathogens that, if transmitted, can cause disease in susceptible humans and animals. The present study describes our approach on how to investigate clinical presentations following tick bites in humans. To this aim, the occurrence of major tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in human blood samples (n = 85) and the ticks collected (n = 93) from the same individuals were tested using an unbiased high-throughput pathogen detection microfluidic system. The clinical symptoms were characterized in enrolled patients. In patients with suspected TBP infection, serological assays were conducted to test for the presence of antibodies against specific TBPs. A field study based on One Health tenets was further designed to identify components of a potential chain of infection resulting in Rickettsia felis infection in one of the patients. Ticks species infesting humans were identified as Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata. Five patients developed local skin lesions at the site of the tick bite including erythema migrans, local non-specific reactions, and cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction. Although Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Candidatus Cryptoplasma sp. DNAs were detected in tick samples, different Rickettsia species were the most common TBPs identified in the ticks. The presence of TBPs such as Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, A. phagocytophilum, and B. microti in ticks was further confirmed by DNA sequencing. Two of the patients with local skin lesions had IgG reactive against spotted fever group rickettsiae, while IgM specific to B. afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia spielmanii were detected in the patient with erythema migrans. Although R. felis infection was detected in one human blood sample, none of the components of the potential chain of infection considered in this study tested positive to this pathogen either using direct pathogen detection in domestic dogs or xenodiagnosis in ticks collected from domestic cats. The combination of high-throughput screening of TBPs and One Health approaches might help characterize chains of infection leading to human infection by TBPs, as well as prevalence of emerging rickettsial pathogens in the Balkan region. | |
2021 |
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Grujić, Jasmina; Bujandrić, Nevenka; Budakov-Obradović, Zorana; Dolinaj, Vladimir; Savić, Nebojša; Bogdan, Damir; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro; Mijatović, Dragana; Simin, Verica; Anđelić, Nikola; Banović, Pavle Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Reactivity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Serbian Convalescent Plasma Donors Journal Article In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: convalescent plasma, COVID-19, donors, SARS-CoV-2, Serbia, therapy @article{Grujić2021, Passive immunotherapy with convalescent COVID-19 plasma (CCP) is used as a therapeutic procedure in many countries, including Serbia. In this study, we analyzed the association between demographic factors, COVID-19 severity and the reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) in Serbian CCP donors. Individuals (n = 468) recovered from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and who were willing to donate their plasma for passive immunization of COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. Plasma samples were tested for the presence of IgG reactive to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S1) and nucleocapsid antigens. Individuals were characterized according to age, gender, comorbidities, COVID-19 severity, ABO blood type and RhD factor. Total of 420 candidates (420/468; 89.74%) reached the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG that qualified them for inclusion in CCP donation program. Further statistical analysis showed that male individuals (p = 0.034), older age groups (p < 0.001), existence of hypertension (p = 0.008), and severe COVID-19 (p = 0.000) are linked with higher levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Abs. These findings will guide the selection of CCP donors in Serbia. Further studies need to be conducted to assess the neutralization potency and clinical efficiency of CCP collected from Serbian donors with high anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG reactivity. | |
Banović, Pavle; Díaz-Sánchez, Adrian Alberto; Mijatović, Dragana; Vujin, Dragana; Zsolt, Horvath; Vranješ, Nenad; Budakov-Obradovic, Zorana; Bujandric, Nevenka; Grujic, Jasmina; Gaffar, Abdul; Jabbar, Abdul; Simin, Verica; Obregon, Dasiel; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro Shared Odds of Borrelia and Rabies Virus Exposure in Serbia Journal Article In: Pathogens, vol. 10, no. 4, 2021. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Borrelia, Rabies, risk odds, Serbia @article{Banović2021b, Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Serbia and other European countries. Rabies is a fatal zoonosis distributed worldwide and is caused by the rabies virus. Professionals at risk of rabies—including veterinarians, hunters, communal service workers, and forestry workers—overlap with some professions at a higher risk of exposure to tick bites and tick-borne pathogen infections. We hypothesized that individuals identified by the public health system as at risk of rabies virus infection, and consequently vaccinated against rabies virus, also share a higher likelihood of Borrelia exposure. To test our hypothesis, a case-control study was carried out during 2019 in Serbia to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia antibodies in two case groups (individuals at risk and vaccinated against rabies virus) and a control group (individuals without risk of rabies). Individuals vaccinated against rabies following either “pre-exposure protocol” (PrEP, n = 58) or “post-exposure protocol” (PEP, n = 42) were considered as rabies risk groups and healthy blood donors (n = 30) as the control group. The results showed higher Borrelia seroprevalence in PrEP (17.2%; 10/58) and PEP (19.0%; 8/42) groups compared with the control group (6.67%; 2/30). Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that risk of rabies (in either the PrEP (OR = 2.91) or PEP (OR = 3.29) groups) is associated with increased odds of being seropositive to Borrelia. However, the difference in Borrelia seroprevalence between groups was not statistically significant (Chi-square (χ²) test p > 0.05). The shared odds of LB and rabies exposure found in this study suggest that, in countries where both diseases occur, the common citizen can be at risk of both diseases when in a risky habitat. These findings are important to guide physicians in targeting high-risk groups, and diagnose LB, and to guide decision-makers in targeting control and prevention measures for both infections in risk areas. | |
Banović, Pavle; Obregon, Dasiel; Mijatović, Dragana; Simin, Verica; Stankov, Srđan; Turkulov, Vesna; Sević, Siniša; Budakov-Obradovic, Zorana; Bujandric, Nevenka; Grujic, Jasmina; Díaz-Sánchez, Adrian Alberto; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Seropositivity among Tick Infested Individuals in Serbia Journal Article In: Pathogens, vol. 10, 2021. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: foci, Serbia, TBEV, ticks @article{Banović2021, Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), caused by the TBE virus (TBEV), is a life-threatening disease with clinical symptoms ranging from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system. Despite TBE is 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 prospective cohort study aimed to assess the TBEV exposure among tick-infested individuals in Serbia during the year 2020. A total of 113 individuals exposed to tick bites were recruited for the study and screened for anti-TBEV antibodies using a commercial indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) test. Blood samples from 50 healthy donors not exposed to tick bites were included as a control group. Most of the enrolled patients reported infestations with one tick, being I. ricinus the most frequent tick found in the participants. The TBEV seroprevalence was higher (13.27%, 15 total 113) in tick-infested individuals than in healthy donors (4%, 2 total 50), although the difference was not significant. Notably, male individuals exposed to tick bites showed five times higher relative risk (RR) of being TBEV-seropositive than healthy donors of the same gender (RR= 5.1, CI = 1.6–19; p = 0.007). None of the seropositive individuals developed clinical manifestations of TBE, but the first clinical-stage of Lyme borreliosis (i.e., erythema migrans) was detected in seven of them. Potential TBEV foci were identified in rural areas, mostly in proximity or within the Fruška Gora mountain. We conclude that the Serbian population is at high risk of TBEV exposure. Further epidemiological studies should focus on potential TBEV foci identified in this study. The implementation of active surveillance for TBEV might contribute to evaluating the potential negative impact of TBE in Serbia. | |
2020 |
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Adrian Alberto Díaz-Sánchez Pavle Banović, Clemence Galon Humans infested with Ixodes ricinus are exposed to a diverse array of tick-borne pathogens in Serbia Journal Article In: Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2020. Links | BibTeX | Tags: Borrelia, rickettsia, Serbia, ticks @article{Banović2020, | |
2018 |
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Čabrilo, Olivera Bjelić; Simin, Verica; Miljević, Vilan; Čabrilo, Borislav; Mijatović, Dragana; Lalošević, Dušan Respiratory and cardiopulmonary nematode species of foxes and jackals in Serbia Journal Article In: SCIENDO / Helminthologia, vol. 5, pp. 213–221, 2018, ISSN: 3. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: cardiopulmonary nematodes, jackal, red fox, respiratory nematodes, Serbia @article{Helminthologia, As part of routine monitoring of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and jackals (Canis aureus) on the territory of Vojvodina province (northern Serbia), an analysis of respiratory and cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes was conducted. Both host species harbored Eucoleus aerophilus, E. boehmi and Crenosoma vulpis, whereas Angiostrongylus vasorum was found only in foxes. A high prevalence of infection (72.6 %) was noted for E. aerophilus in foxes. The remaining parasite species occurred less frequently in both host species. In all species where it could be quantifi ed, a high degree of parasite aggregation within host individuals was noted. Single species infections were most common, whereas two and three species infections occurred less frequently in both host species. The distribution of abundance of E. aerophilus was affected by host sex, with abundances higher in male foxes. Sampling site and year infl uenced abundance variation in E. boehmi. | |
2017 |
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Banović, Pavle TREATMENT OF A PATIENT INJURED BY THE CENTIPEDE SCOLOPENDRA CINGULATA (LATERILLE, 1829) Journal Article In: MD-Medical Data, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 185-187, 2017. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: ScoLopendra cinGULata, scolopendrism, Serbia, treatment @article{article, Scolopendra cingulata (Laterille, 1829) was noticed sixty years ago for the first time in one location in Serbia and since then data about it are scarce. It represents the biggest centipede in Europe and only one that can seriously harm humans. Scolopendrism in Republic of Serbia is a true rarity and until now there has been no case report of harming human by centipede Scolopendra cingulata (Laterille, 1829). Patient aged 85, was stung on his right leg toe by unknown centipede in the toilet of his home. The centipede was afterwards identified as Scolopendra cingulata. As a chief complaint patient describes intense pain at the sting site and burning feeling that spreads to the hip joint. The objective finding revealed a slight redness of the affected area. He was ordinated 20mg chloropyramine (Synopen), 2x4mg dexamethasone and 40mg methylprednisolone i.v. 24 hours after centipede attack pain was completely gone and the patient could walk freely. Although there is a possibility that a species located in our country's territory exhibits phenotypes and genotype differences in relation to the more widely described Mediterranean type, each human bitten by i.e. that come into contact with Scolopendra cingulata venom should be taken seriously in order to facilitate the patient's symptoms, manage constant monitoring and prevent the development of isolated or associated complications with potential comorbidities of the patient. | |
2016 |
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Lalošević, Dušan; Lalošević, Vesna; Simin, Verica; Miljević, Milan; Čabrilo, Borislav; Čabrilo, Olivera Bjelić Spreading of multilocular echinococcosis in southern Europe: 5 the first record in foxes and jackals in Serbia, Vojvodina Province Journal Article In: European Journal of Wildlife Research, vol. 62, no. 6, pp. 793-796, 2016, ISSN: 1612-4642. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: carnivores, echinococcosis, Echinococcus multilocularis Search subject for Echinococcus multilocularis, foxes, intestines, jackals, monitoring, parasites, Rabies, Serbia, Southern European region @article{article, Foxes and jackals from the Vojvodina Province of Serbia were examined for the presence of echinococcosis. Animals were collected as part of routine rabies monitoring and autopsied; their intestines were checked for parasites. Out of 112 examined foxes, echinococcosis was found in 20 (17.9 %); of 28 examined jackals, 4 were infected (14.3 %). Morphological analysis confirmed the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis. This is the first record of E. multilocularis in foxes or other carnivorous mammals in Serbia. | |
2012 |
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Simin, Verica; Lalošević, Vesna; Galfi, Annamaria; Božić, Milovan; Obradović, Nemanja; Lalošević, Dušan Crenosoma vulpis (Dujardin 1844) (Nematoda, Crenosomatidae) in foxes in Vojvodina Province, Serbia Journal Article In: BiologiaSerbica, vol. 34, no. 1-2, pp. 71-74, 2012. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Crenosoma vulpis, foxes, prevalence, Serbia, Vojvodina @article{article, Crenosoma vulpis is a lung worm which aff ects carnivorous mammals. Data on the presence of C. vulpis in foxes in Serbia is lacking. In the present study, C. vulpis was found in the fox population of Vojvodina province, Serbia, during the course of examinations for Eucoleus aerophilus. Foxes were collected throughout Vojvodina province: most of the foxes had either been previously suspected of rabies or regularly shot in 2011. carcasses were opened and tracheas were taken from larynx to bifurcation, and preserved in 30% ethanol for later examination. For the purpose of examination, the tracheas were opened on the anterior side using scissors. parasites were collected under a stereomicroscope by scraping of mucosa and wet-mounted in glycerin-ethanol or lactophenol. Crenosoma vulpis was found in 5 out of 38 foxes, for a prevalence rate of 13.15%. a total of 8 male, 15 female and 45 larvae was found. cohabitation of foxes with stray dogs and cats may be a potential source of parasite transmission in urban environments. |