Method of Biohazard Evaluation Regarding Internal and External Threats at the Level of Constituent Entity of the Russian Federation

Put forward is the method of evaluation of external and internal biosafety hazards at the level of constituent entity of the Russian Federation. It makes integration of the whole mass of medical and geographical information possible, and helps to stratify the territory depending upon the biohazard degree

Modeling of temperature fields of details during laser hardening using the method of polyargument systems

Представлено дані математичного моделювання теплового стану ріжучого інструменту в умовах лазерного загартування. Розглядаються особливості реалізації методу поліаргументних систем для розв’язання тривимірної задачі теплопереносу з локалізованим рухомим джерелом лазерного нагріву. Наводяться дані числових досліджень щодо встановлення закономірностей впливу радіуса плями нагріву на температурний режим зміцнюваного інструменту. Показано, що варіювання даного параметра може використовуватися як ефективний спосіб впливу на тепловий стан ріжучого інструменту в процесі його загартування променем лазера. Представлено результати моделювання температурних режимів інструмента в широкому практично важливому діапазоні зміни його кута заточки.The data of mathematical modeling of the thermal state of a cutting tool under conditions of laser hardening are presented. The features of the implementation of the method of polyargument systems for solving the three-dimensional heat transfer problem with a localized movable laser heating source are considered. The data of numerical studies to establish patterns of the influence of the radius of the heating spot on the temperature regime of the hardened tool are presented. It is shown that varying this parameter can be used as an effective way of influencing the thermal state of a cutting tool during its hardening by a laser beam. The results of modeling the temperature conditions of the tool in a wide practically important range of changes in its sharpening angle are presented.Представлены данные математического моделирования теплового состояния режущего инструмента в условиях лазерной закалки. Рассматриваются особенности реализации метода полиаргументных систем для решения трехмерной задачи теплопереноса с локализованным подвижным источником лазерного нагрева. Приводятся данные численных исследований по установлению закономерностей влияния радиуса пятна нагрева на температурный режим упрочняемого инструмента. Показано, что варьирование данного параметра может использоваться в качестве эффективного способа воздействия на тепловое состояние режущего инструмента в процессе его закалки лучом лазера. Представлены результаты моделирования температурных режимов инструмента в широком практически важном диапазоне изменения его угла заточки

Effect of the natural and climatic factors on epidemiological situation related to natural focal infections

This article is dedicated to the analysis and generalization of the Russian and foreign research results on natural and climatic factors effect on the intensity of epidemic process manifestations and the natural focal infections pathogens vectors vital activity which are the most widespread in the Russian Federation. Over the past seven years tick-borne infections have been accounting for more than 50 per cent in the natural focal diseases general nosological structure. Among the diseases of this group Lyme borreliosis leads in prevalence and frequency of cases identification. Tick-borne viral encephalitis is still a serious danger for national health. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever epidemiological situation remains unfavorable in the south of the European part of Russia. In addition to the annual patients identification, the demonstrable trend of shifting and expansion of the pathogen’s area in a northerly direction was established. It creates a risk for the spread of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus outside the southern regions of the country. High incidence of the dangerous vector-borne infection — West Nile fever — with the involvement of new subjects in the epidemic process and the emergence of local cases of infection in previously non-endemic territories is registered. Expansion of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome natural foci borders, which is the most widespread natural focal zoonosis of viral etiology in the Russian Federation and is the second by the frequency of patients identification after tick-borne infections, is noted. Research data for the dependence of the carriers pathogens number and the dynamics of the natural focal infections incidence on the values of climatic factors, confirmed using various methods of mathematical statistics (time-series analysis, autoregression integrated moving average, logistic regression, correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance and other) were systematized. It was found that the temperature and humidity of the air and soil, the amount of precipitation, the height of the snow cover are the common abiotic factors for all of investigated infections. The values of these factors can be used for the subsequent epidemiological forecast. The further study of relationship between the incidence rate of the population, the number of arthropod vectors and small mammals with indicators of soil moisture and temperature at different depths, hydrothermal coefficient, normalized relative vegetation index, accumulated values of temperature and precipitation, as well as similar studies on other actual natural focal infections in the Russian Federation will be very promising

COVID-19 as a zoonotic infection

Here we discuss the issues for attributing the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 to zoonoses based on the data on probable origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the possible formation of its reservoir in animals (bats) as well as human susceptibility. Today, the dominant point of view is that the outbreak of COVID-19 arose as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus overcoming the interspecies barrier, acquiring ability to infect and spread in human population. Comparative phylogenetic analysis at the molecular level showed that SARS-CoV-2 is genetically closest to bat coronaviruses, particularly to the RmYN02 and RaTG13 strains isolated from the horseshoe bat, a species considered to be the main host of SARSCoV and MERS-CoV coronaviruses. The ability of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to infect various wild animal has been revealed. SARS-CoV-2 has been found in minks on farms in the Netherlands with mortality rates ranging from 1.2 to 2.4%. While infecting rhesus monkeys with the SARS-CoV-2, it resulted in productive infection and detected viremia. Cats have been found to be susceptible hosts for the human SARS-CoV-2 virus. A likely explanation for this lies in the high similarity between the human and feline counterpart of the ACE2 receptor. It has been shown that dogs can become infected but transmit no virus to other animals. To date, over the entire period of the pandemic the World Organization for Animal Health provides no information about cases of human infection transmitted from pets. Thus, there is no evidence that animals play a role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among people during the current period of the pandemic. Human outbreaks are caused by human-to-human virus transmission, and based on the currently available information, the risk of spreading COVID-19 from animals is considered low. More research is needed to understand how COVID-19 can affect animals of a wide variety of species and how big might be the risks of infection transmission from them to humans

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION ON CRIMEAN HEMORRHAGIC FEVER IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN 2016, AND PROGNOSIS FOR 2017

Abstract. This paper presents analysis of epidemiological situation on Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF) in Russia in 2016. Summarized are the results of epizootiological survey of the territory of the natural CHF focus in the south of the European part of Russia, discussed are the results of genetic typing of CCHFV RNA isolates. In 2016, the Russian Federation reported 162 cases of CHF. Increase in the incidence of CHF occurred in the Astrakhan, Volgograd Regions, Republic of Kalmykia, and Stavropol Territory. For the first time CHF case was identified in Kabardino-Balkar Republic. In 2016 in stationary points for the long-term observation of the natural CHF focus, high abundance rates of larvae and nymphs of H. marginatum remain. In case of successful Ixodidae ticks wintering and late onset of the hot and dry season in the summer, 2017, there is probability that high numbers of H. marginatum will be retained and the period of the imago activity is prolonged, which may in its turn  contribute to the increase in CHF morbidity rates

The Current State of the Vertebrate Animals Populations and their Role in the Persistence of Natural Zoonoses Foci in the Stavropol Territory

The aim of this study was to investigate the current state of vertebrates populations and to determine their role in maintaining natural foci of zoonoses in the Stavropol Territory in 2015–2019. Material and methods. Organ suspensions and blood samples from small mammals and birds were studied using certified diagnostic test-systems for the markers of Crimean hemorrhagic fever, West Nile fever, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, tularemia, and leptospirosis pathogens. The data were statistically processed using Wilson’s method. Results and discussion. Identified have been the main reservoirs of natural-focal infections in the Stavropol Territory at the present stage: birds – for the West Nile fever virus, mammals and birds inhabiting the areas of semi-desert landscape-geographical zone – for Crimean hemorrhagic fever agent. The main natural reservoir of orthohantaviruses in the Stavropol Territory is the common vole Microtus arvalis, which lives in all landscape-geographical zones. The circulation of tularemia and leptospirosis pathogens has been established throughout the whole territory of the region, the small wood mouse Sylvaemus uralensis is of the greatest epizootic significance. Findings indicate the need for further epizootiologic monitoring of Stavropol Territory in order to identify the biocenotic patterns of the pathogens’ existence and the reasons that determine the dynamics of the epizootic process and epidemic manifestations of natural foci. It is advisable to determine the sites of long-term monitoring over the number of carriers and vectors of natural-focal infections and strengthen the epizootiological control over the territory, especially during periods of seasonal activity in carriers and vectors of natural focal infections

Epidemiological Situation on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the Russian Federation in 2012 and Prognosis for 2013

Represented is epidemiological evaluation of the morbidity rate as regards Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Russia in 2012. Summarized are the results of epizootiological surveillance over the territory of CHF natural focus in the South of European part of Russia. Forecast of CCHF epidemiological situation development for 2013 is made based on the epizootiological monitoring data

Analysis of Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever Morbidity Rates in the Russian Federation in 2017 and Prognosis for 2018

This paper presents the analysis of Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF) morbidity rates in Russia in 2017; summarized are the results of epidemiological survey of the territory of the natural CHF focus in the south of the European part of Russia, discussed are the results of genetic typing of CCHF virus isolates. In 2017, the Russian Federation reported 78 cases of CHF. Decrease in the incidence of CHF occurred in the Volgograd Region, Stavropol Territory, Astrakhan Region, Republic of Kalmykia, and Rostov Region. For the first time since 1967, CHF case has been identified in Crimea Republic. It is expected that the level of epizootic activity of CHF natural focus in Russia in 2018 will be at least equal to 2017. In case of favorable for Ixodidae ticks weather and climate conditions of the winter 2017–2018, as well as untimely acaricidal treatments, the number of Ixodidae ticks may increase, which along with the high scale of CCHF virus infection in ticks, will contribute to the increase in CHF incidence

Natural Focal Viral Fevers in the South of the European Part of Russia. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal syndrome

Objective of the study was to determine the modem epizootic and epidemic peculiarities of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the south of the European part of Russia. Materials and methods. Data of statistical documentation (epidemiological survey of the infectious disease focus, annual summary reports dated 2009-2018) and epizootic monitoring data submitted by the Rospotrebnadzor Administrations and the Centers of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the constituent entities of the Southern and the North Caucasian Federal Districts were used. Descriptive, analytical methods and retrospective epidemiological analysis were applied. Results and discussion. The circulation of hantavirus in the Volgograd and Astrakhan Regions, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, Republics of Adygeya, Kalmykia and Crimea was confirmed. However, two geographically and genetically isolated groups of hantaviruses circulating in the Volgograd Region and in the mountain-foothill zone of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygeya were the most epidemiologically significant. Over the period of 2009-2018, 152 HFRS cases with annual fluctuations from 4 to 25 cases were registered. Almost all patients lived in the Volgograd Region (44 cases), where the incidence is caused by the HFRS-Puumala virus, or in the Krasnodar Territory (98 cases), where the HFRS Hantavirus Dobrava-Ap circulates. In HFRS patients with the HFRS-Dobrava-Ap virus severe clinical forms were noted at twice the rate, a fatal outcome in one patient with HFRS-Puumala was recorded. The correct preliminary diagnosis was made for 56.3 per cent of patients in the Volgograd Region and only for 31.7 per cent of patients in the Krasnodar Territory and in the Republic of Adygeya. There are different types of natural HFRS foci in the European south of Russia, they vary by the type of hosts and hantaviruses circulating in them - Puumala, Dobrava, Tula, and Dobrava-Ap. Natural foci where of HFRS-PUU and HFRS-DOB-Ap viruses circulate have high epidemic potential. Severe forms of the HFRS are more often observed in patients with the HFRS-DOB-Ap virus

Analysis of Epizootiological-Epidemiological Situation on Brucellosis in the Russian Federation in 2018 and Forecast for 2019

Presented is the analysis of brucellosis incidence among humans and animals in the Russian Federation in 2018. Epizootiological situation in the regions of developed animal husbandry remains reasonably tense. In 2018, as in previous years, the foci of bovine cattle and small ruminant brucellosis were registered in the North Caucasian, Southern Federal Districts, Volga and Siberian Federal Districts, the share of which made up to more than 90% of all registered in Russia potentially hazardous as regards brucellosis areas and cases of the disease in animals. Against the background of long-term unfavorable epizootic condition, the incidence of brucellosis over the past three years was, on average, 14 % lower than the average long-term indicators. The greatest number of cases (94.1 % of the overall Russian incidence) is registered in the administrative subjects of the North Caucasus Federal District, Southern Federal District and Siberian Federal District, which have the maximum levels of brucellosis incidence in cattle (88.9 %) and small ruminants (95 %). In 2019, persistence of epidemiological problems in regard to brucellosis in the subjects of the North Caucasus Federal District (primarily the Republic of Dagestan, Stavropol Territory), the Southern Federal District (the Republic of Kalmykia, Volgograd and Astrakhan Regions), and the Siberian Federal District (the Tuva Republic, the Omsk and Tyumen Regions) is predicted. The number of human cases of brucellosis may be within the range of 290–310 cases (intensive incidence rate per 100 thousand population – 0.21)