Infectious bursal disease virus: identification of the novel genetic group and reassortant viruses

The results of the phylogenic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the IBDV A and B genome segments have been presented. Traditionally the IBDV isolates are classified based on the phylogenic analysis of the hypervariable region of the VP2 gene. The analysis of the VP2 gene segments of the isolates detected in the Russian Federation demonstrated that most of them belong to the genetic group comprising highly virulent IBDV isolates. However, not all isolates belonging to one genetic group have the same phenotypic characteristics. This is related to the fact that the virulence is determined not only based on the characteristics of the VP2 gene (A segment) but on the characteristics of the VP1 gene (B segment) as well. The IBDV genome segmentation allows formation of reassortant viruses which can be identified as a result of the genome segment analysis. The phylogenic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of VP2 and VP1 genes of 28 IBDV isolates detected at RF, Ukrainian and Kazakh poultry establishments in 2007 and 2019 showed that 15 of them are reassortant viruses. Different combinations of the genome segments have been identified among these reassortant viruses. Detection of different combinations of IBDV genome segments is indicative of the fact that the heterogeneous virus population circulates on the poultry farms. Pathogenicity studies of the three IBDV isolates showed that the most virulent was an isolate having two genome segments characteristic of the highly virulent virus. Two reassortant viruses having only one genome segment A or B, characteristic of the infectious bursal disease, demonstrated less pronounced virulent properties

БОЛЕЗНЬ ХИРАЯМА. ОПИСАНИЕ КЛИНИЧЕСКОГО СЛУЧАЯ И ОБЗОР ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ

Hirayama disease is a rare neurological disease with unilateral or asymmetric bilateral distal upper limb paresis and muscle atrophy. Here  the authors report a clinical case of patient with weakness of cluster muscles and distal asymmetric upper paraparesis. Taking into consideration complaints, clinical presentation and performed follow-up examination (bloodwork, cervical MRI in neutral position and with flexion, MRI of lower limb muscles and electroneuromyography) the patient was diagnosed with Hirayama disease with asymmetric upper extremities. Also, there is a review of literature with pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic and treatment approaches to this disease.Болезнь Хираяма представляет собой редкое неврологическое заболевание, проявляющееся в виде одностороннего или асимметричного двустороннего дистального пареза с атрофией мышц  верхних конечностей. Описан клинический случай пациента, поступившего с жалобами на  слабость мышц  кистей и объективным  наличием дистального асимметричного верхнего парапареза. С учетом жалоб, клинической картины и проведенного дообследования (лабораторного исследования крови, магнитно-резонансной томографии  (МРТ)  шейного отдела  позвоночника в нейтральном положении и положении сгибания, МРТ  мышц  бедер и голеней и электронейромиографии) пациенту был  выставлен диагноз «Болезнь Хираяма с асимметричным поражением верхних конечностей». Приводится обзор литературы с описанием патогенеза, клинической картины, диагностических подходов и возможностей лечения данного заболевания

GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF AVIAN INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS VIRUS ISOLATES RECOVERED IN CIS COUNTRIES IN 2015–2017

Avian infectious bronchitis virus is a cause of major economic losses in poultry industry. However, control of the virus is very complicated due to its high variability. The mutation frequency in the hypervariable region of the S1 gene of the virus isolated from the vaccinated birds annually amounts to 1.5%. Long-term observations of the circulation of IBV isolates detected in a number of poultry farms demonstrated that the virus genetic lineages circulating on the poultry farms could eventually change. This stipulates the need for the continuous monitoring of the virus isolates for the prevention schedule optimization. The paper demonstrates test results of 840 biological samples collected from chickens on the poultry farms in Russia and some CIS countries in 2015–2017. From 311 positive samples 147 IBV isolates were recovered, the majority of which belonged to eight genetic lines of GI genotype: GI-1, GI-12, GI-13, GI-14, GI-16, GI-19, GI-22, GI-23. Moreover, recombinant isolates were detected as well as variant isolates that belonged to none of the known genotypes

Functional state of thyroid gland and lipid blood profile

Current study was performed within the HAPIEE project “Determinants of cardiovascular diseases in Eastern Europe”. Population-based subsample of 280 subjects was analyzed. Screenning of TG pathology revealed 16 women with subclinical hypothyroidism, control group composed of 32 women with euthyriodism was developed by the random numbers method. The received data showed that the total cholesterol level and hs-LDLP were significantly higher comparing with women without TG abnormalities. Characteristics of vessel wall rigidity (augmentation index in women treated for hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis) were similar in participants and control group

Development of real-time RT-PCR for N2 subtype avian influenza RNA-virus detection

Currently, N2 subtype avian influenza (AI) virus actively circulates in domestic and wild bird populations and is regularly detected in China, other Asian countries and Russia, particularly in combination with H9 hemagglutinin. Therefore, a method for rapid detection of the said infectious agent is urgently required. Data on oligonucleotide primer selection and reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction condition optimization for N2 AI virus detection are presented in the paper. Modified primers and probe proposed by B. Hoffmann in 2006 as well as original primers and probes with the viruses available in the Laboratory working collection and selected during testing were assessed for N2 neuraminidase gene fragment amplification. Optimal concentrations of real-time RT-PCR master mix components and temperature-time mode were determined. Various combinations of primers were tested against ten N2 avian influenza virus isolates that genetically differed from each other in N gene. Nine viruses were isolated from birds in the Russian Federation regions and classified to different genetic groups. The real-time RT-PCR assay was tested for its specificity using AI virus isolates of different neuraminidase subtypes (H5N8, H3N6, H4N6, H5N1, H10N7) as well as samples containing other RNA-viruses: Newcastle disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus and infectious bursal disease virus. As a result of the testing, real-time RT-PCR conditions providing high sensitivity and specificity of the assay were selected and optimized

Obesity phenotypes and the risk of myocardial infarction: a prospective cohort study

Aim. To study the dynamics of obesity phenotypes and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) during 13-year follow-up period.Material and methods. The study was performed based on the material of the international project HAPIEE (population sample of men and women 45-69 years old, n=9360, basic survey 2003-2005). The analysis included persons with a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2: 3197 people; 857 men (26,8%) and 2340 women (73,2%). To analyze the incidence of MI, a sample of 3008 subjects free from baseline history of MI was selected (752 men and 2256 women). New cases of myocardial infarction have been collected according to the data of the WHO “Register of Acute Myocardial Infarction” program, held at the Research Institute of Therapy and Preventive Medicine; the results of two repeated examinations (2006-2008 and 2015-2017) and repeated postal interview of cohort during 13-year follow-up. The analysis was carried out in individuals with a metabolically phenotype of healthy obesity (MHO). The MHO is defined according to various classifications: NCEPATPIII 2001 — in the presence of 2 and/or less components of the metabolic syndrome; IDF 2005 — waist circumference (WC) >94 cm in men and >80 cm in women and one or no risk factor; Russian Society of Cardiology (RSC) — the index of waist circumference/hip circumference (WC/HC) <0,9 in men and <0,85 in women. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS (V. 13.0) package. Results. The frequency of MHO in studied sample was 20% (by IDF); 45% (by NCEPATPIII); — 31% (by RSC criteria). During 13-year prospective follow-up among participants with MHO 51-59% of subjects developed metabolically unhealthy obesity phenotype (MUH). Women were more likely to retain MHO according to NCEP ATP III and RSC criteria, and more frequently transited, to MUH, according to IDF and RSC criteria than men during 13 years.The relative risk of MI in subjects with MHO was 2,5 times lower than in those with MUO: OR=1,9 (95% CI: 1,2; 2,9) by NCEPATP III; OR=3,2 (95% CI: 1,7; 6,1) by RSC; no significant difference was found in the incidence of MI by IDF criteria, p>0,05. Conclusion. MHO is unstable condition accompanied by transition to the MUH among more than half of men and women during 13 years of observation. In studied population cohort the 13-years risk of incident MI in subjects with MUO was higher compared to MHO: OR=1,9 (95% CI: 1,2; 2,9) by NCEPATP III; OR=3,2 (95% CI: 1,7; 6,1) by RSC criteria

Heterogeneity of avian infectious bronchitis virus population

Avian infectious bronchitis is one of the most common viral infections causing enormous economic losses in the global poultry industry. Due to the lack of mechanisms to correct errors during genome replication, the virus can quickly mutate and generate new strains. This is facilitated by widespread use of live vaccines, simultaneous circulation of field viruses belonging to different serotypes in one flock and rapid spread of the virus. Previous studies of avian infectious bronchitis virus strains and isolates identified in the Russian Federation poultry farms showed that 50% of samples tested positive for the 4-91, D274, H-120, Ma5 vaccine strains, and the other half of samples tested positive for the field viruses belonging to eight GI genetic lineages, while the G1-19 (QX) lineage was dominant. The paper presents identification and genotyping results of the avian infectious bronchitis virus in one of the poultry farms in the Saratov Oblast (the Russian Federation) in 2018–2019. The samples of internal organs and blood, as well as oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were taken from chicks and layers of different ages in the parent and replacement flocks. The vaccine strain, GI-19 field isolates and variant isolates that do not belong to any of the known genetic lineages were detected. Analysis of test results within a two-year period showed that it is important to study samples taken from birds of different ages. The virus undergoes modification and adaptation inducing new genetic forms by infecting several poultry generations, due to which the heterogeneity of the virus population is ob­served not only in the poultry farm as a whole or in a separate department, but also within one organism. The identified isolates showed tropism for the tissues of intestine, reproductive organs, and, in rare cases, trachea and lungs. The data obtained indicate that, despite the vaccination used, a genetically diverse population of the infectious bronchitis virus circulates in the poultry farm, while the infection may not manifest itself at an early age, but may affect the flock productivity in the future due to pathological changes in the reproductive organs of laying chickens

Analysis of Avian Orthoavulavirus 1 Detected in the Russian Federation between 2017 and 2021

Newcastle disease virus (NDV, Avian orthoavulavirus type 1, AOAV-1) is a contagious high-impact poultry pathogen with infections detected worldwide. In the present study, 19,500 clinical samples from wild bird species and poultry collected from 28 regions of Russia between 2017 and 2021 were screened for the presence of the AOAV-1 genome. NDV RNA was detected in 15 samples from wild birds and 63 samples from poultry. All isolates were screened for a partial sequence of the fusion (F) gene that included the cleavage site. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that lentogenic AOAV-1 I.1.1, I.1.2.1, and II genotypes were dominant among vaccine-like viruses in the territory of the Russian Federation. A vaccine-like virus with a mutated cleavage site (112-RKQGR^L-117) was detected in turkeys. Among the virulent AOAV-1 strains, viruses of the XXI.1.1, VII.1.1, and VII.2 genotypes were identified. The cleavage site of viruses of the XXI.1.1 genotype had a 112-KRQKR^F-117 amino acid sequence. The cleavage site of viruses with VII.1.1 and VII.2 genotypes had a 112-RRQKR^F-117 amino acid sequence. The data collected by the present study demonstrate the distribution and dominance of the virulent VII.1.1 genotype in the Russian Federation between 2017 and 2021

The New Data on Distribution of Ixodic Ticks and Agents of Natural-Focal Infections Transferred by Them in Saratov Region

The expansion of areas and increase of the number of Ixodes ticks lead to distribution of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis agent in the territory of Saratov region. There exists the potential danger of activation of the natural foci of tularemia, formation of tick-borne encephalitis and Crimean hemorrhagic fever foci, their reservoirs and vectors being the ixodic ticks inhabiting the territory of the region

Post-Event Analysis of Imported Cholera Cases in Beloretsk, the Republic of Bashkortostan, in 2008

The detailed description of imported cholera cases in Beloretshk, the Republic of Bashkortostan, in 2008 is presented. The cases were associated with pilgrimage in India. The similar case of cholera importation was registered in Beloretsk in 2004. Special attention should be paid to the persons returned from religious trips to India as their long stay in cholera endemic country increases the risk of infection. Should there appear gastrointestinal diseases in persons returned from cholera-endemic countries it is advisable to carry out their examination on cholera using bacteriological and serological methods