Faculty of Medicine

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Author: search.filters.author.Banović, Pavle

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    Differential Exposure to Borrelia spp. and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in Serbia and North Macedonia: A Comparative Study
    (MDPI AG, 2025-08-17)
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    Mateska, Sofija
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    Najdovska, Marija
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    Stamenkovska, Angela
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    Pavleva, Verica
    Several diseases caused by tick-borne pathogens, including Lyme borreliosis (LB) and spotted fever group rickettsioses, are endemic in the Balkan Peninsula, positioned between Central Europe and the Middle East. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess serological exposure to Borrelia spp. and spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) among individuals with recent tick bites and healthy controls in two Balkan countries-Serbia and North Macedonia. Serum samples from 223 participants were tested for anti-Borrelia and anti-SFGR IgG antibodies. SFGR exposure was significantly higher in tick-exposed individuals from Skopje (North Macedonia) compared to those from Novi Sad (Serbia) (30.9% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.003). In contrast, anti-Borrelia IgG was more frequently detected in Novi Sad, though differences did not reach statistical significance. The findings support a north-to-south gradient in Borrelia exposure and a reverse trend for SFGR, consistent with earlier studies and regional tick infection data. Given the high SFGR exposure and limited clinical reporting in North Macedonia, the results highlight the likelihood that tick-borne rickettsioses remain under-recognized. Additionally, Borrelia exposure in North Macedonia warrants further investigation. These findings emphasize the need for enhanced tick-borne disease surveillance, identification of endemic zones, and improved diagnostic and public health infrastructure in both countries.
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    Tick-borne diseases at the crossroads of the Middle East and Central Europe
    (Elsevier BV, 2024-09)
    Banović, Pavle
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    Bogdan, Ivana
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    Simin, Verica
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    Mijatović, Dragana
    The Balkan Peninsula, acting as a crossroad between central Europe and the Middle East, presents diverse ecosystems supporting various tick species capable of transmitting TBDs. This study focuses on Serbia and North Macedonia, both endemic for TBDs, aiming to investigate human-biting ticks' prevalence, TBD prevalence, and major TBPs in blood samples.
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    Current Status and Challenges Associated with Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases: Where Do We Stand?
    (MDPI AG, 2023-10-23)
    Banović, Pavle
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    Rodríguez, Islay
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    Lyme Borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and transmitted by specific Ixodes spp. ticks, is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere [1,2]. Despite accepted guidelines for diagnosing LB, with specific clinical case definitions, in the absence of relevant clinical information or when faced with an atypical presentation, clinicians tend to rely on serological tests when including LB in the differential diagnosis. Serological tests for LB, conducted in accordance with the European Concerted Action on LB guidelines as part of a two-stage diagnostic process, frequently pose challenges in interpretation, especially with nonspecific clinical presentations. This is primarily attributed to the significant occurrence of false-positive results, which can be influenced by cross-reactivity with acute viral infections [3]. In this Special Issue, Wojciechowska-Koszko et al. [4] confirm that serological tests used in the diagnosis of LB can generate false-positive results in patients with acute viral infections. More precisely, tests used for the first step of the two-stage approach, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) or indirect immunofluorescence (IIFT), and the immunoblot (IB) method for the second step of the two-stage diagnostic approach all showed significant cross-reactivity and positive results in patients with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and BK virus (BKV) infections without clinical manifestations related to LB.
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    Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus and Borrelia burgdorferi Seroprevalence in Balkan Tick-Infested Individuals: A Two-Centre Study
    (MDPI AG, 2023-07-09)
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    Mateska, Sofija
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    Dimitrova, Emilija
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    Mijatović, Dragana
    Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are important tick-borne diseases in Europe. This study aimed to investigate the seroreactivity against Borrelia burgdorferi and TBE virus (TBEV) in tick-infested individuals in North Macedonia and Serbia. Serum samples were collected from tick-infested individuals and from healthy individuals in the same regions. Samples were tested for anti-Borrelia IgG reactivity and TBEV-neutralizing antibodies. Results showed higher seroreactivity against Borrelia antigens in patients and healthy donors from Novi Sad compared to those from the Skopje region. However, there was no statistically significant difference between tick-infested patients and healthy donors within each region. No TBEV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in participants from Novi Sad or in the control groups, except for one person from North Macedonia who had a moderate TBEV-neutralizing reaction. The study highlights the need for improved surveillance and diagnostic capabilities for LB and TBE in these regions. It also suggests the potential existence of TBEV foci in North Macedonia. The findings provide a complementary understanding of the LB and TBE epidemiology in the studied regions; however, further research is needed to investigate the presence and distribution of Borrelia spp. and TBEV in ticks to assess the significance of detected seroreactivity.
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    Cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in North Macedonia, July to August 2023
    (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2023-08)
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    Rangelov, Goran
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    Pavleva, Verica
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    Banović, Pavle
    The last report of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in North Macedonia was more than 50 years ago in the northwest. We report on a fatal CCHF case following a Hyalomma tick bite in the east of the country in July 2023. Tracing of 67 contacts identified CCHF in one healthcare worker (HCW) providing care for the patient. Monitoring of contacts is concluded (including further 11 HCW contacts), thus far 28 days after the death of the case no additional cases were identified.
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    Mediterranean spotted fever-like illness caused by Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae, North Macedonia, June 2022
    (2022-10-20)
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    Mateska, Sofija
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    Simin, Verica
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    Bogdan, Ivana
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    Mijatović, Dragana
    Mediterranean spotted fever-like illness (MSF-like illness) is a tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae first reported in France more than 25 years ago. Until today, more than 50 cases of MSF-like illness have been reported in different regions of Europe and Africa, highlighting variable clinical manifestation. Here we report a case of MSF-like illness following a bite from a Hyalomma tick in the Skopje region of North Macedonia.