ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Human leishmaniasis is on increase in the Mediterranean Europe. However, the exact prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is largely unknown as underdiagnosis and under reporting are common. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate epidemiological, clinicopathological and microbiological aspects of CL cases occurring in the Bologna Province, north-eastern Italy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study on CL cases diagnosed in the Bologna Province between January 2013 and December 2015. RESULTS: During 2013-2015, 30 cases of CL were identified in the Bologna Province with an average incidence of 1.00/100 000, with an increase of fourfold to 12-fold as compared to previous years. 16 of 30 (53%) CL cases presented as single, typical lesions. CL diagnosis was carried out by histological and molecular techniques, although in 7 of 29 (24%) PCR-positive cases, amastigotes were not visible on histology. CONCLUSIONS: We report new evidence of CL cases in a focal area of north-eastern Italy in 2013-2015. Our study highlights the importance of CL surveillance in the Mediterranean basin and emphasizes the need for the molecular laboratory surveillance of CL in endemic areas.
Subject(s)
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
An increased number of autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases has recently been reported in Bologna Province in northern Italy. Over six months from November 2012 to May 2013, 14 cases occurred, whereas the average number of cases per year was 2.6 (range: 0-8) in 2008 to 2012. VL was diagnosed in a median of 40 days (range: 15-120) from disease onset. This delay in diagnosis shows the need for heightened awareness of clinicians for autochthonous VL in Europe.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/transmission , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Italy/epidemiology , Leishmania infantum/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/parasitology , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Topography, Medical , Young AdultABSTRACT
In this paper, the use of ferrocene-based "electrochemically ionizable" derivatives to enhance ES-MS analysis of simple alcohols, sterols, and phenols is discussed. These derivatives are designed to take advantage of the electrolysis process inherent to operation of the ES ion source for selective ionization. Derivatization procedures, electrochemical character of the derivatives, and the ES-MS operational parameters necessary to maximize electrochemical ionization and to enhance gas-phase detection are presented with reference to ferrocenecarbamate ester derivatives of a variety of alcohol standards, as well as the ferroceneboronate derivative of the diol, pinacol. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the derivatives (precursor and product ion spectra) is shown to provide derivative confirmation, enhanced detection, and additional analyte structure information. The utility of this derivatization approach for the selective detection of alcohols in complicated mixtures is demonstrated using a saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit extract known to contain a variety of alcohols at low levels.
