Tularemia transmission to humans: a multifaceted surveillance approach

• DOI: 10.1017/s0950268818002492
• Publication Date: 2018-09-25T01:24:38Z
• Authors: N. Akhvlediani; I. Burjanadze; D. Baliashvili; T. Tushishvili; M. Broladze; A. Navdarashvili; S. Dolbadze; N. Chitadze; M. Topuridze; P. Imnadze; N. Kazakhashvili; T. Tsertsvadze; T. Kuchuloria; T. Akhvlediani; L.-A. McNutt; G. Chanturia
• Keywords: Seroprevalence; Tularemia; Notifiable disease

Abstract Tularemia has sustained seroprevalence in Eurasia, with estimates as high 15% endemic regions. The purpose of this report is to characterise the current epidemiology Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica Georgia. Three surveillance activities are summarised: (1) acute infections captured Georgia's notifiable disease system, (2) infectious study military volunteers, and (3) a risk factors Descriptive analyses demographic, exposure clinical were conducted for studies; bivariate computed identify seropositivity using likelihood ratio χ 2 tests or Fisher's exact tests. Of 19 incident cases reported between 2014 August 2017, 10 confirmed nine met presumptive definition; estimated annual incidence was 0.12/100 000. first tularemia Western Georgia reported. Seroprevalences antibodies F. 2.0% volunteers 5.0% residents Exposures correlated included work hay contact multiple types animals. Seroprevalence studies periodically may enhance our understanding countries dramatically underestimated rates.