Correction to: Detection of Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Norway up to the northern limit of Ixodes ricinus distribution using a novel real time PCR test targeting the groEL gene.

After publication of our article [1] it came to our notice that the source of the sequence for the control plasmid, pNeo (Materials and methods: Controls) was incorrectly stated as AB094461. The correct accession number is AB074461. The authors apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Detection of Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Norway up to the northern limit of Ixodes ricinus distribution using a novel real time PCR test targeting the groEL gene.

Background: Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen. It is widely distributed in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe, but knowledge of its distribution in Norway, where I. ricinus reaches its northern limit, is limited.

"Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected near the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Background: "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" is a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae that, in Europe, is transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks. "Candidatus N. mikurensis" can cause a severe systemic inflammatory syndrome, neoehrlichiosis, mostly in persons with other underlying diseases.

Blood donor Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seroprevalence and history of tick bites at a northern limit of the vector distribution.

In order to study the antibody seroprevalence of the causal agent of Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), and the history of tick bites at a geographical distribution limit of Ixodes ricinus, we compared healthy blood donors in geographically extreme regions: the borreliosis-endemic Vestfold County (59°N) and the region of northern Norway.

Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Norway using a realtime PCR assay targeting the Anaplasma citrate synthase gene gltA.

Background: A TaqMan real-time PCR assay targeting the Anaplasma citrate synthase gene, gltA, was developed and used for detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 765 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from dogs and cats in northern Norway (n = 669) and Telemark county in southern Norway (n = 96).

Results: Among the ticks from northern Norway the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was 3.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-infected Ixodes ricinus collected from vegetation near the Arctic Circle.

This is the first study to determine the density of questing Ixodes ricinus in northern Norway. It was performed at two sites in Brønnøy, which has been known for its tick permissive habitats for decades and is one of the northernmost habitats with an abundant I. ricinus population in the world.

Ixodes ricinus and Borrelia prevalence at the Arctic Circle in Norway.

The distribution limit of Ixodes ricinus ticks in northwestern Europe (Brønnøy, Norway, 1° south of the Arctic Circle), has been known since the 1930s. To reconfirm this finding and extend studies in the areas adjacent to the Arctic Circle (66°33' N), ticks were collected from dogs and cats in 8 districts in northern Norway from 64°56' N to 68°48' N. We detected 549 I.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Norway: evaluation of a PCR test targeting the chromosomal flaB gene.

A consensus TaqMan real-time PCR test targeting the chromosomal flaB gene of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was constructed. The test was compared with a recently published generic Light Upon eXtension (LUX) 16S rRNA real-time PCR test (Wilhelmsson et al. in J Clin Microbiol 48:4169-4176, 2010) on material consisting of 242 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from dogs and cats in Northern Norway (n = 139) and Telemark County in Southern Norway (n = 103).

Respiratory viruses in nepalese children with and without pneumonia: a case-control study.

Background: The causative role of respiratory viruses detected in upper airway secretions in childhood pneumonia needs further investigation.

Objective: To measure the association between infection with respiratory RNA viruses and pneumonia in children.

Methods: From March 2006 to July 2007, we conducted a case-control study of 680 pneumonia cases (WHO criteria) and 680 randomly selected, concurrently sampled age-matched controls among children aged 2-35 months in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Clinical presentation and severity of viral community-acquired pneumonia in young Nepalese children.

Background: Most deaths from pneumonia in children <5 years of age occur in developing countries, where information about the clinical impact and severity of viral causes of respiratory infections is limited.

Methods: From June 29, 2004 to June 30, 2007 we evaluated 2230 cases of pneumonia (World Health Organization criteria) in children aged 2 to 35 months in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A nasopharyngeal aspirate from each case was examined for 7 respiratory viruses using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RNA viruses in community-acquired childhood pneumonia in semi-urban Nepal; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Pneumonia is among the main causes of illness and death in children <5 years of age. There is a need to better describe the epidemiology of viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in developing countries.

Methods: From July 2004 to June 2007, we examined nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from 2,230 cases of pneumonia (World Health Organization criteria) in children 2 to 35 months old recruited in a randomized trial of zinc supplementation at a field clinic in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

The course of C-reactive protein response in untreated upper respiratory tract infection.

Background: High C-reactive protein (CRP) values are frequently found in patients with bacterial respiratory infection, and CRP testing has been shown to be useful in differentiating pneumonia from other respiratory infections. Raised CRP values may also be found in viral respiratory infection, and as a result there is a risk that antibiotics may be wrongly prescribed.

Aims: To describe the course of the CRP response during untreated upper respiratory tract infections and associations between the development of CRP values, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and respiratory symptoms.

[Kingella kingae and osteoarticular infections in children].

Background: In septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in children, the infectious agent is frequently not identified because of failure in obtaining bacterial growth from blood culture or osteoarticular aspirations.

Material And Methods: We report a case of septic arthritis caused by Kingella kingae in a two-year-old boy. On the basis of a PubMed literature search, we present an overview of osteoarticular infections with K kingae in childhood.