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Biomedical subjects

A Laiskonis

Publications and source records attributed to A Laiskonis.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Surveillance of animal and human rabies in Lithuania from 1991 to 2001].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology of rabies in Lithuania from 1991 to 2000. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data available from the reports of the Lithuanian State Food and Veterinary Service, of the Public Health centers, of the Veterinary Laboratories of counties, districts and cities, and from the reports of the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment Protection Department were used to assess rabies both in domestic animals and wildlife. The situation of human rabies from 1991 to 2000 was evaluated using the medical records of patients with a diagnosis of rabies and the epidemiological follow-up of people receiving post-exposure treatment. RESULTS: From 1991 to 2000, 2,148 laboratories confirmed cases of rabies were diagnosed in animals in Lithuania. Domestic animals accounted for 44% of all cases whereas wild animals accounted for 56% of the cases. During the 10-year period of investigation, 5 human cases were reported and 44,710 bitten persons received post-exposure treatment. COMMENTS: A high incidence of rabies in wild animals in Lithuania had a direct influence on the increase human rabies infection. It is necessary to improve preventive measures against rabies - vaccination of domestic and wild animals, and spread information on rabies to the general public.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Valacyclovir in the treatment of facial herpes simplex virus infection.

The objective of this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial was to investigate valacyclovir as treatment for facial herpes simplex virus (HSV) outbreaks. In total, 308 otherwise healthy outpatients self-initiated therapy with valacyclovir, either 1000 mg twice daily for 1 day or 500 mg twice daily for 3 days, for treatment of one facial HSV episode. Aborted lesions were the primary end point. Secondary end points included episode and pain resolution and lesion healing. By regimen (1 or 3 days), aborted lesions occurred in 42.2% versus 46.7% of patients, treatment difference, -4.5% (95% confidence interval, -16.3% to 7.4%; P=.49). Subgroup findings showed that about half the episodes aborted when therapy started during the prodrome/macule stages or within 6 h of first symptoms. Episode and pain resolved rapidly, with results similar for both treatments. Adverse events were infrequent and similar for the two regimens.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of tick-borne-encephalitis virus antibodies in Lithuania.

BACKGROUND: Clinical infections caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are quite common in Lithuania and cause significant disease burden not only as acute cases but as chronic sequealeae as well. In order to evaluate the spread of the disease and risk factors, a population based seroprevalence study was done. MATERIAL AND METHODS: about 1488 serum samples collected from healthy people from different parts of the country during the year 2000 were studied by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) method. For risk factor analysis detailed information was collected by a questionnaire. RESULTS: 44 samples (2.96%) were positive. This indicates that at least 1500 infections occur in the country annually. Seropositivity did not increase with increasing age. In certain areas, seropositivity was clearly higher than the average. Other living conditions or outdoor habits correlated poorly with seropositivity. Certain groups of people such as farmers, cattle breeders, or those having a summer cottage or spending time in the nature daily had increased risk. Seropositivity was significantly linked with meningoencephalitis without laboratory confirmation for TBE in the anamnesis, and drinking of goat milk. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that TBEV is prevalent in Lithuania. The data also supports the view that an increase in the incidence has occurred in the 1990s. The correlation between seropositivity and presumed risk factors do not seem strong enough to warrant a selective vaccination policy based on risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Tick-borne encephalitis virus in Lithuania.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a severe problem in Lithuania, indicated by the 171 to 645 serologically confirmed cases that occurred each year between 1993 and 1999. In the present report, the first isolation and partial genetic analysis of a Lithuanian TBE virus (TBEV) strain isolated from a patient's serum sample is described. The patient was bitten by a tick while visiting the Lazdijai district (Veisiejai forest) in the southernmost part of Lithuania, a geographical area where Ixodes ricinus but not Ixodes persulcatus ticks are known to be present. The E protein-encoding viral gene sequence (nt 74-1273) recovered from the TBEV isolate showed the closest similarity to previously characterized European strains of the Western TBEV subtype, including the prototype TBEV strain Neudoerfl and those from neighbouring Latvia. Accordingly, the Lithuanian isolate was placed within the Western genetic lineage of TBEV in phylogenetic trees.

Adult↗