In this study, novel hexa coordinated ruthenium(III) complex of the type Na[RuCl2L2)] (where L = monobasic bidentate Schiff base derived from the condensation of 5-nitrosalicyladehyde with aniline) has been synthesized and characterized by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry. Schiff base N-phenyl-5-nitrosalicylideneimine is coordinated to the ruthenium via imine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen. Mass spectra showed molecular ion (M-) at m/z 653.9641 which corresponds to [C26H18Cl2N4O6Ru]. The in vitro antimicrobial properties of the Schiff base and the complex were tested by micro-dilution technique and agar plate assay for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The compounds showed a higher antibacterial activity against tested Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591 and ATCC 29213), whereas against the Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603) were ineffective. The genotoxic effects of Ru(III) complex were investigated using the Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus (CBMN) assay in human lymphocytes cultures. The cell culture treated with the complex at a concentration of 3.7 μg/mL exhibit the most prominent effect of decreasing the frequency of micronucleus for 44%, while at the concentrations of 1.5 and 7.4 μg/mL effect is slightly lower (40%), compared to the control cell culture.

Between January 2014 and the beginning of February 2015, the Federal Institute of Public Health in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has reported 3,804 measles cases. Notable transmission has been observed in three Central Bosnia Canton municipalities: Bugojno, Fojnica and Travnik. Most cases were unvaccinated 2,680 (70%) or of unknown vaccination status 755 (20%). Health authorities have been checking vaccination records and performing necessary prevention measures. The epidemic is still ongoing.

A mumps outbreak reported from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina involved 7,895 cases between December 2010 and September 2012. This was the largest outbreak in the country since the introduction of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in 1980. The highest disease incidence was found among 15 to 19 year-olds. About 39% (3,050/7,895) of cases reported to be unvaccinated; the vaccination status of 31% (2,426/7,895) was unknown. A seroprevalence study among 150 asymptomatic contacts to mumps cases showed that about one third (45/150) were susceptible to mumps. Among 105 clinically suspected mumps patients hospitalised at the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, orchitis (60% of all males: 51/85) and meningitis (9%: 9/105) were the most common complications. Among 57 outbreak sequences obtained for the small hydrophobic gene, eight different variants of genotype G viruses were identified. The outbreak affected mainly age groups comprising individuals who were not vaccinated during or after the Bosnian war, as well as cantons with single dose immunisation policies until 2001. In addition to issues related to vaccination of individuals, differential responses to vaccines and vaccine strains, waning of antibodies and potentially also the genetically diverse variants of genotype G may have compounded the size and duration of the outbreak. Our report emphasizes the need for supplementary immunisation programmes in particular for adolescents and young adults.

Sandfly fever viruses (SFV) are endemic in the Mediterranean, Middle East, northern African and western Asian countries. Toscana virus (TOSV), serotype of Sandfly fever Naples virus, is among of the three most prevalent viruses associated with meningitis during the warm seasons in northern Mediterranean countries. The historical data of the sandfly fever (Pappataci fever) indicates its origin in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of 19th century. There is a long period of time for which there are no data on research related to the SFV in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The purpose of the study was to investigate the presence of sandfly fever in Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent years. The 68 of serum samples were obtained from February 2006 until September 2008 from a group of patients with febrile illness of unknown etiology. The sera were tested on the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against TOSV by specific serology test- recomLine Bunyavirus IgG/IgM immuno-line assay. The recent TOSV-infection was confirmed in the patients in each year during the study: 10,71% (3/28) in 2008; 9,38% (3/32) in 2007 and 12,50% (1/8) in 2006. The presence of specific antibodies to TOSV in the sera of the patients in recent years indicates re-emerging character of the disease in this region. It would be necessary to make biological, epidemiological and clinical research on the TOSV and related phleboviruses to elucidate the problem of SFV in Bosnia and Herzegovina.