Characterization of tularemia foci in the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2000 to 2020.

The wide distribution of tularemia in the territory of Kazakhstan is associated with landscape and geographical characteristics. This is explained by a combination of natural factors: the presence of certain types of rodents-reservoirs and sources, ectoparasites-carriers of the causative agent of tularemia. The study of the current spatial and temporal characterization of tularemia in Kazakhstan from 2000 to 2020 will determine the epidemiological status of tularemia and improve the monitoring system in Kazakhstan. In this work we demonstrated the results of a retrospective survey of natural foci of tularemia: analysis of vector, small mammal and human data. The spatial and temporal characteristics of tularemia from 2000 to 2020 in the territory of Kazakhstan were studied in comparison with historical data, including the description of tularemia outbreaks, the clinical picture, and the source of infection, transmission factors, and geographical coordinates of outbreak registration. Sampling was carried out by trapping rodents on snap traps and collecting ticks by rodent combing and by "flagging" methods. For the last 20 years, 85 human cases of tularemia have been reported. During the period from 2000 to 2020, more than 600 strains of F. tularensis were isolated from field rodents and ticks in the natural foci of tularemia. MLVA typing of F. tularensis strains isolated from natural foci of tularemia in Kazakhstan over the past 20 years. The results of retrospective monitoring indicate that currently active foci of tularemia include the Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Almaty, East Kazakhstan, and Pavlodar regions. Low-activity natural foci are located in the territory of the Akmola, Karaganda, North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Atyrau, Zhambyl, and Kyzylorda regions. There are no active natural foci of tularemia in the Mangystau and Turkestan regions. The widespread occurrence of tularemia in the country is associated with landscape and geographical features that contribute to the circulation of the pathogen in the natural focus. An analysis of natural foci of tularemia showed that it is necessary to continue monitoring studies of carriers and vectors for the presence of the causative agent of the F. tularensis, in order to prevent mass cases of human disease.

Incidence of tick-borne spotted fever group Rickettsia species in rodents in two regions in Kazakhstan.

Records on the distribution of Rickettsia spp. in their natural hosts in Central Asia are incomplete. Rodents and small mammals are potential natural reservoirs for Rickettsiae in their natural lifecycle. Studies about the maintenance of Rickettsia in wild animals are available for Western nations, but-to our knowledge-no studies and data are available in the Republic of Kazakhstan so far. The first case description of Rickettsioses in Kazakhstan was made in the 1950ies in the Almaty region and now Kyzylorda, East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan are endemic areas. The existence of murine and endemic typhus was proven in arthropod vectors in the regions Kyzylorda and Almaty. Here we show for the first time investigations on tick-borne Rickettsia species detected by a pan-rickettsial citrate synthase gene (gltA) real-time PCR in ear lobes of small mammals (n = 624) in Kazakhstan. From all analysed small mammals 2.72% were positive for Rickettsia raoultii, R. slovaca or R. conorii. Sequencing of the rickettsial gene OmpAIV and the 23S-5S interspacer region revealed a similar heritage of identified Rickettsia species that was observed in ticks in previous studies from the region. In summary, this study proves that rodents in Kazakhstan serve as a natural reservoir of Rickettsia spp.

Genomic Sequence of the New Attenuated Vaccine Strain Neethling-RIBSP of the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus.

We report here the draft genome sequence of the new attenuated strain Neethling-RIBSP of the lumpy skin disease virus, obtained by sequential and alternating passages in cell culture and developing chicken embryos. Genome sequencing allowed the identification of differentiation markers of the new strain.

[REDUCTION OF THE CONTENT OF AFLATOXIN-FORMING FUNGI IN CONTAMINATED GRAINS BY METHODS OF HYDROTHERMAL TREATMENT].

Microscopic fungi affecting grain and products of its processing, under certain conditions, are capable of producing over 100 mycotoxins, some of which are carcinogenic. Mycotoxins are falled to the most dangerous contaminants of food and compound animal feedstuff, they possess toxicity, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. The most toxic and dangerous carcinogens are aflatoxins which affect on virtually all cells of the body of the human and agricultural animals, provoking the occurrence of diseases--aflatoxicoses. Aflatoxins give rise to encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of internal organs. The World Health Organization mentions aflatoxins as a cause of the origin of cancer. Currently in Russia there is a real danger of the negative impact of mycotoxins on farm animals in feeding grain affected by aflatoxins. The gain in the number of aflatoxicoses is a serious hygienic problem. This is related with the wide spread of producers of aflatoxins in nature and also with the intensive trade of grain and products of its processing between countries, a lack of control over their content. Detoxification of the affected products is an actual task, because its use causes irreparable harm to human health andfarm animals. Currently there are known several ways of inactivation of aflatoxins in the grain, based on the use of hydrothermal treatment. IR heat treatment, ultraviolet irradiation and extrusion were established to be the most rational approaches, providing the reduction offungi in the grain of aflatoxin-forming fungi by 80 ... 100%, aflatoxin B1--by the 76... 100% and a decrease in the degree of toxicity by 2.3 times. There are presented experimental data of various ways of disinfecting grain and appropriateness of their application in practice.

Production of organ extracellular matrix using a freeze-thaw cycle employing extracellular cryoprotectants.

Biologic scaffold materials composed of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are typically derived by processes that involve decellularization of tissues or organs. All decellularization methods result in the ECM architecture disruption and a potential loss of surface structure and composition. Freeze-thaw processing effectively lyses cells and permits to diminish amounts of chemical lysing agents henceforth. However, it also causes certain disruptions of the ECM ultrastructure. In order to diminish these adverse effects we suggested using extracellular cryoprotectants (namely 5 % trehalose) to preserve the ECM molecular network without impeding the cell lysis. The original optimization of the perfusion-mediated decellularization method to comprise the single freeze-thaw processing cycle and subsequent perfusion with chemical agents' solution is presented here.

Prevalence and subtypes of BK virus in pediatric renal transplant recipients in Russia.

BKV reactivation is associated with impaired graft function in kidney transplant patients. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of BKV infection in consecutive pediatric kidney transplant recipients at our center. Fifty-eight pediatric kidney transplant recipients were studied. The mean age at screening was 9.4 ± 2.8 yr, and samples were obtained at a median of 2.4 ± 1.4 yr after transplantation. BKV-DNA was analyzed in urine and plasma by quantitative PCR. Occurrences of BK-DNAuria and BK-DNAemia did not change in the first two yr after transplantation in children and amounted to 21-23% and 7-8%, respectively (p > 0.05). In the third year, the occurrences of BK-DNAuria and BK-DNAemia increased insignificantly to 27% and 9% in the pediatric patients. We also determined the subtypes and subgroups of BK virus isolated from Russian renal transplant recipients and found that BKV isolates were composed of subtypes Ib-2 and IV/c2. The data we obtained indicate that although only 5% of BKVAN cases occurred between years two and five post-transplantation, it seems necessary to regularly monitor pediatric patients for BKV infection through the third year after transplantation.

[New immunoglobulin for treatment of anthrax].

AIM: To experimentally assess activity and safety of anti-anthrax intravenous immunoglobulin manufactured on standard technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma from selected donors vaccinated with combined anthrax vaccine was tested by enzyme immunoassay. Samples of plasma with increased titer of anti-anthrax antibodies were merged in one manufacturing load and fractionated in ethanol at negative temperature according to standard technology. Formulation of intravenous immunoglobulin was manufactured according to standard technology of acid-enzyme hydrolysis. RESULTS: Proved medical technology of donors immune plasma fractionation provided 4 - 8-fold concentration of anti-anthrax antibodies. The finished product contained 5% of protein and was apyrogenic, non-toxic, thermostable, electrophoretically homogenous, had pH 6.65 and meet the requirements for manufacturing batches of human intravenous immunoglobulin. CONCLUSION: Protective effects of experimental human anti-anthrax immunoglobulin were comparable with control biological--equine anti-anthrax immunoglobulin for intramuscular use.

[Assessment of immunity and allergy after vaccination with dry combined anthrax vaccine].

Study of humoral immune response and allergy in recipients of dry combined anthrax vaccine was performed. Immune response was assessed by antibody titers to protective antigen and by index of preventive properties of blood serum (PPS) of recipients. Relation of index of PPS and antibody titers in blood serum of the donors was established. Distribution of erythrocyte antigens in recipients of live dry and combined anthraxvaccines depending on blood group, Rh-factor, and age was studied. It has been shown that 80% of recipients of dry combined anthrax vaccine formed potent immunity with its high level lasted for 8 months. Study of allergenic properties of the combined anthrax vaccine using registration of neutrophils chemiluminescence in vivo showed low level of sensitization of vacinees.

[Trends of physical fitness, physical performance, and blood circulation in children in response to graded exercises at a health center]. / Osobennosti dinamiki pokazateley fizicheskoi podgotovlennosti, fizicheskoi rabotosposobnosti i reaktsii krovoobrashcheniia na dozirovannuiu fizicheskuiu nagruzku u detei v usloviiakh ozdorovitel'nogo tsentra.

The article presents physiological features of the effect of summer conditioning of children on their physical performance and on circulation action of graded exercise. Physiological mechanisms of the influence which a complex of health factors have on body response to short-term physical exercise are described.

[Effect of reflex-segmental massage on central hemodynamics in healthy people]. / Vliianie reflektorno-segmentarnogo massazha na sostoianie tsentral'noi gemodinamiki u zdorovykh.

Bioimpedance tetrapolar rheopolygraphy was made in 18-22-year-old athletes in lying position and active orthostasis using computer technology Kentavr PRS (Microlux). The study group of 40 men received a 10-day course of massage including classic massage of the spine and neck, reflex-segmental massage of the left scapula, region between the left scapula and the vertebral column, left great chest muscle and sites of left attachment of the ribs to the chest. The examinations were made before the massage and after it. The results demonstrate an optimizing effect of reflex-segmental massage technologies on central hemodynamics.

[Anticipation in the families of patients with alcoholism and drug addiction (son-father dyads)]. / Antitsipatsiia v sem'iakh bol'nykh alkogolizmom i narkomaniei (diady syn-otets).

The clinical pattern of psychoactive drug addiction (PDA) was investigated in 41 father-son dads. Seven clinical characteristics were taken into consideration: The age at the onset of systematic PDA abuse; the rate of addiction development; the severity of the withdrawal syndrome; rate of progression, the form of drug abuse; the duration and quality of remissions; somatoneurologic consequences; and the clinical picture as a whole. These characteristics was evaluated in the members of each dad in terms of more or less severity. There is a strong tendency for more severe clinical picture in sons as compared with their fathers. The findings support the hypothesis that there is anticipation in the representatives of two generations of the families with drug dependence.

[ECG characteristics in epilepsy of homo- and heterospecific hereditary origin and schizophrenia with latent epileptic predisposition]. / Osobennosti EEG pri épilepsii s gomo- i geterospetsificheskoi nasledstvennoi otiagoshchennost'iu i shizofrenii so skrytoi epilepticheskoi predraspolozhennost'iu.

The EEG data were compared among 260 epileptic patients, including 94 patients loaded with schizophrenia, 71 patients loaded with epilepsy, 95 patients without revealed hereditary loading with mental diseases, and among 32 schizophrenics in whom epileptic seizures could be seen during insulin therapy. Hereditary loading with epilepsy or schizophrenia in epileptic patients together with latent epileptic schizophrenia ++predisposition influence the characteristics of the electroencephalogram.

[Clinical manifestations of epilepsy in hereditary schizophrenia]. / Klinicheskie proiavleniia otiagoshchennoi shizofreniei épilepsii.

A study was made of the effect of hereditary loading with schizophrenia on the clinical characteristics of epilepsy. In the population sample of epileptic patients (n = 3489), hereditary loading with schizophrenia was revealed in 4.7% of the patients, among whom loading with both schizophrenia and epilepsy was recorded in 0.6% of the cases. The clinical manifestations of epilepsy were compared in 143 patients loaded with schizophrenia and in 158 patients without hereditary loading with mental diseases. It has been established that in epileptic patients, the factor of hereditary loading with schizophrenia exerts a modifying effect on the premorbid characteristics, increasing the rate of schizoepileptoid, schizoid, and astheno-neurotic++ personality traits, and contributes to a favorable course of the disease. The data obtained standpoint of the previously advanced ++clinico-genetic concept of combined psychoses.