Review of Epidemiological Situation on Brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2014, and Prognosis for 2015

Represented is the analysis and assessment of epidemiological and epizootiological situation on brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2014. Human morbidity rates in 2014 exceed the indexes of 2013 by 7.7 %. Negative trend in the live-stock animal incidence (cattle and small ruminants), as well as in the numbers of registered index potentially hazardous territories, as regards brucellosis, remains. The highest brucellosis morbidity rates are in the North-Caucasian, Southern and Siberian Federal Districts. The quantity of brucellosis cases among the population has increased in Central and Far-Eastern Federal Districts. Put forward is the prognosis on the human brucellosis morbidity rates for 2015

Review of Epidemiological Situation on Brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2015 and Prognosis for 2016

Given are the results of assessment of epidemiological and epizootiological situation on brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2015. It is characterized as challenging. Compared to 2014 (368 cases, intensive index - 0.26), recorded is 5.1 % increase in the number of people infected with brucellosis (393 cases, intensive index - 0.27). The highest incidence rates among the population are registered in the North-Caucasian, Southern and Siberian Federal Districts, where the main source of infection is cattle and small ruminants. Revealed is a significant rise in brucellosis incidence in the Stavropol region too. External epidemiological risks, associated with the intensification of cooperation in the supply of livestock products from the Mediterranean countries, Middle East, and South America, which are endemic as regards cattle brucellosis, will remain pressing. Given the sustained adverse epidemiological and epizootic situation, taking into account the internal and external risks of infection with brucellosis, brucellosis incidence among the population is predicted to be within the range of 390-420 cases

Survey of Epizootiologic and Epidemiologic Situation on Brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2013; Prognosis for 2014

Carried out is the analysis and assessment of epizootiologic and epidemiologic situation on brucellosis in the Russian Federation over the year 2013. It is demonstrated that on the grounds of tense epizootic situation there is a tendency to reduction in brucellosis morbidity rates among the population. Incidence rates in the North-Caucasian and Southern Federal districts remain high due to B. melitensis spp. brucellosis agent circulation. However, realization of a complex of brucellosis prophylactic measures in the territory of the Republic of Dagestan has resulted in a considerable reduction of a number of primary cases in the region. In addition, forecasted is stabilization of brucellosis morbidity rates among the population and farming animals in 2014, being estimated at 320-370 cases a year

Development of Algorithm for Identification of Brucellosis Agent Cultures Using MALDI-TOF Mass-Spectrometry

Given are the results of direct protein profiling of brucella strain collection using matrix laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Standardized is the method for brucellosis agent culture disinfection and subsequent assessment. Obtained are 59 representative protein profiles of six major species ( B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. canis, B. ovis, B. neotomae ), which are included into electronic database of mass-spectra, integrated in Biotyper v 3.0 software (Bruker Daltonics, Germany). Analysis of mass-spectra of brucella strains under investigation revealed 17 genus-specific fragments within the mass range of 2000-20000 Da, the combination of which can be used for Brucella spp . identification. In addition, described are the fragments, specific for certain brucella species and strains, promising as markers for intraspecific differentiation. Based on the data received developed is a standardized algorithm of identification and differentiation of brucellosis agent cultures applying MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Monte Carlo simulations of central ion temperature measurements using neutral particle analysers

A detailed Monte Carlo-based numerical analysis of ASDEX Upgrade discharges is presented, examining the applicability of neutral particle analysers (NPAs) for measuring the central ion temperature from the neutral particle spectra above the neutral beam injection energy. The analysis is motivated by an earlier work carried out for TFTR (Fiore C L et al 1988 Nucl. Fusion 28 1315), where the beams were quite tangential. This work is now extended to investigate the applicability of the method when the beams are perpendicular. The Monte Carlo simulations take fully into account the effects due to finite orbits and realistic magnetic geometry, and reveal that the fast ion distribution above the beam energy, generated by collisions, reflects the background temperature with good accuracy. However, it is found that the use of NPA tends to give temperature values that are up to 30% lower than the on-axis temperature T-i (0) assumed for the background. This is because the neutral fluxes measured by NPA originate from a wide radial region, and thus the measured spectrum is a chord-averaged one. A fairly tangential viewing is found to be optimal because in that case the signal originating from the centre of the plasma is enhanced relative to the signal from outer radii. It is concluded that, in discharges where the slowing down from electrons does not dominate the beam ion dynamics, NPA can give a reliable estimate of an average central temperature, T-i (rho = 0,..., 0.3)