[(INFESTATION OF FISHES OF THE FAMILY CYPRINIDAE IN THE FOCI OF TREMATODES OF THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE BELAYA RIVER (THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN)].

In the ecosystem of the Belaya River, fishes of the family Cyprinidae were infected with three epidemically important species oftrematodes of the family Opisthorchidae: Opisthorchisfelineus, Metorchis bilis, and Pseudamphistomum truncatumn. No biotopes of mollusks of the genus Codiella were detected. The contamination of underyearlings with-Ofelineus and M.bilis metacercariae indicates that there are cores of opisthorchiasis and metorchiasis (M.bifis) foci in the ecosystem of the lower course of the river. The presence of biotopes of the genus Bithynia mollusks, the first intermediate host.for P. truncatum, in the waters, but the absence of fishes infected with P.truncatum metacercariae among the examined under- yearlings may lead to the conclusion that there are no cores of pseudamphistomiasis foci. Infestation of onein 97 older individual muvarica (Albumus alburnus) with trematode metacercariae is evidence of its infection outside the floodplain river ecosystems of the Belaya River and subsequent migration of the fish into the lowerreaches of the river, where a barren zone of a pseudamphistomiass focus is formed. In this ecosystem there is a risk of human infection with epidemically important species of trematodes of the family Opisthorchidae (O.felineus, M.bifis, and P.truncatum)-when eating the fish caught in the river, its tributaries, and floodplain waterbodies. When identifying the metacercariae and detecting the natural foci of trematodes, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the fishes of the family Cyprinidae in the river ecosystem have four types of Opisthorchis metacercariae (after D.A.Razmashkin).

[Protein profile strain specificity of Bifidobacterium genus members].

AIM: Analysis of differences in protein spectra of various bifidobacteria strains of intestine microsymbiocenosis using identification results from MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Results of mass-spectrometry ("Bruker Daltonics", Germany) for 57 intestine isolates' of Bifidobacterium spp. are provided. 500,laser impulses were used for obtaining every mass-spectrum; parameters of mass-spectrometer were optimized for the 1000-18000 m/z (mass to charge) range. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of mass-spectrometry biomarkers for Bifidobacterium genus members has detected variations in the quantity of peaks (4 to 56) among both various species and within bifidobacteria species, that reflects uniqueness of the protein profile of separate strains. Along with biomarkers, specific for most cultures, significant differences of the examined peaks were detected; including among microorganisms, that belong to the same species. As such, for B. bifidum species strains--only in 67 ± 7.5% of cultures the presence of common peaks in'the 9282-9901 m/z was detected, whereas protein spectra in other ranges differed by both quantity and molecular mass. CONCLUSION: Differences in protein profile of Bifidobacterium genus microorganisms reflect uniqueness of protein spectra (proteome) of every separate strain; determining their functional activity, features of interaction, with associative microsymbionts and host organism in human associative symbiosis.

[EPIZOOTOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TREMATODIASIS FOCI IN THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE AMUR RIVER IN THE KHABAROVSK TERRITORY].

Investigations were conducted in late June to early June 2013. The population density of mollusks of the genus Juga in the shoreline and littoral covered by meadow waters was 10 to 30 specimens/m2; there were solitary specimens of the genus Parafossarulus. Fourteen out of 39 fish species were invaded by metacercariae of Clonorchis. Manchurian spiny loaches (Leptobotia) and Light's bitterling (Rhodeus lighti) are first registered to be hosts of Clonorchis. The metacercariae of Metagonimus yokogawai were detected in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and those of Nanophyetus salmincola schikhobalowi were in the kidneys, fin muscles, and gills of taimen (Hucho) and lenok (Brachymystax lenok) from the Khor River. The invasion rate for the taimen was greater than 1000 metacercariae and that for the lenok was not more than 720 metacercariae per fish.

[AEROMONAS BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM BITHYNIIDAE MOLLUSKS AND THEIR HABITATS: SPECIES COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES. COMMUNICATION 1].

The purpose of this investigation was to study the species composition and biological properties of Aeromonas bacteria isolated from Bithyniidae mollusks and their habitat (a water reservoir). The Bithyniidae mollusks and water from their habitat were the material to be studied. A total of 176 Aeromonas strains were isolated from the mollusks and water. A. veronii, A. hydrophila, and A. ichthiosmia were most common in the mollusks and A. veronii and A. ichthiosmia were in the water. All the strains isolated had hemolytic activity and no lysozyme or plasma coagulase activity. The magnitude of lecithinase and antilysozymic activities and biofilm formation of the Aeromonas bacteria varied with the isolation source of their strains.

[THE STRUCTURE AND SOME BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA CONSTITUTING THE MICROSYMBIOCENOSIS OF PROSOBRANCHIA MOLLUSKS (BITHYNIIDAE). COMMUNICATION 2].

The goal of this investigation was to study the structure and biological properties (antilysozymic, activity and biofilm formation) of gram-negative bacteria isolated from Bithyniidae mollusks and their habitat (water reservoir waters and soil). A total of 160 gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from the mollusks of the Bithyniidae family and their habitat were the material to be, studied. Psedomonas, Comamonas, and Acinetobacter held the lead in the structure of microbiocenosis of Bithyniidae mollusks, the first intermediate host of Opisthorchis filineus, while Acinetobacter did in the habitat. The antilysozymic activity of the water strains was shown to be an order of magnitude higher than that of the strains isolated from the mollusks.

[BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BACTERIA OF THE FAMILY ENTEROBACTERIACEAE AS COMPONENTS OF MICROSYMBIOCENOSIS OF THE FIRST INTERMEDIATE HOSTS OF O.FELINEUS].

The objective of the investigation was to study the biological properties (antilysozyme activity (ALA), biofilm formation (BFF), and virulence factors) of different Enterobacteriaceae species isolated from Bithyniidae mollusks and their habitats. A total of 117 strains isolated from Bithyniidae mollusks of the genera Codiella and Bithynia and those from their habitats were the material to be studied. Thus, comparison of the mean values of ALA in Enterobacteriaceae species suggests that the strains isolated from the mollusks and their aqueous habitat did not virtually differ in this indicator. Also, there were no statistically significant differences in the detection rate of the Enterobacteriaceae strains having a pronounced antilysozyme activity and in that of mollusks circulating in the aqueous habitat when compared with the strains isolated from the mollusks. Comparison of BFF in the aqueous bacterial strains and mollusk microbiota representatives revealed the highest values in the former; just lower value was noted in the latter. Soil Enterobacteriaceae isolates had very low BFF values.

[Parasitocenotic relationships in the marita micropopulations of Opisthorchis and opportunistic microorganisms (an in vitro model)].

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relation of exometabolites of Opisthorchis maritas and the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, by studying some physiological functions of mature Opisthorchis and the properties of bacteria in the artificial media during co-cultivation. Its modified procedure was used to examine tile hature of relationships in the micro- population of the parasite and opportunistic bacteria. The Opistorchis felineus maritas obtained from the liver of an infested animal were the object of helminthological examinations. Co-cultivation of the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus with Opistorchis felineus maritas showed that the latter exerted some inhibitory effects on the growth and reproduction of bacteria; moreover, there were no changes in their biochemical processes, virulence factors; and antibiotic susceptibility.

[Epizootiological characteristics of clonorchiasis foci in the Amur River ecosystem in the Jewish autonomic region].

Malacofaunal and ichthyoparasitological studies were conducted in the floodplain-river ecosystem in the middle course of the Amur River. The studies covered its channels and tributaries, such as Big and Small Bira, Bidzhan, In, and Vertoprashikha Rivers, in the Birobidzhan, Leninskoye, and Smidovich districts of the Jewish Autonomic Region in the second half of August 2011. It was established that there were biotopes of the mollusk Parafossalurus manchouricus, the first intermediate host of Clonorchis sinensis, in the exosystems of the In, Bira, and Bidzhan Rivers. Sporadic P. manchouricus specimens were found in the Bidzhan channel in the vicinity of its estuary and on the flooded bank of the In River. The bay of the Bira River (the town of Birobidzhan) exhibited a biotope of P. manchouricus with a mollusk population density of 180 to 300 specimens/m2. Seven of 16 examined fish species showed metacercariae of Clonorchis. Among them there were not only Cyprinidae, but also representatives of other families and orders. The two-year-olds of orca-skripuns (Pseudobagrus fulvidraco), orca-whips (Tachysyrus ussuriensis), and Brazhnikov's orsas (Liocassis braschnikowi) were infected with C. sinensis metacercariae. Clonorchis metacercariae were first detected in Amur sleepers (Percottus glehni). This fish species has not been heretofore recorded as the second intermediate host ofC. sinensis. The highest invasion extent for C. sinensis metacercariae was revealed in Amur bitterlings (Rhodeus sericeus) born during the current year. In the biotopes ofdifferent water reservoirs, it changed from 10.0 to 48.0%. In 4 of 6 water reservoirs, Amur bitterlings were found to have larvae of this species of trematodes. The invasion rates were in the range from 1 to 4 metacercariae per fish. Only in individual cases, they were as great as 28 parasitic larvae per fish.

[Age-related features of colonic dysbiosis in Lamblia infestation].

The purpose of the investigation was to comparatively study and to define the specific features of intestinal microbiocenosis in patients with lambliasis in different age groups of children and adults. Characterizing the age-related features of microbiocenosis in Lamblia infestation showed differences in 3 age groups: children aged less than 7 years and those aged 8-14 years, and adults; there were no statistically significant differences in the characteristics of microbiocenosis between age groups I and II, as well as age groups IV and V. Intestinal microbiocenotic changes in Lamblia infestation were less evident in the 8-14-year-old children: grade 1 microbiological changes characterized by a decrease in the normal flora were most common.

[Age-related features of dysbiosis of large intestine].

AIM: To compare rate of detection of stage II-III intestinal dysbiosis with normal and decreased quantities of bacteria from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families in different age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microflora of large intestine was studied in 600 persons of different ages with normal quantity or deficit of bacteria from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families. RESULTS: Decrease of bifidobacteria level in structure of large intestine microflora increases rate of detection of opportunistic microorganisms--predominantly, bacteria from Klebsiella genus and Staphylococcus aureus. Decrease of lactobacilli level had lesser influence on rate of detection of opportunistic microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Results of bacteriologic studies of large intestine microbiocenosis demonstrate that intestinal microflora has its own characteristics in each age group.

[Bile and serum biochemical parameters in chronic opisthorchiasis].

Bile biochemical composition and serum hepatic samples were studied in patients with opisthorchiasis and non-parasitic diseases of the biliary tract. Opisthorchiasis was found to cause a much more significant reduction in the concentration of bile acid in the gallbladder. The specific features of the invasive disease manifested themselves in the maximum blood level of cholesterol with its less considerable increase in the cystic bile and with the least concentration of bilirubin in the gallbladder. Analysis in each group of the patients being examined reveals specific correlations between the values of biochemical composition of bile and blood. The findings suggest that biliary tract dysfunction in the absence of a parasitic burden is insufficient to have a noticeable impact on the state of the pancreas and that the composition of cystic bile is predominately affected by impaired biliary excretion in patients with nonparasitic diseases and by the altered concentration function of the gallbladder in those with chronic opisthorchiasis. Thus, comparison of the biochemical composition of bile and serum permits identification of the specific features of the invasive disease and induces to pay attention to the immunopathogenetic mechanisms responsible for hepatic synthetic dysfunction and to the specific features of gallbladder concentration function in opisthorchiasis.

[Ecological bases of the combination of natural foci of leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and ixodes tick-borne borrelioses in the ecosystems of a northern forest-steppe subzone in the Tyumen region].

In the context of the present-day teaching of parasitocenoses and the proposition that the pathogen's population is the only compulsory and specific component of a natural focus, the authors bring to light the ecological bases of the combination of natural foci of leptospirosis and tick-borne encephalitis, leptospirosis and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses. These foci are one-host population-combined. While analyzing the combination of the foci, it is expedient to consider in pairs since this provides a way of identifying the combination bases that are unique to these foci and determining the level, pattern, type, and degree of the combination of foci and, on their basis, the type of a combined focus. By determining the confined pattern of foci of leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses to the same elements of a landscape, the morphological structure of the northern forest-steppe landscape of the Tyumen Region predetermines their relationship, by acting as the abiotic basis of the combination of foci. Despite the differences in the types of the parasitic systems and the absence of the same mechanism of transmission of causative agents, the natural foci of leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses are, nevertheless, combined at the level of parasitocenosis of the co-acting populations of pathogenic organisms and their reservoir hosts act as the biotic bases of the combination of foci of leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses. The susceptibility of Cl. rutilus and S. araneus to infection with the pathogens ofleptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses and multihost pattern of the causative agents act as the epizootic bases of a combination of the foci of leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses. It has been shown that the biotic, epizootic, and abiotic bases of a combination of the natural foci of leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and Ixodes tick-borne borrelioses of the Javanica serogroup are, in the aggregate, the ecological bases of the combination of these foci.

[Biochemical parameters of hepatobiliary system functions in viral hepatitis or ixodes tick-borne borreliosis concurrent with chronic opisthorchiasis].

The biochemical parameters of hepatobiliary system functions were studied in patients with opisthorchiasis and concomitant diseases, such as chronic viral hepatitis concurrent with chronic opisthorchiasis, as well as Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis in the presence of the same invasion. Although the magnitude ofbiochemical changes is not great in chronic opisthorchiasis or chronic viral hepatitis, the concomitance of these two diseases were ascertained to result in pronounced abnormalities, by demonstrating the exhaustion of spare capacities of the hepatobiliary system in parasitic invasion (or viral infection). When opisthorchiasis was concurrent with Ixodes tickborne borreliosis, some parameters under study differed from those in the groups of patients with monoinfections. Variance analysis showed that chronic opisthorchiasis had a great impact on carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms (glucose and cholesterol levels). The findings suggest that the formation of stable host-parasite relationships in chronic opisthorchiasis alters human metabolic processes and their compensatory capabilities.

[Analysis of a complex of biochemical parameters of hepatic functions in opisthorchiasis].

A complex of biochemical parameters of hepatic functions was analyzed in 170 patients with chronic opisthorchiasis and in 90 apparently healthy dwellers from a region wherein opisthorchiasis is endemic. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-amylase, and choline esterase and the serum concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, and glucose were studied. A correlation analysis indicated that prolonged Opisthorchis invasion rearranged the system of interactions of the biochemical parameters of the functions of the liver and pancreas. The auxiliary ("local") standards obtained from a study of a group of apparently healthy dwellers from an opisthorchiasis-endemic region may be use to consider the results of individual examinations of patients with chronic opisthorchiasis in order to correct the processes of treatment and rehabilitation.

[DNA interaction with the bifunctional acridine dye]. / Vzaimodeistvie DNK s bifunktsional'nym akridinovym krasitelem.

The comparative studies of the formation of DNA-complexes with the acridines containing one and two chromophores were accomplished. It was shown that both of acridines were bonded with DNA by means of intercalation irrespective of the ionic strength of medium (mu). When mu = 0.1 the diacridine (1,6-bis(9-acridylamino)-hexan) behaves as an mono-intercalator. Under these conditions both of the ligands exert equal influence of the molecular parameters of DNA. When mu = 0.001 the binding mode of the diacridine with DNA depends on its concentration in a complex. If a number of diacridine molecules on a pair of nucleotides (r) falls in a region 0 less than r less than 0.2 its binding with DNA is accomplished via the bis-intercalation mode and accompanied by the structure distortion of the monomer remnant of the macromolecule. As r increases from 0.2 to 0.4 the gradual change of the binding mode of the diacridine with DNA from bis-intercalation to mono-intercalation takes place. Moreover the structure of nucleotides is reduced. When mu = 0.001 the behaviour of DNA complexes with mono-acridine is analogous to the observed one when mu = 0.1.

[Functioning of opisthorchiasis-tuberculosis parasitocenosis at different stages of invasion (experimental investigation)]. / Funktsionirovanie parazitotsenoza pri opistorkhoze-tuberkuleze v raznye stadii invazii (éksperimental'noe issledovanie).

In experiments on golden hamsters the mutual influence of the co-members of opisthorchiasis-tuberculosis parasitocenosis has been established. This mutual influence depends on the stage of invasion and the state of the immune reactivity of the host. After additional immunization of the experimental animals with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) parasitocenosis formed special immune response different from those observed in both opisthorchiasis and tuberculosis. In cases of mixed pathology (opisthorchiasis-tuberculosis), reproduced at the acute stage of invasion, additional body reserves are seemingly switched on, thus leading the immunity system to increased functioning with respect to specific and heterologous antigens. In the chronization of invasion a decreased formation of antibodies to heterologous antigens (SRBC) together with a simultaneous decreased level of specific antiopisthorchiasis and antituberculosis immune response suggest that the reserve capacities of the host immune system, especially of humoral factors, are exhausted.

[Effect of infection rate on parasite-host relations in opisthorchiasis]. / Vliianie kratnosti zarazheniia na khoziaino-parazitarnye otnosheniia pri opistorkhoze.

The adaptation of the immunity system to recurrent helminth contamination in the natural development of opisthorchiasis accords with that of the underlying adaptation syndrome in chronic stress. The established correlation makes itself evident in the fact that in recurrent infections with Opisthorchis, the acute (a mobilization phase) and particularly chronic (a depletion phase) stages of infestation are characterized by a significant reduction in the overall and specific immunological responsiveness of the host, which is followed by the enhanced biological activity of the parasite. In recurrent infections with metacercaria at the stage of invasion (an adaptation phase), the host's organism is able to retard the biological activity of the parasite by straining the immune system against specific Opisthorchis) and heterological (sheep red blood cells):antigens. With this, Opisthorchis eggs double in number after the third contamination while those increase by 10 times after the third contamination and by 26 times in the presence of chronic infection just after the second contamination with helminths.

[The populational structure of peripheral lymphocytes in patients in the acute phase of opisthorchiasis]. / Populiatsionnaia struktura perifericheskikh limfotsitov u bol'nykh v ostruiu fazu opistorkhoza.

The lymphocytic populations of the immune system were studied in patients diagnosed as having acute opisthorchiasis before and 1-3 days after treatment with biltricide in a dose of 60 mg/kg body weight. The acute phase of opisthorchiasis is characterized by the activation of B lymphocytes and immunological cellular reserve, by depressed T-lymphocytic population with a decreased helper inductor and suppressive killer potential. Three days after dehelminthization, there was a trend for immunoregulatory T cells to become normal. The high levels of B lymphocytes and zero cells were preserved.

[The results of an experimental study of an anti-Opisthorchis preparation made from plant raw material]. / Rezul'taty éksperimental'nogo izucheniia protivoopistorkhoznogo preparata iz rastitel'nogo syr'ia.

Agents and biologically active fractions derived from medical plants grown in Siberia were tested in vitro and in vivo. The extract from the aspen bark displayed the highest antiopisthorchiatic activity. This agent given at a concentration of 10(-3) caused 100% death of Opisthorchis 72 hours later. In golden hamster experiments, the efficiency of the aspen bark extract was 73.48-83.0%. Butanolic and ethylacetatic extracts were found to have the greatest antiopisthorchiatic activity. The results of chemical and chromatographic studies indicated that active fractions contained salicine and its derivatives. The aspen bark extract produces no substantial toxic effect on laboratory animals and belongs to the class "Low-toxic substances".

[Changes in the activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase and cholinesterase in the blood of patients with opisthorchiasis at different phases of the disease]. / Izmeneniia aktivnosti gamma-glutamiltransferzay i kholinésterazy v krovi bol'nykh opistorkhozom v razlichnykh fazakh zabolevaniia.

The plasma activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and cholinesterase (CE) was assayed in 79 patients with opisthorchiasis in its active and chronic periods, as well in different periods after anthelminthic therapy with biltricide and azinox. The mean values of CE activity did not significantly differ between the groups of the examinees. The probability of decreased CE synthesis in the residual period was significantly greater in the treatment of chronic than acute opisthorchiasis. The maximum activity of GGT was found in acute opisthorchiasis, its values were also significantly higher than the control ones and remained unchanged within a year after anthelminthic therapy. Possible causes of delayed normalization of enzymatic activity following the treatment of chronic versus acute opisthorchiasis are discussed in the paper.