Epidemiologic and ecologic characteristics of some diseases transmitted by arthropods on the littoral of the Republic of Croatia.

OBJECTIVE

To show epidemiologic and ecologic characteristics of some diseases transmitted by arthropods on the littoral of the Republic of Croatia.

METHODS

The pattern of infectious diseases that are transmitted exclusively by vectors was monitored during the period 1985 to 1999. Data on the incidence of the diseases in the Republic of Croatia as a whole and available data on the presence of the vectors for the diseases on the littoral are presented for comparison.

RESULTS

Mediterranean spotted fever, murine typhus, Lyme disease, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, and pappataci fever occur sporadically on the Croatian littoral. Tick-borne meningoencephalitis is endemic in the northwestern part of Croatia but is not present on the littoral. Twelve cases of malaria are imported into Croatia per year on average.

CONCLUSION

Diseases transmitted by arthropods are not a major public health problem in Croatia. The medically relevant entomofauna of Croatia has not yet been adequately investigated.