Tularemia, a re-emerging infectious disease in Iran and neighboring countries

• 발행기관: 한국역학회
• 저자명: Afsaneh Zargar Max Maurin Ehsan Mostafavi
• 간행물 정보: 『Epidemiology and Health』37, 1~6쪽, 전체 5쪽
• 주제분류: 의약학 > 면역학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2015.05.30

영문 초록

OBJECTIVES: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease transmitted by direct contact with infected animals and through arthropod bites, inhalation of contaminated aerosols, ingestion of contaminated meat or water, and skin contact with any infected material. It is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere, including Iran and its neigh-bors to the north, northeast, and northwest. METHODS: In this paper, the epidemiology of tularemia as a re-emerging infectious disease in the world with a focus on Iran and the neighboring countries is reviewed. RESULTS: In Iran, positive serological tests were first reported in 1973, in wildlife and domestic livestock in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the country. The first human case was reported in 1980 in the south-west of Iran, and recent studies conducted among at-risk populations in the western, southeastern, and south-western parts of Iran revealed seroprevalences of 14.4, 6.52, and 6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors may explain the absence of reported tularemia cases in Iran since 1980. Tula-remia may be underdiagnosed in Iran because Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica is likely to be the major etiological agent and usually causes mild to moderately severe disease. Furthermore, tularemia is not a disease extensively studied in the medical educational system in Iran, and empirical therapy may be effective in many cases. Finally, it should be noted that laboratories capable of diagnosing tularemia have only been estab-lished in the last few years. Since both recent and older studies have consistently found tularemia antibodies in humans and animals, the surveillance of this disease should receive more attention. In particular, it would be worthwhile for clinical researchers to confirm tularemia cases more often by isolating F. tularensis from infected humans and animals.

목차

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

키워드

Tularemia Francisella tularensis Bacterial infections Rodentia