Methods for leptospirosis laboratory diagnostics: features of experimentation, advantages and limitations

Leptospirosis is a cosmopolitan natural-focal disease representing a serious problem for the majority of the countries in the world including the Russian Federation because this infection causes a serious economic and social damage. Modern laboratory diagnostics of leptospiroses is based on a complex of bacteriological, immunological and molecularbiological methods used in various combinations depending on the problems and possibilities of the laboratories. At all variety, many methods are not applied in practice and the gold standard still remains the routine serological method. Disease diagnostics is based on a set of epidemiological, epizootological, clinical and pathoanatomical data with obligatory laboratory verification of the diagnosis. However often laboratory verification is retrospective or in general absent. For achievement of the best results in leptospirosis diagnostics, it is necessary to improve the available laboratory methods and to use it in practice. Especial attention should be given to introduction of new molecular technologies that simplify laboratory diagnostics and expand its possibilities

Spread Layers of Lysozyme Microgel at Liquid Surface

The spread layers of lysozyme (LYS) microgel particles were studied by surface dilational rheology, infrared reflection–absorption spectra, Brewster angle microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. It is shown that the properties of LYS microgel layers differ significantly from those of ß-lactoglobulin (BLG) microgel layers. In the latter case, the spread protein layer is mainly a monolayer, and the interactions between particles lead to the increase in the dynamic surface elasticity by up to 140 mN/m. In contrast, the dynamic elasticity of the LYS microgel layer does not exceed the values for pure protein layers. The compression isotherms also do not exhibit specific features of the layer collapse that are characteristic for the layers of BLG aggregates. LYS aggregates form trough three-dimensional clusters directly during the spreading process, and protein spherulites do not spread further along the interface. As a result, the liquid surface contains large, almost empty regions and some patches of high local concentration of the microgel particles

Clinical-Epidemiological Peculiarities of the Tick-Borne Borrelioses Registered in the Trans-Baikal Territory

Complex analysis of the data on epidemiology and clinical picture of the tick-borne borrelioses in the territory of the Trans-Baikal Region over the last decade since 2003 to 2012 has demonstrated that there is a distinct upward tendency as concerns its morbidity rates. Spotted have been the potentially hazardous, as regards the infection, areas. Highest incidence rates are registered between May-July among adult men, and erythema form of the disease prevails. Based on the results of molecular-genetic investigation of Ixodidae ticks, for the first time ever in the territory of the Dul’durginsk Region identified has been circulation of Borrelia garinii , and B. afzelii , pathogenic for humans bacterial species of Borrelia genus

Epidemiological Features of Enterovirus Infection during Flood on the Territory of Jewish Autonomous Region

Long-term manifestations of epidemiological process of enterovirus infection in the Jewish Autonomous Region were similar to those in the Khabarovsk Territory, though with a lower intensity. After establishment of emergency situation regime, in view of the rainfall flooding in 2013, enterovirus morbidity rate had been increasing within three weeks duration, then started to fall rapidly. Clustered cases of enterovirus infection were not registered. Viral serous meningitis ratio was insignificant as minor forms of the disease prevailed; coxsackie virus A-9 and echovirus-6 dominated. During the flood period isolated from samples of patients with minor forms of enteroviral disease were three enterovirus strains, type 71, sub-genotype C4a, possessing a high degree of genetic similarity to the Chinese ones, 2010-2011. All in all impact of the natural disaster on the epidemiological situation on enteroviral infection in the Jewish Autonomous Region turned to be insignificant

Sanitary-Hygienic and Microbiological Monitoring over the Water Supply Sources and Surface Water Reservoirs during Natural Disaster in the Amur-River Territory

Emergency situation in summer 2013 due to flooding of extensive areas of the Russian Amur-River territories (including residential areas with different level of development of public services and amenities, agricultural land, sites of cattle grazing and stock-keeping) resulted in the increased microbiological, virologic and physical-chemical load upon water reservoir ecosystems. The results of monitoring over water supply sources, quality of drinking water and surface reservoir waters in the devastated territories were analyzed by the specialists from Rospotrebnadzor and specialized anti-epidemic teams No. 1 and 2. Complex approach presuming increase in extent and frequency of the examinations, performance of operative epidemiological analysis along with daily adequation of preventive and anti-epidemic measures allowed for taking control over the situation and to avoid epidemic complications as regards acute water-borne intestinal infections

Epidemiological Characteristics of Enterovirus Infection in the Khabarovsk Territory under Hydrologic Emergency Situation

The paper contains the data on the role of high waters (2013) in changing epidemiological situation on enterovirus infections in the Khabarovsk Territory. The incidence rate in the region was characterized by the significant increase even before the flood, 2013. Thus, two peaks of enterovirus morbidity curve were identified for the period of a week: one - more intensive, another - coincident with flood outbreak. Enterovirus epidemiological process was notified by the changes in clinical picture among the infected population and cohort age-related structure. The percentage of the patients with enterovirus infections in the foci clusters and the index of people infected due to possible exposure to shattering impact of the flood, turned out to be low. However, revealed was high rate of heterogeneity of the circulating enterovirus strains, non-specific for the Khabarovsk territory and mostly originating from countries of Asia-Pacific region - coxsackie A viruses, which might stand for a possible cause of unfavorable epidemiological situation in 2013

Analysis of Epidemiological Situation on Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region, and Prognosis of Its Development for the Past-Flood Period in 2013-2014

Complex analysis of the data concerning epidemiological situation on HFRS in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region for the past decade (2003-2012) previous to high water in 2013 and results of operative epidemiological inspection of the flooding area and the adjoining territory where a high index of laboratory evidences of the virus presence in the main carriers was revealed, outlines high probability of the epidemiological condition complications in view of the infection in the post-flooding period in 2013-2014 in the both entities. Therewith on the basis of the unfavorable prognosis for the epidemiological situation development a Plan of organizational, preventive and anti-epidemic measures directed to minimization of risks related to aggravation of epidemiological situation on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome has been developed and is being implemented

A Case of Human Infection with Plague in the Kosh-Agach Region of the Republic of Altai in 2015. Communication 1. Clinical-Epidemiological and Epizootiological Aspects

Objective of the study is to characterize the case of human plague in the territory of Gorno-Altaisk high-mountain natural focus in 2015 and to analyze the initiated measures, associated with localization and elimination of epidemic focus. Materials and methods. Utilized are the data contained in reporting and source (primary) documentation of the FGHI “Altai Plague Control Station”, records of the Rospotrebnadzor Administration in the Republic of Altai, and information collected by the FGHI “Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute”. Results and conclusions. Human infection occurred as a result of gray marmot dressing, which was caught in the Elangash River-Valley, against the background of unfavorable epizootic situation, caused by proliferation of the plague agent of main subspecie in the territory of the focus. Clinical material investigations, performed by means of bacteriological and molecular-genetic methods, showed negative findings. Applying serological method within the system of indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT)/antigen neutralization test (ANT), in blood sera, obtained at the time of hospitalization, low-titred specific antibodies to plague microbe (recognized as post-vaccinal ones) were detected. In blood serum sample, obtained 7 days later, identified were high-titer antibodies, which allowed for confirmation of clinical diagnosis - “bubonic plague”. Due to efficient cooperation between Rospotrebnadzor institutions and medical facilities, as well as municipal authorities it was possible to avoid further development of anthropogenic transmission of plague; to localize and eliminate epidemic outbreak of this dangerous infectious disease in Kosh-Agach Region of the Republic of Altai in the shortest possible time