engleski

(Re-)emerging arboviral infections in Croatia in the shadow OF COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread rapidly and in March 2020, WHO declared a pandemic. With global attention on SARS-CoV-2, many other viral infections remain neglected in the shadow of COVID- 19. However, (re-)emerging arboviruses still represent an emerging public health threat. Arboviruses detected in humans in Croatia (acute infections or serologic evidence) are tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), Toscana virus (TOSV), Tahyna virus (TAHV) and Bhanja virus (BHAV). During the 2020 transmission season, a total of 82 patients with neuroinvasive disease, 15 patients with non- specific febrile disease and 34 travelers returning from endemic areas were tested for arboviruses. TBEV was confirmed u 10 patients, while other neuroinvasive arboviruses were not detected. Clinical presentations were febrile headache, meningitis and meningoencephalitis. All patients recovered. Majority of them reported risk behaviors such as frequent visiting of forest areas and frequent tick bites. TBEV infections occurred from May to July in continental Croatian counties. Previous TBEV, WNV, USUV and TOSV infection (IgG antibodies) was detected in 1.2%, 4.9%, 2.4% and 1.2% of patients, respectively. Additionally, 2.4% of patients showed IgG antibodies to sandfly fever Naples virus. Imported Zika virus infection was documented in a traveler returning from Thailand. During the same period, a total of 188 asymptomatic persons were tested to determine the seroprevalence of neuroinvasive arboviruses. IgG prevalence was 1.6% to TBEV, 3.2% to WNV and 1.1% to USUV. Like in other European countries, arbovirus infections in Croatia in 2020 were, at least partly overshadowed by COVID-19 pandemic.

arboviruses ; epidemiology ; Croatia

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