Insights into the molecular phylogeny and morphology of three novel Dothiora species, along with a worldwide checklist of Dothiora.

Most species of Dothiora are known from the dead parts of various host plants as saprobic fungi in terrestrial habitats occurring in tropical and temperate regions. In the present study, samples of Dothiora were collected from dead twigs and branches of Capparis spinosa, Rhaponticum repens, and an unknown angiosperm plant from the Tashkent and Jizzakh regions of Uzbekistan. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on a combined ITS, LSU, SSU, TEF1, and TUB2 sequence data revealed their taxonomic positions within the Dothideaceae. Three new species of Dothiora, namely, Dothiora capparis, Dothiora rhapontici, and Dothiora uzbekistanica were proposed by molecular and morphological data. Likewise, the phylogenetic relationship and morphology of Dothiora are discussed. In addition, we provide a list of accepted Dothiora species, including host information, distribution, morphology descriptions, and availability of sequence data, to enhance the current knowledge of the diversity within Dothiora.

First record of nasopharyngeal myiasis caused by Cephalopina titillator (Clark, 1816) in camel (Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758) in Uzbekistan.

Nasopharyngeal myiasis caused by the camel nasal bot, Cephalopina titillator, is very common in old world camelids and is usually found at necropsy or during meat inspection. Herein we report massive infection with C. titillator in a 9 years old female one-humped camel slaughtered on February 18, 2024 in the village of Kizil Uy, Nukus District, Republic of Karakalpakstan, northwestern Uzbekistan. A total of 69 larvae: 20 first stage larva (28.9%), 31  second stage larva (44.9%), and 18 third stage larva (26.0%) were detected in the nasal passages and pharynx of the camel. Morphological and morphometrical characters of all larval stages are illustrated and detailed in this article. To our knowledge this is the first record of camel nasal bot infestation in Uzbekistan. Future epidemiological studies are needed to shed light on the prevalence, seasonal fluctuation, clinical impact and economic burden of nasopharyngeal myiasis in dromedary camels of the country.

[Structure of pediatric ophthalmic pathology in Uzbekistan]. / Struktura detskoi oftal'mopatologii v Uzbekistane.

PURPOSE: This study analyzes the structure of eye diseases in children of different age groups based on the materials of the ophthalmology department of the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute (TPMI) clinic for 2018-2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of statistical coupons was conducted, which included the medical records of 5613 patients of the ophthalmology department of the TPMI clinic. RESULTS: In the age structure of ophthalmopathology in children who received inpatient treatment at the TPMI clinic in 2018-2021, children aged 5 to 14 years (49.5%) and 1 to 5 years (30.7%) were significantly predominant. The proportion of patients under 1 year old was 11.2% and from 14 to 18 years old - 7.5%. Congenital glaucoma (41%) and lens diseases (30.4%) are characteristic of infants (from 0 to 1 year old); in patients aged 1 to 5 years, lens pathology (37%), congenital glaucoma (25.2%), and injuries (24.7%) were more common; in children aged 5 to 14 years, the pathology of the oculomotor apparatus (32%) and injuries (27.7%) prevailed; in the age group from 14 to 18 years, lens diseases (28.4%) and injuries of the organ of vision (28.1%) were detected more often. CONCLUSIONS: The revealed age aspects of nosologies are due to the timing of clinical manifestations of the pathology, late seeking ophthalmic care of parents, presence of a concomitant pathology in the child, which prevents surgical treatment. The results of the study will help optimize planned and emergency ophthalmological care for children in the regions of the republic.

[Analysis of the prevalence of nonspecific urinary tract infection in patients with tuberculosis among residents of the Bukhara region of the republic of Uzbekistan].

AIM: To analyze the prevalence of nonspecific UTI in patients with tuberculosis and to evaluate the efficiency of therapy and prevention measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 936 patients with tuberculosis of various localizations aged from 18 to 96 years were examined. There were 447 men (47.8%) and 489 women (52.2%). A diagnosis of nonspecific UTI was done using following criteria: the presence of characteristic symptoms, leukocyturia and bacteriuria detected by microscopic examination of the urine sediment, positive urine culture for nonspecific species, negative urine tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of nonspecific UTI among 936 patients with tuberculosis was 18.6% (n=174). Non-specific species were determined in all forms of tuberculosis, but most often in urogenital tuberculosis (74.1%). Proposed therapeutic and prophylactic tactics included antibacterial therapy, herbal drug Kanefron N and sanitary measures. The efficiency of treatment was 94.6%. It should be noted that patients received anti-tuberculosis therapy, and there were no adverse reactions associated with a combination of drugs. CONCLUSION: When choosing treatment tactics, it is necessary to take into account the presence of structural and functional changes in the urinary tract, which reduce treatment efficiency.

Phlebotomine sand fly (Diptera: Phlebotominae) diversity in the foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan: 50 years on.

In Uzbekistan, the number of reported leishmaniasis cases is rising at the alarming rate. In this work, we studied the phlebotomine sand fly (Diptera: Phlebotominae) diversity in the foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan and compared it with the data obtained for the same area 50 years ago, when infection prevalence was reportedly low. We found that the implicated vector for zoonotic leishmaniasis, P. papatasi, remained eudominant; the proportion of implicated anthroponotic leishmaniasis vector, P. sergenti, rose significantly from averaged 5.4 to 41.4%; Phlebotomus alexandri, a suspected visceral leishmaniasis vector, was eudominant at two sites, and a second suspected vector for this disease, P. longiductus, was newly recorded in the region. We conclude that the increase in the documented cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan may be connected to the changes in fauna of sand flies vectoring Leishmania spp.

State of Transplantation in the Republic Of Uzbekistan: Existing Problems of Donation.

Organ traTransplantation is one of the most successful achievements in modern medicine. For patients with end-stage chronic renal failure, transplantation undeniably improves their quality of life. The purpose of the study was to discuss the latest scientific data on the state of kidney transplantation in the world and to give an idea of the advantages, opportunities, and problems of kidney transplantation in the world and in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Transplantation in Uzbekistan developed in 5 stages. Stage I (1972-1991) began with the first kidney transplant in Uzbekistan on September 14, 1972, on the basis of the legislation on organ and tissue transplantation of 1970. Stage II (1991-1998) represented a break in the field of transplantation due to its prohibition by law. Stage III (1998-2017) comprised a series of 48 kidney transplants from living related donors on the basis of an order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Stage IV (2017-2022) comprised a series of 849 kidney transplants and 22 liver transplants from living related donors on the basis of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 859 of October 17, 2017. Stage V began on May 11, 2022, with the adoption of the a new of the Republic of Uzbekistan, On Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues. According to this new law, the objects of transplantation can be human organs and (or) tissues taken from either a living donor or a deceased donor. This law will expand the range of donors for patients in need. Transplantology is a sphere of life activity that can no longer be ignored; therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement humanistic principles on the basis of which it will be regulated.

Dynamic changes in water resources and comprehensive assessment of water resource utilization efficiency in the Aral Sea basin, Central Asia.

The Aral Sea Basin in Central Asia faces significant challenges in improving water utilization and treatment because of frequent transboundary river water disputes and shortages of water resources. However, the traditional water resource utilization efficiency (WRUE) assessment models generally have the defect of over-validating evaluation results. To solve this problem, this study used the Coefficient of Variation method to constrain the self-contained weights in the traditional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to construct an improved CV-DEA model, and assessed the WRUE of the Aral Sea Basin countries during 2000-2018 and compared the WRUE with that of the countries in the Mekong River Basin and Northeast Asia, then explored the factors influencing water utilization. The conclusions were drawn: since 1960, the runoff from the upper Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers increased significantly, while the runoff from the lower Amu Darya River into the Aral Sea declined. Meanwhile, the water area of the Aral Sea shrank from 2.56 × 104 km2 to 0.70 × 104 km2 in 2000-2018, with the Northern Aral Sea remaining stable while the southern part shrinking sharply. The WRUE of the Aral Sea Basin (0.599, on average) was higher than that of the Mekong River Basin (0.547) and lower than that of Northeast Asia (0.885). Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan had the highest WRUE of 0.819 and 0.685 respectively, and the WRUE in both two countries improved from 2000 to 2018. Tajikistan (0.495) and Turkmenistan (0.402) experienced decreases in WRUEs. The high input redundancy of agricultural water consumption was the main driving force affecting WRUE in the basin.

Early Detection and Control of Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases in the Aral Region: Experience of Uzbekistan.

AIM: To analyze the results of screening of the population older than 40 years for early detection of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in real clinical practice of family clinics in the Aral Sea region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of screening of the population older than 40 years were analyzed for a total of 2,430 respondents from family clinics of the district (Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Karakalpakstan, Ellikkala district) according to the modified WHO PEN protocol. 1,020 of the respondents with blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg were included in the study (mean age, 57.68±8.06 years; women, 61.4%; men, 38.6%). Additionally, the following parameters were determined: salt-taste threshold using the R. Henkin method, echocardiography, ultrasonography of the brachiocephalic arteries, blood lipid spectrum, microalbuminuria, serum creatinine and uric acid. Statistical data are presented as mean±SD. The prevalence of signs in the study group was assessed using the Pearson's chi-square test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used. RESULTS: Among the patients with elevated blood pressure included in the study, 24 (2.4%) were younger than 40 years, 847 (81%) were 40-65 years old, and 169 (16.6%) were older than 65 years. Low cardiovascular risk was twice more common among women compared to men: 11.3% vs. 5.6% (χ²=8.990; p=0.003); almost 75% fewer patients with ischemic heart disease, 7.4% vs. 28.9% (χ²=14.939; p=0.0001); however, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was twice higher, 13.7% vs. 7.4% (χ²=9.205; p=0.002); the female group had significantly fewer cases of postinfarction cardiosclerosis (PICS) (χ²=5.313; p=0.021). Among women, there were no tobacco users or regular alcohol drinkers whereas among men these risk factors were identified in 59.4% (χ²=178.848; p=0.0001) and 35% (χ²=82.238; p=0.0001), respectively. 85.6% of the respondents had a high salt-taste threshold, 96% had left ventricular hypertrophy, 76% had microalbuminuria, 21% had proteinuria, and 92% of both men and women had a common carotid artery intima-media thickening >0.9 mm. CONCLUSION: The study showed a broad prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population of hypertensive patients in the Aral region, a high salt-taste threshold, and significant damages to target organs, which differed from other regions of Uzbekistan. Among hypertensive men, there was a significant prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use, and a significantly more frequent detection of ischemic heart disease, PICS and hyperuricemia compared to women; in the female population, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly greater.

A scoping review of autism research conducted in Central Asia: Knowledge gaps and research priorities.

LAY ABSTRACT: Very little is known about the status of autism research in Central Asia. Through the library databases, we identified and reviewed 11 scientific studies conducted with autistic people and their families in five Central Asian countries-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Of the 11 studies, 10 were conducted in Kazakhstan and 1 in Uzbekistan. Within these limited number of research studies, different topics such as diagnosis, risk factors of autism, biology, and various service and intervention areas were addressed. We identified several knowledge gaps and research priorities to address the needs of autistic people, their families, and professionals in Central Asia.

Exploring audiovisual speech perception in monolingual and bilingual children in Uzbekistan.

This study aimed to investigate the development of audiovisual speech perception in monolingual Uzbek-speaking and bilingual Uzbek-Russian-speaking children, focusing on the impact of language experience on audiovisual speech perception and the role of visual phonetic (i.e., mouth movements corresponding to phonetic/lexical information) and temporal (i.e., timing of speech signals) cues. A total of 321 children aged 4 to 10 years in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, discriminated /ba/ and /da/ syllables across three conditions: auditory-only, audiovisual phonetic (i.e., sound accompanied by mouth movements), and audiovisual temporal (i.e., sound onset/offset accompanied by mouth opening/closing). Effects of modality (audiovisual phonetic, audiovisual temporal, or audio-only cues), age, group (monolingual or bilingual), and their interactions were tested using a Bayesian regression model. Overall, older participants performed better than younger participants. Participants performed better in the audiovisual phonetic modality compared with the auditory modality. However, no significant difference between monolingual and bilingual children was observed across all modalities. This finding stands in contrast to earlier studies. We attribute the contrasting findings of our study and the existing literature to the cross-linguistic similarity of the language pairs involved. When the languages spoken by bilinguals exhibit substantial linguistic similarity, there may be an increased necessity to disambiguate speech signals, leading to a greater reliance on audiovisual cues. The limited phonological similarity between Uzbek and Russian might have minimized bilinguals' need to rely on visual speech cues, contributing to the lack of group differences in our study.

Successful emergency medical service training with virtual field trips using video during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Official Development Assistance Project in Uzbekistan.

PURPOSE: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw many restrictions on the provision of emergency medical service (EMS) training through actual field trips (AFTs), requiring a search for alternatives. This study aimed to assess trainees' reactions to virtual field trips (VFTs) and determine the characteristics of instructional design for successful VFTs using edited videos and expert interviews. METHODS: This study evaluated Uzbekistan trainees' reactions to the VFT of EMS training using questionnaires in three categories: satisfaction, relevance, and engagement. Factors of satisfaction and dissatisfaction were identified through open-ended questions. RESULTS: A total of 286 trainees responded to the survey during 15 educational sessions conducted from 2020 to 2022. The trainees' responses to the VFT were positive. Overall mean scores were 4.65±0.49, 4.63±0.50, and 4.63±0.50 out of 5 points for satisfaction, relevance, and engagement, respectively. The trainees reported that the most interesting and helpful videos concerned the introduction of an EMS training curriculum and the observation of training facilities, such as the simulation centers of educational institutes. The leading causes of satisfaction were (1) authenticity of the VFTs, (2) easy-to-understand content, and (3) relevance to the job. The trainees suggested that Uzbek or Russian voice-overs would be better than subtitles in the video clip for focusing on VFT. CONCLUSION: In situations where AFTs are not available, VFTs using edited videos and expert interviews are a good alternative to EMS education. Based on these results, it is possible that AFTs could be replaced by VFTs using qualified videos with designed instructions as a distance learning method under specific conditions.

Trends in cost and consumption of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, from 2019 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Access to medicines is a global priority. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan have different approaches to pricing policies for pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to analyze recent trends in the consumption and prices of non-communicable disease (NCD) medicines in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, in the outpatient setting. METHODS: We included medicines for asthma and COPD, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, epilepsy, and mental disorders. Sales data for pharmaceutical products in community pharmacies were extracted from a commercial database. Changes in consumption and prices were analyzed across all included NCD medicines, by disease category and pharmacological group. RESULTS: Consumption of NCD medicines was highest in Georgia, at twice the levels in Azerbaijan, and four times levels in Uzbekistan. Average prices of NCD medicines, weighted by consumption, increased by 26% in Georgia, but decreased by 3% in Azerbaijan and by 0.1% in Uzbekistan. Prices increased for all disease groups in Georgia (from +13% for epilepsy medicines to +86% for cancer), varied by group in Uzbekistan (from -22% for epilepsy medicines to +47% for cancer), while changes in Azerbaijan were smaller in magnitude (from -4% for medicines for cardiovascular disease to +11% for cancer). Cancer medicines had markedly higher prices in Uzbekistan, and asthma and COPD medicines had markedly higher prices in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. CONCLUSIONS: Georgia showed the highest outpatient consumption of NCD medicines, suggesting the broadest access to treatment. However, Georgia also saw marked price increases, greater than in the other countries. In Georgia, where there was no price regulation, widespread price increases and increases in consumption both contribute to increasing pharmaceutical expenditures. In Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, increases in outpatient pharmaceutical expenditures were primarily driven by increases in consumption, rather than increases in price. Comparing trends in consumption and pricing can identify gaps in access and inform future policy approaches.

[Living related liver transplantation in the Republic of Uzbekistan: current status and development prospects]. / Rodstvennaya transplantatsiya pecheni v Respublike Uzbekistan: nyneshnee sostoyanie i perspektivy razvitiya.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze primary results of living related liver transplantation in the Republic of Uzbekistan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 44 living related transplantations of the right liver lobe in patients with decompensated liver failure between February 2018 and February 2023. RESULTS: Uneventful postoperative period was observed in 17 (38.6%) recipients. Other 27 patients (61.4%) developed 47 various postoperative complications (1-3 events per a patient). Of these, 8 (18.2%) patients required early postoperative re-laparotomy. Among 44 patients, 9 (20.5%) ones died in early postoperative period, and one patient died in long-term period (3 years after transplantation) from chronic rejection under refusal to take immunosuppressive drugs. Early satisfactory results were obtained in 79.5% of patients, long-term favorable outcomes - in 77.3% of cases. CONCLUSION: Engraftment rates and survival of recipients to a large extent depend on surgical strategy, baseline disease and clinical severity. The so-called "center effect" is essential at initial stages of implementation of the program.

Evaluation of soil radioactivity in the areas of underground nuclear explosions at the Pomuk gas field site in Uzbekistan.

This study investigates soil radioactivity at the Pomuk gas field in Uzbekistan, a region with history of underground nuclear activity. Using a NaI (Tl) scintillation gamma spectrometer, soil samples were analyzed for concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, 40K, and 137Cs. Concentrations were found to be in the range of 19.0-31.0 Bq/kg for 232Th, 12.0-32.0 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 450.0-634.0 Bq/kg for 40K, and 2.4-11.0 Bq/kg for 137Cs. Surface radon flux density was measured using a coal sorbent-based passive method, with values ranging from 26.1 to 79.0 mBq/m2s. Mean activity values for radium equivalent (Raeq) and gamma representative level index (Iγ) were calculated to be 75.2-96.5 Bq/kg and 0.3-0.4 Bq/kg, respectively. The absorbed airborne gamma dose rates (GDR) varied between 41.0 and 52.0 nGy/h, while annual effective dose rates (AEDR) were 0.3-0.4 µSv/year. The radiological risk assessment indicates the area is within safe limits for the population and environment, providing a foundation for future radiological monitoring programs.

Indicator-based assessments of the coupling coordination degree and correlations of water-energy-food-ecology nexus in Uzbekistan.

Grappling with the global ecological concern of the Aral Sea disaster, Uzbekistan exemplifies the urgent necessity of unravelling and addressing the complex Water-Energy-Food-Ecology (WEFE) nexus conflicts in arid regions, a critical task yet largely uncharted. Through the strategic process of 'Indicator Articulation - Weight Calibration - Nexus Coordination Quantification - Correlational Analysis', this work has developed a tailored framework that integrates a novel, context-specific indicator system, enabling an illumination of the intricate dynamics within the WEFE nexus in arid regions. During 2000-2018, the WEFE Nexus in Uzbekistan showed low-level coordination, indicating systemic imbalances. The Aral Sea crisis was the central disruptor, resulting in a moderately disordered ecological subsystem. Concurrently, disorder was observed in water resources, signaling inadequate management and potential overutilization. Furthermore, Coordination for energy and food were barely coordinated and under primary coordination respectively, underlining critical challenges in energy efficiency and food security. Over the last two decades, the WEFE Nexus has evolved towards a tighter interlinkage, yet the stability of this coupling coordination has experienced increased fluctuations, indicating that Uzbekistan's policies in the WEFE subsystems have been less stable in the last two decades and are in need of further adjustment and improvement. To address the challenges, we recommend a comprehensive approach that integrates technological, infrastructure, and policy solutions is needed. Specifically, promoting water-saving irrigation technology, renewing and maintaining outdated energy facilities, and raising public awareness of ecological protection are part of the essential measures. Furthermore, alleviating the contradiction between economic growth and ecological conservation remains a major challenge. Collectively, our constructed WEFE Nexus framework, with its extendable and context-specific indicators, holds significant potential for broad application in the analysis of multi-sectoral sustainability, particularly within arid regions globally, and forms a solid foundation for the formulation of effective, targeted policies and sustainable development strategies.

Evaluation of radon hazards at the rural settlements of Uzbekistan.

The "passive" sorption detectors based on the activated charcoal together with scintillation spectrometry were utilized to measure radon flux density from the soil surface as well as volumetric activity of indoor radon at the dwellings of rural areas of Uzbekistan. Additionally, gamma dose rates as well as concentrations of natural radionuclides in soil and building materials samples were determined. Based on the values of natural radionuclides, common radiological indices have been calculated. It was found that varying greatly, 94% radon flux density values did not exceed 80 mBq/(m2·s), while volumetric activities of radon were in the range of 35-564 Bq/m3. The radium equivalent activity for studied soil and building materials samples were below the allowed limit of 370 Bq/kg. Computed gamma dose rates were in the range of 55.50-73.89 ƞGyh-1 below the limit of 80 ƞGyh-1 and annual effective dose rate 0.068-0.091 mSvy-1, the average value of which was higher than the standard limit > 0.47 mSvy-1. The gamma representative index range was 0.89-1.19 with an average of 1.002 which was higher than the standard limit of 1.0. The range of activity utilization index was equal to 0.70-0.86 with an average value 0.77 which was lower than the recommended level ≤ 2.0. And lastly, excess lifetime cancer risk index values were from 1.9 × 10-4 to 2.5 × 10-4 and were lower than the recommended value 2.9 × 10-4 indicating low radiological risk. The results are consistent with the research conducted by other authors earlier, implying suitability of employing the method for the assessment of residential areas.

Assessment of the Impact of the Rotavirus Vaccine Against Severe Rotaviral Diarrhea in Uzbekistan.

BACKGROUND: This article presents the results of a long-term study of the impact of rotavirus vaccination in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is the first country in the Central Asian region to introduce rotavirus vaccination into the national compulsory vaccination calendar. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of rotavirus vaccination on hospitalizations due to all-cause AGE and RVGE in children < 5 years of age in Uzbekistan. METHODS: Detection of rotavirus antigen was performed using Rotavirus-Antigen-IFA-BEST "Vector Best" kit (Novosibirsk, Russia). RESULTS: The total of 20,128 children under 5 years of age were hospitalized in sentinel hospitals with a diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis during the study period (2019-2020). Of this number of children, 4481 children (22.2%) were included in the study. Of 4481 children, 367 (8.2%) children tested positive for rotavirus. In our study, decrease in the rotavirus rate was noted in all age groups. The peak of rotavirus positivity occurred in the months of January and February. CONCLUSION: The average rotavirus-positive rate in the period (2019-2020) was 8.2% and the absolute percentage decrease was 18.1% compared to the pre-vaccination period (2005-2009) where the rotavirus-positive rate was 26.3%. The percentage of prevented cases averaged 68.8%.

Ultrasound-Based Prevalence of Cystic Echinococcosis in the Samarkand Region of Uzbekistan: Results from a Field Survey.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Uzbekistan is endemic for CE, but estimates of disease burden are lacking. We present findings from a cross-sectional, ultrasound-based survey evaluating the prevalence of human CE in the Samarkand region, Uzbekistan. The survey was conducted between September and October 2019 in the Payariq district, Samarkand. Study villages were selected based on sheep breeding and reported human CE. Residents aged 5-90 years were invited to receive a free abdominal ultrasound examination. The WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis classification was used for cyst staging. Information regarding CE diagnosis and treatment was collected. Of 2,057 screened subjects, 498 (24.2%) were male. Twelve (0.58%) had detectable abdominal CE cysts. In total, five active/transitional (N = 1 CE1, N = 1 CE2, N = 3 CE3b) and 10 inactive cysts (N = 8 CE4, N = 2 CE5) were identified. Two participants had cystic lesions with no pathognomonic features of CE and were given a 1-month course of albendazole for diagnostic purposes. Twenty-three additional individuals reported previous surgery for CE in the liver (65.2%), lungs (21.6%), spleen (4.4%), liver and lungs (4.4%), and brain (4.4%). Our findings confirm the presence of CE in the Samarkand region, Uzbekistan. Additional studies are needed to assess the burden of human CE in the country. All patients with a history of CE reported surgery, even though most cysts found during the current study were inactive. Therefore, it appears there is a lack of awareness by the local medical community of the currently accepted stage-specific management of CE.

Primary bedaquiline resistance in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.

BACKGROUND: Bedaquiline (BDQ) is widely used in the treatment of rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB). However, resistance to BDQ is now emerging. There are no standardised regimens for BDQ-resistant TB. This study aims to share experience in managing primary BDQ-resistant TB.METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients treated for RR-TB in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, from January 2017 to March 2022. We identified patients with resistance to BDQ with no history of BDQ exposure. We describe baseline characteristics, treatment and follow-up of these patients.RESULTS: Twelve of the 1,930 patients (0.6%) had baseline samples resistant to BDQ with no history of BDQ exposure, 75% (9/12) of whom had been previously treated for TB. Ten (83.3%) were resistant to fluoroquinolones; respectively 66% and 50% had culture conversion by Month 3 and Month 6. The interim treatment outcomes were as follows: unfavourable treatment outcomes (3/12, 25%), favourable outcomes (2/12, 17%); the remaining seven (58%) were continuing treatment.CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of the cases had previously been treated for TB and had TB resistant to quinolone. Both patients who had not experienced culture conversion by Month 3 had an unfavourable treatment outcome. Therefore, we recommend monthly monitoring of culture status for patients on treatment regimens for BDQ resistance.