[The standardization of diagnostic of hepatitis E.]

The study was carried out to develop approaches to standardization of laboratory diagnostic of hepatitis E. The three stages of standardization are establishment of analytical sensitivity of molecular test for detection of RNA of virus of hepatitis E; establishment of analytical sensitivity in International Units of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing widely applied in Russia for detection of anti-virus of hepatitis E; And development of national reference material - standard anti-virus of hepatitis E IgG validated relatively to International standard. The results of study permitted to develop tools for standardizing of laboratory diagnostic of hepatitis E and epidemiological control of the given function - molecular test for detecting RNA of virus of hepatitis E with sensitivity within range of 1250250 IU/ml, data concerning analytical sensitivity of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing for detecting anti-virus of hepatitis E (0.25 IU/ml) and national standard of anti-virus of hepatitis E with concentration of 5 IU/ml.

Long-term research sites as refugia for threatened and over-harvested species.

The presence of researchers, ecotourists or rangers inside protected areas is generally assumed to provide a protective effect for wildlife populations, mainly by reducing poaching pressure. However, this assumption has rarely been empirically tested. Here, we evaluate and quantify the conservation benefits of the presence of a long-term research area in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. A wildlife survey following 225 km of line transects revealed considerably higher primate and duiker encounter rates within the research area when compared with adjacent areas. This positive effect was particularly pronounced for threatened and over-harvested species, such as the endangered red colobus monkey (Procolobus badius). This pattern was clearly mirrored by a reversed gradient in signs of poaching, which decreased towards and inside the research area, a trend that was also supported with park-wide data. This study demonstrates that even relatively simple evidence-based analytical approaches can bridge the gap between conservation theory and practice. In addition, it emphasizes the value of establishing long-term research sites as an integral part of protected area management.

Prospects for the development of odour baits to control the tsetse flies Glossina tachinoides and G. palpalis s.l.

Field studies were done of the responses of Glossina palpalis palpalis in Côte d'Ivoire, and G. p. gambiensis and G. tachinoides in Burkina Faso, to odours from humans, cattle and pigs. Responses were measured either by baiting (1.) biconical traps or (2.) electrocuting black targets with natural host odours. The catch of G. tachinoides from traps was significantly enhanced ( approximately 5x) by odour from cattle but not humans. In contrast, catches from electric targets showed inconsistent results. For G. p. gambiensis both human and cattle odour increased (>2x) the trap catch significantly but not the catch from electric targets. For G. p. palpalis, odours from pigs and humans increased (approximately 5x) the numbers of tsetse attracted to the vicinity of the odour source but had little effect on landing or trap-entry. For G. tachinoides a blend of POCA (P = 3-n-propylphenol; O = 1-octen-3-ol; C = 4-methylphenol; A = acetone) alone or synthetic cattle odour (acetone, 1-octen-3-ol, 4-methylphenol and 3-n-propylphenol with carbon dioxide) consistently caught more tsetse than natural cattle odour. For G. p. gambiensis, POCA consistently increased catches from both traps and targets. For G. p. palpalis, doses of carbon dioxide similar to those produced by a host resulted in similar increases in attraction. Baiting traps with super-normal (approximately 500 mg/h) doses of acetone also consistently produced significant but slight (approximately 1.6x) increases in catches of male flies. The results suggest that odour-baited traps and insecticide-treated targets could assist the AU-Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) in its current efforts to monitor and control Palpalis group tsetse in West Africa. For all three species, only approximately 50% of the flies attracted to the vicinity of the trap were actually caught by it, suggesting that better traps might be developed by an analysis of the visual responses and identification of any semiochemicals involved in short-range interaction.

Recurrent anemia in kidney transplant recipients with parvovirus B19 infection.

Parvovirus B19 (PV B19) infection is known to cause acute anemia in solid organ transplant recipients. Intravenous immunoglobulin combined with reduction of immunosuppression may be of benefit to clear the infection. However, PV B19-associated anemia can be recurrent. We describe three renal transplant recipients with a PV B19 infection. These patients showed recurrent anemia with episodes separated by as much as several months.