[Results of investigation of ticks in Volga river delta (Astrakhan region, 2017) for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (Nairoviridae, Orthonairovirus, CCHFV) and other tick-borne arboviruses.]

INTRODUCTION: There are natural foci of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) that vectored by Hyalomma marginatum ticks in Volga river delta (Astrakhan region, South of Russia). The circulation of Dhori virus (DHOV) (Thogotovirus: Orthomyxoviridae) has been also shown here. We hypothesized that other tick-borne arboviruses are also likely to circulate in the region. In particular, Bhanja virus (Phlebovirus: Phenuiviridae), Wad Medani virus (Orbivirus: Reoviridae), and Tamdy virus (Orthonairovirus: Nairoviridae), which were found to circulate in neighboring regions and are vectored by Haemaphysalis spp., Dermacenter spp., and Hyalomma spp. ticks. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine ixodid ticks in Volga river delta for the presence of CCHFV, DHOV, Bhanja virus, Wad Medani virus, and Tamdy virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ticks were collected in Volga river delta in 2017. We used molecular genetic methods for the detection and analysis of nucleic acids (PCR, sequencing, phylogenetic analysis). RESULTS: We detect CCHFV and DHOV RNA in H. marginatum ticks. The rate of infected H. marginatum ticks was 1.98% for CCHFV and 0.4% for DHOV. The results of genetic analysis showed that found DHOV strains are almost identical (99-100% in the M gene) and forms a separate genetic lineage alongside of Batken virus from Central Asia. At the same time, Bhanja virus, Wad Medani virus, and Tamdy virus were not found in ticks, collected in this region. CONCLUSIONS: DHOV is circulating in the natural foci of CCHF in the Volga river delta. The ratio of infection of H. marginatum with CCHFV and DHOV was determined for the first time.

[Individual porosity characteristics of human tubular bones].

The diaphyses of the tubular bones of seven men aged 40-60 years without the bone pathology were studied. Porosity characteristics of the compact substance were measured in the tibia and the humerus bones by the method of centrifugal porometry. This method is based on the filling of the objects studied with the wetting fluid and sequential removal of it by the centrifugation at increasing values of the centrifugal acceleration; as a result, the values of the radii of the pores and the respective distribution function of the pore volume could be obtained. The individual features of the bone porosity in different persons were detected, as well as the similarity of porosity characteristics of the bones belonging to one person. Porosity individual features are demonstrated in the form of the distribution curve of pore size and the quantitative distribution of porosity volume according to the pore radii. These features allow to confidently detect the belonging of bones to one person.

[Induction of cytochrome P450 2A5 in transplanted mouse hepatoma]. / Induktsiia izoformy tsitokhroma P450 2A5 v perevivaemykh gepatomakh myshei.

We have studied selective induction in vivo isoform of cytochrome P4502A in mouse hepatomas. Activity of coumarin 7-hydroxylase was increased in hepatoma 61 following pyrazole and cobalt chloride treatment. Microsomes isolated from hepatoma 61 transplanted to mice treated with either pyrazole or cobalt chloride catalyzed oxidation of coumarin and 7-ethoxycoumarin at rates 2-2.5-fold higher than in saline controls. Western blot analysis of hepatoma microsomes showed that the increase in functional activity of coumarin 7-hydroxylase was due to induction of CYP2A5 (cytochrome P450 isoenzyme catalysing coumarin 7-hydroxylation). Pyrazole or cobalt chloride induced the enzyme activity in hepatoma 61, whereas we did not measure induction of CYP2A5 in hepatoma 60. The changes in the amount of CYP2A5 in liver were more pronounced after pyrazole treatment than that after cobalt. It is suggested that hepatomas 60 and 61 are originated through initiation of hepatocytes which are localized within different regions of liver lobule.

[Circulation of West Nile virus (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) and some other arboviruses in the ecosystems of Volga delta, Volga-Akhtuba flood-lands and adjoining arid regions (2000-2002)]. / Osobennosti tsirkuliatsii virusa Zapadnogo Nila (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) i nekotorykh drugikh arbovirusov v ékosistemakh del'ty Volgi, Volgo-Akhtubinskoi poimy i sopredel'nykh aridnykh landshaftakh (2000-2002 gg.).

Comprehensive virological, serological as well as genetic studies of the ecology of West Nile Virus (WNV) as well as of some other arboviruses were undertaken in different ecosystems in the territories of the Astrakhan Region and of the Kalmyk Republic. The main carriers (mosquitoes, ticks, birds and mammals) were defined as involved in the circulation of viruses within the natural and anthropogenic biocenosis. Phylogenetic examinations of isolated strains and samples, which were positive in RT-PCR, showed an absolute predominance of genotype I virus that was most closely related to American and Israeli strains. At the same time, epidemic strains had up to 6% of nucleotide differences versus the historic strains isolated in the same region 20-30 years ago. Besides, the circulation of genotype IV was discovered; it was characterized by a lower pathogenicity, which, possibly, ensures the shaping of a pronounced immune interlayer bearing no epidemic consequences. An analysis of the study results on the WNV ecology denotes the epicenter of the endemic territory located in the middle part of the Volga delta.

West Nile virus and other zoonotic viruses in Russia: examples of emerging-reemerging situations.

Studies of the interactions of vertebrates, viruses and arthropod vectors of these viruses were monitored in terms of different ecological groups of viruses transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks in Northern Eurasia in an area encompassing more than 15 million km2. About 90 viruses were isolated, including 24 new to science. Newly recognized infections of vertebrates, including humans, were described. Many unusual epidemic situations were analysed. Permanent efforts were established to prevent bioterrorist activities and their consequences. Extensive epidemic outbreaks of West Nile fever (WNF; i.e., fever caused by West Nile virus) and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) with unusual high mortality appeared in the last four years in southern Russia. We determined infection rates in humans, domestic and wild animals, mosquitoes and ticks from natural and synanthropic biocenoses [Editorial note: "synanthropic" means, roughly, all species living with (c.f. lice, fleas) or near people, such as in houses (c.f. house mice), parks (c.f. Rattus spp.), and the like, rather like "peridomestic", but not strictly so; "biocenosis" is the biome, the "totality of living populations in a particular habitat, which itself is only a part of the ecosystem".]. CCHF virus strains were phylogenetically similar to strains isolated in this area 35 years ago but different from Central-South-Asian and African strains. Before the outset of the current emergence of epidemic WNF, three genetic variants of this virus had been isolated in USSR, two African and one Indian. Phylogenetic analysis of complete genome sequences of epidemic strains demonstrated considerable similarity to strains from USA and Israel and differences from strains isolated in the same USSR areas 20-30 years before. In addition to strains of genotype 1, we isolated strains of second and third lineages and a strain of a fourth genetic variant. Nucleotide differences of these strains from all three genotypes was about 30%. The emerging WNF situation in Russia for the last 4 years probably has been the result of not only natural and social factors, but also to introduction of more virulent strains or by evolution of the virus.

[N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced changes in the liver of syrian hamster with superinvasive opistorchiasis]. / Izmeneniia v pecheni khomiachkov, indutsirovannye n-nitrozodiétilaminom pri superinvasionnom opistorkhoze.

Trematoda O. felinius-induced hepatic lesions were investigated in Syrian golden hamsters with superinvasive opistorchiasis. One hundred hamsters were divided into 4 groups: (1)--control; (2) N-nitrosodiethylamine (DENA), i.p., twice a week, 3 weeks, total dose 72 mg/kg; (3) metacercariae O. felinius, with drinking water, 3 injections per day, once in 2 weeks, and (4) metacercariae O. felinius, as in group 3, followed by DENA, as in group 2. Animals were sacrificed 12 months after the beginning of the study. No changes in the liver were found in group 2. Reddish protrusions, up to 4 cm in diameter, appeared on liver surfaces in groups 3 and 4. Group 4 featured the highest relative and absolute weights of liver as well as clusters of oval cells and cholangiocellular tubules and cholangiofibrosis (in group 3, they were less visible). Electron microscopic examination identified hepatocytes with destructive changes to plasmalemma, nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles. Also, perisinusoidal cells (Ito cells) occurred. Tumor-bearing animals showed low hepatic cytochrome P-450. It is suggested that proliferative growth in the liver was stimulated by opistorchis invasion.

[Enzymes metabolizing xenobiotics in spontaneous tumors in mice]. / Fermenty metabolizma ksenobiotikov v spontannykh opukholiakh myshei.

The microsomal monooxygenase activity in spontaneous mouse hepatomas has been studied. The cytochrome P-450 level in hepatomas was shown to be 2 times as low as that in the liver. The reduction of the cytochrome P-450 content in the tumour was accompanied by a decrease in the activity of benz(a)pyrene hydroxylase, amino-pyrene-N-demethylase and p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase. However, 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity in hepatomas was much higher than in the liver both estimated as mg of the microsomal protein and nmol of cytochrome P-450. The cytochrome b5 content in the hepatomas was comparable with its level in the liver. A more elevated content of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity was found in the hepatomas. The results obtained provide evidence of different oxidation effects regarding some substrates in the liver and hepatomas. The ratio of cytochrome P-450 isoforms is likely to change in the hepatomas in contrast with that in the liver.

[First detection of Anopheles species mosquitoes breeding in water-filled cellars]. / Pervoe obnaruzhenie vyploda komarov roda Anopheles v zatoplennykh podval'nykh pomeshcheniiakh.

Studies of the breeding of blood-sucking mosquitos in water-filled cellars of Astrakhan were carried out in 1980-1986 using routine entomological techniques of assessment, collection and determination of blood-sucking mosquitos. In July, 1986, Anopheles sp. breeding in the cellars of 2 multistory buildings was registered along with commonly observed breeding of C. pipiens. The rate of preimago development stages of Anopheles sp. was 2 to 10 sp. per 1 cubic meter of water surface. Water-filled cellars are full of ground water mixed with sewage. It increases epidemiological value of the fact of mosquitos' breeding in populated areas, which should be taken into account during mosquito control.