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The Epidemics of Noduli Mulgentium in Europe and the Largest one in Croatia
Zdravko Periš
; Former Head of University Department of Dermatovenereology, Rijeka University Hospital Center, and Retired Professor at School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The first part of the paper describes all extensive epidemics of
milker’s nodules (noduli mulgentium) in Europe until 1967, also presenting the
then state-of-the-art on the disease. This is followed by description of the largest
recorded epidemic that occurred in Rijeka hinterland from August to November
1967 involving 136 individuals, mostly women. The epidemiological,
clinical, immunologic and genetic aspects of the epidemic are analyzed. Epidemiologically,
direct disease transmission from one human to another one,
with at least minimal skin lesion preceding the infection, was demonstrated in
three cases. The pattern of dissemination to 18 different locations suggested
the infection in animals to have also been mediated by some insect species.
Clinically, the recorded complications of the disease included pyoderma and
secondary exanthema (30% and 15% of cases), the latter being accompanied
by eosinophilia in 10% to 19% of cases. Both complications regularly disappeared
before the clearance of primary efflorescence. Three pregnant women
were affected in the first trimester when the fetal effect of the virus is most
risky. However, no teratogenic effect on the fetus could be proved in these
children at birth or at the age of two years. The prevalence of the disease has
been on a decrease worldwide owing to the very successful and inexpensive
preventive measures in humans (wearing rubber gloves on milking affected
cows). As the disease, still burdened with some obscurities, belongs to the
group of zoonoses that are interesting not only to dermatologists but also to
veterinarians, epidemiologists, microbiologists and others, it appears worthy
to present this shortened version of a thesis entitled “Tubercula mulgentium s.s.
according to Berger” (then the accepted term for the disease in human and
veterinary medicine), defended at School of Medicine, University of Ljubljana,
in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Keywords
milker’s nodules; poxvirus disease; human orf
Hrčak ID:
95695
URI
Publication date:
11.1.2013.
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