Characteristics of homeless persons hospitalized in health care facilities in the Czech Republic in 2006-2015.

Aim: Homelessness is a social, societal, economic, and health problem. The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of hospitalized homeless persons in the Czech Republic in relation to their health status and to propose targeted measures for improvement.

Material And Methods: The study used anonymous data from the National Registry of Hospitalized Patients from 2006-2015, including the primary diagnosis at hospital admission and up to five additional diagnoses according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

Comparison of the epidemiological patterns of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis in the Czech Republic in 2007-2016.

Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are two vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks. Both diseases are endemic and have been reported in all regions of the Czech Republic including urban agglomerations, but in varying proportions. Because of the natural conditions in the border areas, the risk of infection is also high for travelers from the neighboring countries such as Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia.

Increased Relative Risk of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Warmer Weather.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a serious acute neuroinfection of humans caused by a tick-borne flavivirus. The disease is typically seasonal, linked to the host-seeking activity of (predominantly nymphs), the principal European tick vector species. To address the need for accurate risk predictions of contracting TBE, data on 4,044 TBE cases reported in the Czech Republic during 2001-2006 were compared with questing activity of nymphs monitored weekly at a defined location for the same 6-year period.

A serological study of antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the sera of healthy individuals collected two decades apart.

Sera collected from healthy individuals from the general population in the Czech Republic during repeated cross-sectional surveys were analyzed. Samples collected in the same six districts in two time periods, 1978-1989 and 2001, were compared. The study subjects were divided into six age categories between 10 and 59 years.

Neuroborreliosis in patients hospitalised for Lyme borreliosis in the Czech Republic in 2003 - 2013.

Study Objective: The objective was to analyse and evaluate a cohort of Lyme borreliosis (LB) patients with neuroborreliosis (LNB) hospitalised in the Czech Republic in 2003-2013.

Material And Methods: Data analysed in this study were obtained from the National Register of Hospitalised Patients, which is a nationwide population register maintained at the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic. Data collection from all departments of bed care establishments are regularly processed every year.

[The prevalence of antibodies against Hepatitis E Virus in the Czech Republic: serological survey].

Aim: To determine the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis E virus in the general population of the Czech Republic of age 15 to 64, to analyse the age and sex distribution of these antibodies, and to evaluate the benefit of the immunoblot test for the confirmation of the specificity of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screening test.

Material And Methods: Sera from the last available multipurpose serological survey conducted in 2001 were tested. Anti-HEV IgG was detected by the RecomWell HEV IgG EIA test (Mikrogen Diagnostik, Germany).

The occurrence of Ixodes ricinus ticks and important tick-borne pathogens in areas with high tick-borne encephalitis prevalence in different altitudinal levels of the Czech Republic Part II. Ixodes ricinus ticks and genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex.

Study Objective: Three years long research study (2011-2013) on population density of Ixodes ricinus and the infection rate of the pathogens that they transmit was conducted in four topographically distant areas in the Czech Republic. In the previous decade (2001-2010) thirteen loci with increased incidence of tick borne encephalitis cases were defined, suggesting the permanent interaction of human population with ticks and indicating the landmarks for study of the presence of other tick borne pathogens. The work program included the identification of existing spectrum of spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and the conditions of their occurrence and distribution.

The occurrence of Ixodes ricinus ticks and important tick-borne pathogens in areas with high tick-borne encephalitis prevalence in different altitudinal levels of the Czech Republic Part I. Ixodes ricinus ticks and tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Study Objective: The aim of the three-year study (2011-2013) was to monitor population density of Ixodes ricinus ticks and its infection rate with the tick-borne encephalitis virus in areas with a high incidence of tick-borne encephalitis as reported in the previous decade 2001-2010. Such a comprehensive and long-term study based on existing epidemiolo-gical findings has not previously been conducted in Europe.

Material And Methods: In the areas of the Ústí nad Labem Region, Olomouc Region, South Bohemian Region, and Highlands Region, 600 m2 plots were selected in the local optimal I.

Abiotic predictors and annual seasonal dynamics of Ixodes ricinus, the major disease vector of Central Europe.

Background: Abiotic conditions provide cues that drive tick questing activity. Defining these cues is critical in predicting biting risk, and in forecasting climate change impacts on tick populations. This is particularly important for Ixodes ricinus nymphs, the vector of numerous pathogens affecting humans.

Results of the Screening of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Antibodies in Human Sera from Eight Districts Collected Two Decades Apart.

The sera from healthy individuals aged 10-59 years randomly selected from the general population during repeated cross-sectional surveys were stored at -20°C at the serum bank of the National Institute of Public Health in Prague. The sera included in the present study were collected in the 1980s and in 2001 in eight districts of the Czech Republic. The proportional representation of the study localities was similar in both periods.

[Impact of climate changes on the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis in the Czech Republic in 1982-2011].

Study Objective: To analyse the impact of climate changes on the increase in human cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in three high-incidence regions of the Czech Republic over the period 1982 to 2011.

Material And Methods: Data on TBE cases were derived from the national reporting system EPIDAT. TBE is a reportable infectious disease in the Czech Republic.

Contrasting patterns of hot spell effects on morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular diseases in the Czech Republic, 1994-2009.

The study examines effects of hot spells on cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality in the population of the Czech Republic, with emphasis on differences between ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CD) and between morbidity and mortality. Daily data on CVD morbidity (hospital admissions) and mortality over 1994-2009 were obtained from national hospitalization and mortality registers and standardized to account for long-term changes as well as seasonal and weekly cycles. Hot spells were defined as periods of at least two consecutive days with average daily air temperature anomalies above the 95% quantile during June to August.

[Pertussis trend in children under one year of age in the Czech Republic in 1997-2013].

Study Objective: To characterize the epidemiological situation of pertussis in children under one year of age in the Czech Republic in 1997-2013.

Material And Methods: The study cohort consisted of children under one year of age with laboratory confirmed pertussis reported to the communicable disease system from 1997 to 2013. A total of 265 pertussis cases were reported in children under one year of age over the study period.

The role of game (wild boar and roe deer) in the spread of tick-borne encephalitis in the Czech Republic.

In the Czech Republic, the incidence of human tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been increasing over the last two decades. At the same time, populations of game have also shown an upward trend. In this country, the ungulate game is the main host group of hosts for Ixodes ricinus female ticks.

Seroprevalence study of hepatitis E virus infection in two districts of the Czech Republic.

The aim of this work was to retrospectively examine serum samples from 230 people living in two districts in the Czech Republic in year 1989 (Znojmo and Jihlava) for the IgG antibodies against hepatitis E virus (HEV). For examination, commercial ELISA kit DIA.PRO was used and 13 seropositive persons were found, i.

[Incidence of tick-borne encephalitis in the czech republic in 2001-2011 in different administrative regions and municipalities with extended power].

Aim: Analysis of the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Czech Republic (CR) in 2001-2011 in different administrative regions and municipalities with extended power (MEPs).

Material And Methods: Each TBE case reported to the EPIDAT system was matched to the respective MEP or Prague according to the place of residence. The annual TBE incidence was calculated per 100 000 permanent residents (mean) of each administrative region and MEP.

Trends in cardiovascular mortality and hospitalisations, and potential contribution of inhospital case-fatality rates to changes in national mortality in the Czech Republic 1994-2009.

Objectives: To analyse trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and hospitalisations in the Czech Republic in 1994-2009 and to assess the contribution of inhospital case-fatality rates (CFR) to changes in national CVD mortality.

Design: National hospitalisation and mortality registers were used to estimate rates of hospital admissions and mortality for hypertension, angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), chronic ischaemic heart disease chronic (IHD), heart failure and stroke.

Patients: All hospitalisations and deaths from CVD during 1994-2009.

Vaccination and tick-borne encephalitis, central Europe.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a substantial public health problem in many parts of Europe and Asia. To assess the effect of increasing TBE vaccination coverage in Austria, we compared incidence rates over 40 years for highly TBE-endemic countries of central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Austria). For all 3 countries we found extensive annual and longer range fluctuations and shifts in distribution of patient ages, suggesting major variations in the complex interplay of factors influencing risk for exposure to TBE virus.

Epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis in the Czech Republic 1970-2008.

This article presents major epidemiologic features of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Czech Republic, using data of laboratory-confirmed cases since 1970. A total of 17,053 cases of TBE were reported in the Czech Republic (population 10 million) in 1970-2008. The data show several important features.

Seroepidemiology of mumps in Europe (1996-2008): why do outbreaks occur in highly vaccinated populations?

Mumps outbreaks have recently been recorded in a number of highly vaccinated populations. We related seroprevalence, epidemiological and vaccination data from 18 European countries participating in The European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN) to their risk of mumps outbreaks in order to inform vaccination strategies. Samples from national population serum banks were collected, tested for mumps IgG antibodies and standardized for international comparisons.

Comparative seroepidemiology of diphtheria in six European countries and Israel.

Serological surveys for diphtheria were conducted in six European countries including Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovakia and one country outside Europe, Israel. For each country, a nationally representative population sample was collected across the entire age range and was tested for antibodies to diphtheria toxin. Although each national laboratory used its preferred assay, the results were all standardized to those of the in vitro neutralization test and expressed in international units (IU) which allowed comparative analyses to be performed.

Sixty years of research of tick-borne encephalitis--a basis of the current knowledge of the epidemiological situation in Central Europe.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus was isolated for the first time in Central Europe in 1948 from both a patient and Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in the area where the patient had been tick bitten (the Beroun area - Central Bohemia) and concomitantly from a TBE patient in Moravia (the Vyskov area). Another priority discovery was alimentary transmission of TBE virus via the milk from tick infected grazing goats that was made during a TBE outbreak in Roznava (SE Slovakia). This outbreak of 660 cases has been the largest of its kind.

Serologic survey of humans for flavivirus West Nile in Southern Moravia (Czech Republic).

A serosurvey for West Nile virus (WNV) was carried out in 525 persons, using a plaque-reduction neutralization microtest (PRNmicroT) with Vero cells and Egyptian topotype Eg-101 strain as test virus. The blood sera were collected in four South-Moravian districts (Hodonin 44 persons, Breclav 102 persons, Znojmo 170 persons, Jihlava 209 persons) of the Czech Republic in the years 1988 and 1989, and stored at -20 degrees C. Antibodies to WNV were detected in only three humans (0.

The TICKPRO computer program for predicting Ixodes ricinus host-seeking activity and the warning system published on websites.

The computer program with the acronym TICKPRO (tick prognosis) facilitates medium-range forecasts of the level of host-seeking activity in ticks within a 1-4 day horizon. The program is based on the medium-range weather forecast routinely produced at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), as well as on previously developed mathematical models describing the correlation of meteorological factors with the host-seeking activity of Ixodes ricinus. These models are based on a 6-year whole-season monitoring of I.

Changes of meteorological factors and tick-borne encephalitis incidence in the Czech Republic.

Objectives: The primary objective was to analyze the influence of short-term meteorological changes during the vegetation period on the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the 1990s, characterized by a dramatic increase in reported TBE cases in the Czech Republic and other European countries. Furthermore, the relationship between TBE incidence and meteorological conditions in the previous winter season was studied.

Material And Methods: The TBE incidence data were acquired from the EPIDAT database of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH).