[Herd immunity and the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the etiology of respiratory diseases in the Czech Republic]. / Promorenost a úloha Chlamydia pneumoniae v etiologii respiracních onemocnení v Ceské republice.

The objective of the investigation was to assess the seroprevalence of IgG in the population of the Czech Republic and to assess the etiological role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in respiratory diseases. The sera were examined by specific tests-genus by ELISA and species by the microimmunofluorescent test. The examination of sera from 1974-1975 for the serological survey was selected to make the results comparable with the results of examinations planned for 1996. Chlamydia IgG were detected already in the age group from 1-4 years with a marked rise in youth, and in adult age the seroprevalence was between 72.0 and 86.2% (mean 80.1%). In the seropositivity of Chlamydia IgG participated mainly immunoglobulin C. pneumoniae, which was present already in child and school age (seroprevalence 7.7-88.2%), culminating in adult age (92.0-100%). IgG C. trachomatis were detected practically only in adult age, IgG C. psittaci were found only rarely in serum. In 16 subjects (of 216 examined) serological tests revealed acute (in 27 suspect), in 6 subjects recent (in 17 suspect) infection with C. pneumoniae and 53 to 63 subjects had the infection in the past.

[Parvovirus B 19 in pregnancy]. / Parvovirus B 19 v tehotenství.

The human parvovirus B 19 was discovered in 1975 by Cossart but its etiological association with erythema infectiosum and hydrops of the foetus was proved only in 1984-1985. The objective of the submitted prospective study was to assemble basic findings on the herd immunity of the female population and the risk of infection with this agent during pregnancy. Seropositivity of women of fertile age before the epidemic of parvovirus B 19 in 1993 and 1994 was cca 50%, after the epidemic 70%. Erythema infectiosum is a childhood disease (96% of the cases are children under 14 years of age), but seroprevalence of parvovirus IgG in these age groups is only 11%. Thus the infection in adults is frequent but not diagnosed. A parvovirus etiology of possible loss of the foetus on the basis of serological examination is encountered only exceptionally. The Czech commercial preparation gammaglobulin can be used for prevention and treatment of a non-immune foetal hydrops.

[Long-term follow-up of the etiology of diarrhea with emphasis on the role of rotaviruses in hospitalized patients at the Infectious Disease Clinic of the Medical School Hospital in Plzen]. / Dlouhodobé sledování etiologie prujmu u hospitalizovaných nemocných na Infekcní klinice Fakultní nemocnice v Plzni se zamerením na uplatnení rotaviru.

During 1986-1994 the etiological structure of diarrhoea in hospitalized patients at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, University Hospital Plzen was analyzed. In children under four years most frequently (in 26%) rotaviruses were involved, in older patients their ratio was lower and the decisive pathogenetic organism were salmonellae. In rotavirus infections the shortest hospitalization period was recorded. These infections were encountered all round the year with a maximum prevalence in the winter months.

[Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against parvovirus B19 in the population of the Czech Republic]. / Séroprevalence protilátek trídy IgG proti parvoviru B 19 v populaci Ceské republiky.

The human parvovirus B 19 was discovered in 1975 by Cossart in England. Later (1984) evidence was provided that this virus is the etiological agent of erythema infectiosum and hydrops foetalis, and in 1985 it was provided that it is also the etiological agent of some types of arthritis or arthropaties and vasculitis. The diagnosis of the disease caused by this agent is most frequently based on evidence of specific immunoglobulins. The epidemiological and clinical impact of parvoviral infections in the Czech Republic was not known so far. Examination of sera from 562 subjects aged 0-60 years assembled in 1992 in three Czech regions revealed in children, age 0 - 4 years 9.8%, during preschool and school age 27 - 35.7% and in age groups above 15 years a 53.3 - 57.7% seroprevalence of IgG parvovirus B 19, roughly equally distributed among both sexes. The more frequent prevalence of specific immunoglobulins was proved in small groups of female workers in nurseries (66.7%), nursery schools (91.7%) and in blood transfusion stations (77.8%). The seropositivity of the general female population of matched age groups, with the exception of women aged 20 - 24 years, was 53.86%.

[Tick-borne encephalitis in the West Bohemian Region 1960-1991]. / Klístová encefalitida v Západoceském kraji v letech 1960-1991.

In 1960-1991 in the West Bohemian region 746 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were confirmed by serological examination. The highest morbidity was recorded in the population of Plzen--5.9 per 100,000 per year. During 1986-1991 the mean hospitalization period of patients with tick-borne encephalitis was 13.5 days. Analysis by age groups revealed the highest specific morbidity in subjects aged 15-34 years. In the limital age groups the disease was recorded only exceptionally. From data on the specific morbidity and clinical severity ensues that mass vaccination against this infection in areas with a lower risk could start in subjects older than 10 years.

[The contribution of the virology laboratory to the diagnosis of neuroinfections]. / Príspevek virologické laboratore k diagnostice neuroinfekcí.

The authors summarizes the results of a virological examination in 1231 patients with neuroinfections hospitalized in 1973-1984 at the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Plzen. The virological diagnosis contributed towards the elucidation of the aetiology in 62.4% of the patients. In the aetiology participated the virus of tick-borne encephalitis in 28.2%, the virus of epidemic parotidis in 15.8% and a group of enteroviruses in 14.9%. The participation of other viral agents was small.

[Incidence of zoonoses with their natural foci in the West Bohemia Region. II. Antibodies to the Tahyna and Tribec tick-borne encephalitis viruses]. / K výskytu nekterých zoonóz s prírodní ohniskovostí v Západoceském kraji. II. Protilátky k viru klíst'ové encefalitidy, Tahyna a Tribec u obyvatel kraje.

The authors examined serum samples from 475 men from different districts of the West Bohemian region for the presence of antibodies against viruses of tick-borne encephalitis, Tahyna and Tribec, strain Lipovník. Antibodies against the virus of tick-borne encephalitis were found in 1.1% and antibodies against the Tahyna virus in 4.4% of the examined sera. Antibodies against the Tribec virus were not detected. In the prevalence of antibodies against both viruses no geographical differences were revealed. The ratio of subjects with antibodies against the virus of tick-borne encephalitis was consistent with the long-term follow-up of morbidity and the reported clinical manifestation of the infection.

[Occurrence of zoonoses in a natural reservoir in the West Bohemian Region. I. Tick-borne encephalitis--basic epidemiologic characteristics]. / K výskytu nekterých zoonóz s prírodní ohniskovostí v Západoceském kraji. I. Klíst'ová encefalitis--základní epidemiologické charakteristiky.

In 1960-1987 in the population of the West Bohemian region by means of various serological methods 621 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were diagnose. The disease was not present in the northern districts (Cheb, Sokolov, Karlovy Vary) and in the mountainous zone along the western frontier of the country. In other areas it is ubiquitary with the highest mean morbidity for the entire period - 5.1 cases per 100,000/year in the district Plzen-South. The morbidity of the population of the regional town was only slightly lower. The patients were most frequently from the age group of 20-29 years. In younger age groups there were twice as many men than women, in children and older age groups the differences were not significant. The incidence was highest in July and August. Only 5.5% cases had the character of an occupational infection. Tick-borne encephalitis is a leisure time disease in the West Bohemian region.

Small-scale field trial with neuraminidase vaccine.

An inactivated whole-virus vaccine was prepared from the influenza virus recombinant H0N2 and administered to two groups of subjects. A total of 1,200 subjects were vaccinated; comparable groups of subjects served as controls. From a portion of the vaccinees sera were obtained prior to vaccination and three to four weeks afterwards. Serological tests revealed development of or increase in the antibody against H0 in a great majority of the vaccinated subjects and against N2 in slightly more than half of them. Antibody response to H3 antigen was only rarely encountered. Approximately three months after vaccination an influenza epidemic caused by Victoria-like (H3N2) viruses broke out in Czechoslovakia. Numerous influenza cases occurred in the two populations followed. Morbidity was significantly lower among the vaccinated than among the control subjects, indicating a protective effect of the neuraminidase vaccine under field conditions.