Unveiling the incidences and trends of the neglected zoonosis cystic echinococcosis in Europe: a systematic review from the MEmE project.

The neglected zoonosis cystic echinococcosis affects mainly pastoral and rural communities in both low-income and upper-middle-income countries. In Europe, it should be regarded as an orphan and rare disease. Although human cystic echinococcosis is a notifiable parasitic infectious disease in most European countries, in practice it is largely under-reported by national health systems. To fill this gap, we extracted data on the number, incidence, and trend of human cases in Europe through a systematic review approach, using both the scientific and grey literature and accounting for the period of publication from 1997 to 2021. The highest number of possible human cases at the national level was calculated from various data sources to generate a descriptive model of human cystic echinococcosis in Europe. We identified 64 745 human cystic echinococcosis cases from 40 European countries. The mean annual incidence from 1997 to 2020 throughout Europe was 0·64 cases per 100 000 people and in EU member states was 0·50 cases per 100 000 people. Based on incidence rates and trends detected in this study, the current epicentre of cystic echinococcosis in Europe is in the southeastern European countries, whereas historical endemic European Mediterranean countries have recorded a decrease in the number of cases over the time.

Emerging human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary (2003-2018): a retrospective case series analysis from a multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is an underreported, often misdiagnosed and mistreated parasitic disease mainly due to its low incidence. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of human AE patients in Hungary for the first time. METHOD: Between 2003 and 2018, epidemiological and clinical data of suspected AE patients were collected retrospectively from health database management systems. RESULTS: This case series included a total of 16 AE patients. The mean age of patients was 53 years (range: 24-78 years). The sex ratio was 1:1. Four patients (25%) revealed no recurrence after radical surgery and adjuvant albendazole (ABZ) therapy. For five patients (31.3%) with unresectable lesions, a stabilization of lesions with ABZ treatment was achieved. In seven patients (43.8%), progression of AE was documented. The mean diagnostic delay was 33 months (range: 1-122 months). Three AE related deaths (fatality rate 18.8%) were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: AE is an emerging infectious disease in Hungary with a high fatality rate since based on our results, almost every fifth AE patient died in the study period. Differential diagnosis and appropriate surgical and medical therapy for AE is an urging challenge for clinicians in Hungary, as well as in some other European countries where E. multilocularis is prevalent.

Combining Computed Tomography and Histology Leads to an Evolutionary Concept of Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the intermediate stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. We aimed to correlate computed tomography (CT) data with histology to identify distinct characteristics for different lesion types. We classified 45 samples into five types with the Echinococcus multilocularis Ulm Classification for Computed Tomography (EMUC-CT). The various CT lesions exhibited significantly different histological parameters, which led us to propose a progression model. The initial lesion fit the CT type IV classification, which comprises a single necrotic area with the central located laminated layer, a larger distance between laminated layer and border zone, a small fibrotic peripheral zone, and few small particles of Echinococcus multilocularis (spems). Lesions could progress through CT types I, II, and III, characterized by shorter distances between laminated layer and border zone, more spems inside and surrounding the lesion, and a pronounced fibrotic rim (mostly in type III). Alternatively, lesions could converge to a highly calcified, regressive state (type V). Our results suggest that the CT types mark sequential stages of the infection, which progress over time. These distinct histological patterns advance the understanding of interactions between AE and human host; moreover, they might become prognostically and therapeutically relevant.

[Pig-slaughtering at home. Customs do not change. An infectological case report from a historical point of view]. / Családi disznótor, avagy a szokások nem változnak. Hagyományorzo infektológiai esetbemutatás.

We report a case of a 41-year-old female patient presenting with watery diarrhoea and myalgia in the winter-season. Before her symptoms started she had participated in a pig slaughtering with her family. Some of the family members also became ill. On her physical examination periorbital odema and myalgia were found. Eosinophilia, hypalbuminaemia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and creatin kinase levels were detected on laboratory investigations. The clinical picture, the laboratory findings and background epidemiological data implied the diagnosis of trichinellosis and albendazol was started. Serum gained on the 22nd post-infectious day turned out to be equivocal for trichinellosis. For this reason and because of the refractory fever a muscle-biopsy was done. Granulomatous myositis described by histology and Trichinella seropositivity from the repeated serum sample on the 62nd post-infectious day finally confirmed the diagnosis. During the course of the disease, we experienced elevation of troponin I suggesting myocarditis, but it was accompanied neither with abnormal ECG signs nor characteristic symptoms. Almost a century ago, a case report was published in Hungarian with a similar introduction. Trichinellosis in that epidemic setting led to the death of five people. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(24): 952-957.

Human cystic echinococcosis in Hungary (2000-2014): a retrospective case series analysis from a single-center study.

PURPOSE: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Although in Hungary the disease is listed among reportable infections, inadequacies in the reporting practice of CE by clinicians and pathologists have resulted in underscoring of this disease. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of CE in Hungary using a datasource other than the official records that are based mainly on serological data. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective case series study included a total of 45 CE patients confirmed by histopathology in a single Hungarian center between 2000 and 2014. CONCLUSION:  Although CE is the most prevalent reportable endemic helminthosis in Hungary, to date this is the first study on the clinical epidemiology of the disease in this country.

Gynecological and obstetrical aspects of Enterobius vermicularis infection.

Enterobiasis is an easily recognizable and treatable disease with higher incidence among children. Based on these facts, its clinical importance is usually underestimated. This infection also occurs during adulthood and without treatment, it can cause severe complications in some rare cases. Unnoticed subclinical infection in women can lead to infertility and even to life-threatening conditions. It is also emphasized in this paper that the treatment of identified enterobiasis during pregnancy needs caution. After reviewing the current scientific literature, two gynecological cases are presented here.

Autochthonous human alveolar echinococcosis in a Hungarian patient.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease causing a severe clinical condition and is known as the most deadly of all helminth infections. Moreover, this disease is also an increasing concern in Northern and Eastern Europe due to its spread in the wildlife animal host. CASE PRESENTATION: An asymptomatic 70-year-old woman from south-western Hungary was diagnosed with multiple liver lesions. Imaging techniques (ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging), serology (ELISA, indirect hemagglutination and Western blot), and conventional staining methods (hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff) were used for the detection of the disease. A histopathological re-evaluation of formalin-fixed paraffin block by immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal antibody Em2G11 definitively confirmed the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed autochthonous case of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary. To what extent diagnostic difficulties may contribute to underestimate this zoonosis in Eastern Europe is unknown. Differential diagnosis with alveolar echinococcosis should be considered for patients with multiple, tumor-like cystic lesions of the liver, in countries where this parasite is emerging.

[Thousand faces of Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcus) infections]. / A Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) -infekciók ezer arca.

Incidence and mortality rates of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are high worldwide and in Hungary among paediatric as well as adult populations. Pneumococci account for 35-40% of community acquired adult pneumonias requiring hospitalization, while 25-30% of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonias are accompanied by bacteraemia. 5-7% of all infections are fatal but this rate is exponentially higher in high risk patients and elderly people. Mortality could reach 20% among patients with severe invasive pneumococcal infections. Complications may develop despite administration of adequate antibiotics. The authors summarize the epidemiology of pneumococcal infections, pathogenesis of non-invasive and invasive disease and present basic clinical aspects through demonstration of four cases. Early risk stratification, sampling of hemocultures, administration of antibiotics and wider application of active immunization could reduce the mortality of invasive disease. Anti-pneumococcal vaccination is advisable for adults of ≥50 years and high risk patients of ≥18 years who are susceptible to pneumococcal disease.