Congenital HCMV infection is a leading infectious cause of long‐term neurodevelopmental sequelae. Infection of newborn mice with mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) intraperitoneally is a well‐established ...model of congenital human cytomegalovirus infection, which best recapitulates the hematogenous route of virus spread to brain and subsequent pathology. Here, we used this model to investigate the role, dynamics, and phenotype of CD8+ T cells in the brain following infection of newborn mice. We show that CD8+ T cells infiltrate the brain and form a pool of tissue‐resident memory T cells (TRM cells) that persist for lifetime. Adoptively transferred virus‐specific CD8+ T cells provide protection against primary MCMV infection in newborn mice, reduce brain pathology, and remain in the brain as TRM cells. Brain CD8+ TRM cells were long‐lived, slowly proliferating cells able to respond to local challenge infection. Importantly, brain CD8+ TRM cells controlled latent MCMV and their depletion resulted in virus reactivation and enhanced inflammation in brain.
In a mouse model of congenital cytomegalovirus infection, CD8+ T cells infiltrate the brain and form a pool of tissue‐resident memory T cells (TRM cells) that persist for lifetime. Brain CD8+ TRM cells control cytomegalovirus and their depletion results in virus reactivation and enhanced brain inflammation.
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) is a novel virus that has been identified as a causal agent of COVID-19, an emergent infectious disease which brought about a new ...pandemic in the twenty-first century. The immune responses and clinical features of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have not yet been fully described. Thus, in this study, we compare the seroprevalence and define the correlation between symptoms and serological results in the first COVID-19 cluster in the city of Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of the total number, 93% of RT-PCR positive participants had positive IgG serology and 75% of them developed symptoms of COVID-19. We found that there was no significant alteration in specific IgG (p = 0.504) antibody levels during the 1-year period after COVID-19. Our results indicate that symptomatic COVID-19 patients have a higher rate of seroconversion (p < 0.01). The IgG seroconversion was correlated with high fever (p = 0.002) and headache (p = 0.007), suggesting that these symptoms could be considered as indicators of a better immune response. This study has demonstrated persistence of sustained levels of specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after recovering from COVID-19 infection. However, in order to gain a better insight into the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, further systematic studies should be focused on quality and longevity analyses.
The aim of this research was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with special reference to women of reproductive age in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ...retrospective cross-sectional study included 3685 participants tested at the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, University Clinical Hospital, Mostar in the period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019. The detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii was based on the enzyme immunofluorescence test.
In this study the total IgG prevalence of T. gondii was 18.7%, while only 1.7% were IgM positive. The IgG prevalence increased according to age of participants from 1.8% in 1–5 age group to 46.8% in participants older than 65 (p < 0.001). Out of total IgG positive participants, 62.8% came from rural areas (p < 0.001). An increased age (OR = 2.233) and rural residence (OR = 1.468) were found as risk factors for toxoplasmosis, whereas gender was not (OR = 1.021). Out of total 1514 women of reproductive age tested, the IgG prevalence of T. gondii was 15.8%, and IgM antibodies was present in 1.6% examined women.
This study showed a seroprevalence of T. gondii in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not only among the general population, but also among women of reproductive age. Results of the study suggest the need for more systematic preventive monitoring of pregnant women and preconception counselling for women of reproductive age.
This study explores the correlation between immunological and clinical characteristics in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with detectable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ...(SARS-CoV-2) RNA in feces, analyzing data from 251 patients admitted to Mostar University Clinical Hospital from December 2021 to January 2022. Methods involved reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) from nasopharyngeal swabs and feces, alongside serological tests for anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgGs. Demographic and clinical data were collected through questionnaires and medical records. The data analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software. Death occurred in 53 patients (21.1%, P < 0.001), mostly in the elderly (47/53, 88.7%, P = 0.001) and immunocompromised (19/53, 35.8%, P = 0.05), particularly those developing acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI) (46/53, 86.8%, P = 0.004), and severe/critical disease (46/53, 86.8%, P = 0.002). Among the patients with positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (86/251, 34.3%, P < 0.001), 41 (47.7%) were vaccinated and 45 (52.3%) unvaccinated (P = 0.666), showing no significant differences in clinical outcomes or mortality. Unvaccinated patients with a negative antibody titer had a higher incidence of ARI (96/123, 78%, P = 0.029) and intensive care unit admission (22/123, 17.9%, P = 0.026), than those with a positive antibody titer. Forty-seven (62.7%) patients, out of the 75 hospitalized who provided a feces sample, were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (P = 0.028), without statistical differences between fecal SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative groups regarding vaccination status (15/47, 31.9%, P = 0.493), antibody status (18/47, 38.3%, P = 0.628) or death outcome (5/47, 10.6%, P = 0.706). In conclusion, unvaccinated hospitalized patients with a severe COVID-19 presentation and a negative anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer had adverse outcomes more frequently. This suggests cautious consideration for the diagnostic use of fecal samples compared to nasopharyngeal swabs.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and neurodevelopmental disabilities in developed countries. Although high cCMV rates have been ...reported in populations with high seroprevalence, the cCMV prevalence in low/middle-income countries in Europe has not been defined.
To determine cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence and the cCMV prevalence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Between March 2010 and February 2019, 5222 sera samples from patients seen at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar were tested for CMV IgG. The cord blood samples collected from 2091 infants between July 2011 and January 2013 were analyzed for CMV IgG and CMV DNA. The cCMV prevalence was determined by testing saliva swabs from 1293 infants between November 2015 and October 2016.
The overall CMV IgG prevalence was 81.4% (95% confidence interval: 0.8-0.82). Significantly higher prevalence was observed among females (84.9%) than in males (77.0%), and the rate increased from 50.8% in the 1 to 5 years group to 97.7% in the group > 65 years old. Most cord blood samples (2091/1925, 92.1%) were CMV IgG positive, and 2 (0.1%) were CMV DNA positive. Of the 1293 saliva swabs, 8 (0.62%; 95% confidence interval: 0.3-1.2) were CMV positive. All 8 infected infants had asymptomatic cCMV, and none had SNHL at 18 months of age.
In a highly CMV seropositive population, the prevalence of cCMV was lower compared with that reported from other low/middle-income countries populations. None of the infected infants had symptomatic infection or SNHL at 18 months.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence varies between 60% in developed countries and 100% in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess CMV seroprevalence in representative sample of ...children in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to identify possible factors associated with CMV.
Blood samples and surveys were collected from 253 children at the Department of Paediatrics and Department of Infectious diseases of University Clinical Hospital Mostar. Blood sera were tested for the presence of CMV IgG antibodies by ELISA. CMV seroprevalence was correlated with age, gender, household members, presence of pets and animals in household, attendance of day-care and summer camps and use of already used cutlery.
Overall CMV seroprevalence among children was 56.5% (P = 0.038) and raised with age of children from 44.4% in early preschool children up to 73.9% in adolescents (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the CMV seroprevalence between genders (P = 0.732). Significantly higher rate of the CMV seroprevalence was observed among children having pets or domestic animals (P = 0.015), among those who attended summer sport camp or school camp (P = 0.04) and among children using of dirty cutlery and glasses (P = 0.039).
More than half of tested children were CMV seropositive with significantly higher rate in older children. Higher CMV seroprevalence was in correlations with possession of the pets or domestic animals, attendance at the summer sport camp or school camp and use of dirty cutlery and glasses.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that has been identified as a causal agent of COVID-19, an emergent infectious disease which brought about a new ...pandemic in the 21st century. The immune responses and clinical features of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have not yet been fully described. Thus, in this study, we compare the seroprevalence and define the correlation between symptoms and serological results in the first COVID-19 cluster in the city of Konjic, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. Of the total number, 93% of real-time polymerase chain reaction-positive participants had positive immunoglobulin G (IgG) serology and 75% of them developed symptoms of COVID-19. We found that there was no significant alteration in specific IgG (p = 0.504) antibody levels during the 1-year period after COVID-19. Our results indicate that symptomatic COVID-19 patients have a higher rate of seroconversion (p < 0.01). The IgG seroconversion was correlated with high fever (p = 0.002) and headache (p = 0.007), suggesting that these symptoms could be considered as indicators of a better immune response. This study has demonstrated persistence of sustained levels of specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after recovering from COVID-19 infection. However, to gain a better insight into the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, further systematic studies should be focused on quality and longevity analyses. KEYWORDS: Bosnia and Herzegovina; pandemic; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2; COVID-19; immune response; seroconversion; IgG
Chronic hepatitis C was until recently treated with a combined therapy of interferon and ribavirin. More recently, direct antiviral agents (DAA), are being introduced. They are more tolerable and ...have fewer side effects, with better treatment results. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina we have started using this new therapy, with a limited financial opportunity. Large numbers of patients with chronic hepatitis C are former or current addicts, some of them treat their addiction with methadone or buprenorphine. These patients often formerly have a depression disorder and during treatment of chronic hepatitis need supervision of a psychiatrist, due to one of the side effects of interferon being deterioration of depression. Using this research we wanted to valorize the depression disorder of our patients, to indicate the effects of interferon on depression deterioration and the need for a new therapy protocol.
Examinees were patients with chronic hepatitis C on interferon therapy, which we divided into three groups: those who were never addicts, then the group of patients who were earlier addicts and have a long abstinence and patients who treat their addiction with a replacement therapy of methadone or buprenorphine. All patients completed Beck's test, which determines the level of depression, before and after interferon therapy.
Patients who used to be addicts or were on replacement therapy had mild or moderate depression before interferon treatment in a large number. After interferon therapy, there was a statistically substantial increase of patients with serious depression, which was not noted before the therapy.
Interferon therapy deteriorates depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C and there should be a strive for new therapies with less side effects in treatment. No patients stopped therapy. That is a result of community work and supervision over patients from both hepatologists and psychiatrists.
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