No abstract

From August to September 2014 a water quality study was conducted on five popular public Danube beaches in Vojvodina, Serbia. To assess the safety of Danube water for bathing, physical, chemical, bacteriological tests were performed. While many parameters for monitoring the quality of water are regulated by law, there are neither national nor international legislations addressing the presence of viruses in recreational waters. In this study, we performed analyses that surpassed national requirements, and investigated if adenovirus, enterovirus or rotavirus genetic material was present in samples of recreational water collected for quality monitoring. Of 90 water samples obtained during the study, enterovirus material was not found in any sample, but adenovirus and rotavirus genetic materials were respectively detected in 60 and 31 samples. Statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between adenovirus DNA and total coliforms in the water. Even when water samples were adequate for recreational use, adenoviruses were detected in 75% (57/76) of such samples. Our results indicate that implementation of viral indicators in recreational water might be helpful to better assess public health safety. This might be particularly relevant in areas where urban wastewater treatment is insufficient and surface waters affected by wastewater are used for recreation.

The results of this study confirmed the health significance of influenza B viruses and indicated that B/Yamagata-like viruses were significantly more prevalent than B/Victoria lineage viruses, during the 2012/2013 season. They also showed a sub-optimal match between the tested viruses and the vaccine virus for season 2012/2013.

The effect of ELF-EMF on DNA through changes in antioxidative enzyme activities has not been sufficiently explored yet. The aim of this study was to determine ELF-EMF effect on antioxidative enzymes in cancer cell line and genotoxic potential on normal human lymphocytes. K562 cells were exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF (40 μT, 100 μT; 3 h, 24 h) and spectrophotometric determination of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activities was conducted. Genotoxicity of ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 100 μT) was investigated by cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in a normal human lymphocytes (exposure 24 h and 48 h). Results demonstrated that ELF-EMF did not alter the process of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. Catalase activity was increased only after application of 100 μT EMF for 24 h. Glutathione-S-transferase and -reductase activities were increased. Treatment with 100 μT ELF-EMF (24 h, 48 h) significantly reduced micronuclei incidence, while cell proliferation was significantly increased. Results indicate that 50 Hz ELF-EMF (40 μT, 100 μT) are week stressors which alone cannot generate enough ROS to induce process of lipid peroxidation in cancer cell line but strong enough to induce response of antioxidative system. Furthermore, 100 μT ELF-EMF in human lymphocytes did not exhibit genotoxic potential during 24 h and 48 h treatment, but stimulated cell proliferation.

Chikungunya virus is an Arbo virus belonging to the family Togaviridae. In urban areas, antropophilic Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are vectors for virus transmission to human population. Chikungunya virus has attracted the professional and scientifi c public attention in 2013 causing a massive outbreak on the American continent. In Europe, autochthonous transmissions of Chikungunya virus infections have beenrecorded in Italy in 2007 as well as in France in 2010 and 2014. Usutu virus is a RNA virus from the family Flaviviridae. Th e virus circulates in a transmission cycle between wild birds and Culex mosquitoes. The virus has been detected in numerous bird species across Europe. Manifestations recorded in humans include meningoencephalitis and skin rash. First human cases in Europe were recorded in immunocompromised individuals in Italy in 2009. Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is transmitted to humans by ticks and causes Lyme disease, a multisystemic disease with dermatological, neurological, cardiological or articular manifestations. Ninety three persons interviewed about risk factors for vector-borne infections were examined. The examination was performed using commercial ELISA IgG for Chikungunya and Usutu virus and ELISA IgM and IgG test for Borrelia burgdorferi in line with manufacturer’s instructions (Euroimmun, Germany). Out of 93 examined individuals Usutu virus specific IgG antibodies were identified in 7.5% (7/93) persons. Th e results of ELISA IgG test for Chikungunya virus were negative in the majority of tested samples, whereas 7.5% (7/93) of samples revealed borderline result. In 9.7% (9/93) participants, antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were detected only by ELISA IgM test. Recent infection with Borrelia burgdorferi was confi rmed in 2.15% (2/93) individuals, whereas IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were detected in only one participant. Th e obtained results indicated that Usutu virus is active in the territory of South Bačka District contrary to Chikungunya virus as well as that Borrelia burgdorferi is an important pathogen in the investigated region.