Ehrlichia infection in Italy.

Immunoglobulin M seroconversion to Ehrlichia chaffeensis was documented in U.S. citizens bitten by ticks in Sardinia. Seven cases of suspected ehrlichiosis in local residents were not confirmed by laboratory tests. In Alpine areas antibodies to E. phagocytophila were detected in persons at high risk, i.e., foresters (8.6%) and hunters (5.5%), and in controls (1.5%). Of 153 persons bitten by ticks, only one was Ehrlichia antibody-positive after 6 months.

Infections in an Alpine environment: antibodies to hantaviruses, leptospira, rickettsiae, and Borrelia burgdorferi in defined Italian populations.

From 1987 to 1991, a seroepidemiologic survey for antibodies to hantaviruses, leptospira, rickettsiae, and Borrelia was conducted in selected Italian population groups. In the mountainous areas of northeastern Italy, the prevalence of antibody to hantaviruses, as detected by indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay, was 7.1%, 4.8%, 4.3%, and 4% in 265 forestry workers, 82 rangers, 395 farmers, and 75 hunters, respectively. Among 299 Alpine soldiers, the prevalence was lower (0.7%). Of those with Hantaan antibody, the reactivity pattern using Hantaan, Puumala, and Fojnica viruses suggested a prevalence of antibody to Hantaan virus, with titers reaching levels of 128. The presence of leptospiral antibodies (by microagglutination test), which included the prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, L. bratislava, and L. saxkoening serotypes, was observed in 10-12% of the farmers and forestry workers in these Alpine mountain regions. Only a few sporadic clinical cases of leptospirosis have been reported from these regions. Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (by IFA) were observed in 19% of the rangers and forestry workers, with lower values in farmers (10%) and hunters (8%). These data suggest the presence of a large number of asymptomatic infections with B. burgdorferi and the leptospires in the densely wooded areas of the Alpine Italian regions. Furthermore, the recent identification of a case of Hantaan acute nephropathy in a man living in the mountainous northeastern area of Italy confirms the presence of hantavirus in the Italian Alpine zones, especially those near the Slovenian border.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to hantaviruses and leptospires in selected Italian population groups.

A study of hantaviral and leptospiral antibodies in selected population groups was performed. Among high risk subjects in the Rome area, Hantaan antibody was found in mammalogists (10%) and dialysis patients (6%), while none of the trappers, oarsmen, river policemen and firemen studied tested positive for antibodies to hantaviruses. In occupationally-exposed subjects (farmers, rangers, lumbermen, hunters) from rural and densely forested areas of northern Italian regions, the prevalence of Hantaan antibody ranged from 3.3% to 8.8%. In the positive cases the comparative antibody titration using different hantaviruses showed a predominance of Hantaan virus (titer 1:128) compared to Puumala virus (titer 1:32); no reactivity was observed with Seoul or Prospect Hill viruses. In Rome, leptospiral antibodies were found in trappers (21%) and oarsmen (5%) at a titer of 1:50 or more, with a predominance for the L. icterohaemorrhagiae serotype (85%). In the Alpine areas the leptospiral antibody prevalence was 12% and L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. bratislava were the predominant serotypes. The presence of hantavirus infections, suspected after the first epidemiological survey conducted in central Italy, is now supported by the new data obtained in northern Italian regions. Furthermore, the recent observation of one case of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in the Udine area, not far from the Yugoslavian border, strongly confirms the presence of one or more hantaviruses in Italy.

[Differential erythrocyte parameters in thalassemia minor and hyposideremic syndromes]. / Parametri eritrocitari differenziali tra talassemia minor e sindromi iposideremiche.

In order to estimate the validity of the discriminant function suggested by England e Fraser, we have determined the number of red cells (RBC) mean cell volume (MCV), hemoglobin mean concentration (MCV) and red cells distribution (RDW) in normal subjects, iron-deficient patients and uncomplicated thalassemia minor. The results obtained allow us to point out that RDW in the patients with thalassemia are higher than in normal subjects. In patients with iron-deficiency, instead, RDW medium is increased, but with a remarkable distribution of values. These results point out that anisocytosis is higher in iron-deficiency than in thalassemia.

[The laboratory in monitoring high-risk pregnancy]. / Il laboratorio nel monitoraggio della gravidanza a rischio.

108 cases of high-risk pregnancy are object of our investigation (gestosis, feto-placental insufficiency, chronic nephropathy, rhesus immunization). HCG, plasma estriol, HPL and beta1-SP1-glycoprotein have been studied. The simultaneous determination of the four hormones makes it possible to establish the degree of the pregnancy risk, eventual fetal suffering and the hormonal course of pregnancy.