Epidemiology of Taenia saginata taeniosis/cysticercosis: a systematic review of the distribution in central and western Asia and the Caucasus

BackgroundThe zoonotic parasite Taenia saginata transmits between humans, the definitive host (causing taeniosis), and bovines as the intermediate host (causing cysticercosis). Central and western Asia and the Caucasus have large cattle populations and beef consumption is widespread. However, an overview of the extent of human T. saginata infection and bovine cysticercosis is lacking. This review aims to summarize the distribution of T. saginata in this region.MethodsA systematic review was conducted, that gathered published and grey literature, and official data concerning T. saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis in central and western Asia and the Caucasus published between January 1st, 1990 and December 31st, 2018. Where no data were available for a country within this period, published data from 1985-1990 were also accessed.ResultsFrom 10,786 articles initially scanned, we retrieved 98 full-text articles from which data were extracted. In addition, two unpublished datasets were provided on the incidence of human taeniosis. Data for human taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis were found for all countries except Turkmenistan. Human taeniosis prevalence varied from undetected to over 5.3%, with regional variations. Where bovine cysticercosis was detected, prevalences varied from case reports to 25%.ConclusionsThe public health burden of T. saginata is assumed to be small as the parasite is of low pathogenicity to humans. However, this review indicates that infection continues to be widespread and this may result in a large economic burden, due to the resources utilized in meat inspection and condemnation or processing with subsequent downgrading of infected carcasses

Building Scientific Capability and Reducing Biological Threats: The Effect of Three Cooperative Bio-Research Programs in Kazakhstan.

Cooperative research programs aimed at reducing biological threats have increased scientific capabilities and capacities in Kazakhstan. The German Federal Foreign Office's German Biosecurity Programme, the United Kingdom's International Biological Security Programme and the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Biological Threat Reduction Program provide funding for partner countries, like Kazakhstan. The mutual goals of the programs are to reduce biological threats and enhance global health security. Our investigation examined these cooperative research programs, summarizing major impacts they have made, as well as common successes and challenges. By mapping various projects across the three programs, research networks are highlighted which demonstrate best communication practices to share results and reinforce conclusions. Our team performed a survey to collect results from Kazakhstani partner scientists on their experiences that help gain insights into enhancing day-to-day approaches to conducting cooperative scientific research. This analysis will serve as a basis for a capability maturity model as used in industry, and in addition builds synergy for future collaborations that will be essential for quality and sustainment

Fission fragments and primary electrons’ energy distribution in helium-3 plasma irradiated by neutron flux

Boltzmann kinetic equations governing energy spectra distribution of fast particles in nuclear induced plasma are defined and presented for continuous fissionable plasma interacting with neutrons. The formation of electrons energy distribution crucially depends on energy distribution of fission fragments and cannot be treated separately and their distributions self consistently affect on electrons energy spectra time evolution and their degradation in space. So the self-consistent system of Boltzmann kinetic equations for both electrons and fission fragments are proposed and discussed for helium-3 plasma. Primary electrons spectra analytical expressions are derived and the first order approximation presented on the assumption that energy spectra of protons and tritium nuclei have monochromatic energy spectra created by helium-3 fissioning in neutron flux. Any gas irradiated by highly energetic particles demonstrates its modified chemical abilities as well as a great variety of energy transformation channels including the selection of some definite chemical reactions leading to innovative transformation in technology [1-5

Probe diagnostics of plasma generated by a volume source of fission fragments in the active zone of stationary nuclear reactor WWR-K

This paper presents the theory and the experimental results of probe diagnostics for high-pressure nuclear induced plasma in the presence of negative ions and mathematical description based on the hydrodynamic approximation and methodological recommendations are given to define that concentrations of charged particles in the plasma on the basis of numerical calculations. 3He + UF6 plasma is generated by the nuclear reaction products 3He + n + p → p + T + 0.76 MeV.

Epidemiology of echinococcosis in Kazakhstan: an update

Kazakhstan is highly endemic for echinococcosis. Both Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are widely distributed in the country. Official records of human cystic echinococcosis over the past 5-10 years suggest a stable incidence of approximately 800-1000 cases per year, which is 5 cases per 100,000 per year. This followed a rapid increase in the incidence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Between 2007 and 2013, 5949 cases were reported in the national surveillance data. The prevalence in sheep, based on slaughterhouse studies, suggests that between 30 and 50% of sheep are infected with hydatid cysts, while cattle have a prevalence of approximately 7%. Rural dogs have a high prevalence of infection of between 5 and 10%, with shepherd dogs having prevalences of over 20%. G1 and G6/7 strains of E. granulosus have been isolated from dogs in Kazakhstan. Wolves are also infected, with one prevalence estimate of approximately 20%. The incidence of human alveolar echinococcosis is less clear, although estimates from Kazakhstani expatriates living in Germany and the hospital records of a single referral centre in Almaty suggest 34 or 130 cases per year (or an annual incidence of 0.20 or 0.76 cases per 100,000), respectively, could be occurring in Kazakhstan. Studies suggest that in some rural dog populations the prevalence may be about 5%. The parasite is widely distributed in foxes and small mammals through much of Kazakhsta

Epidemiology of echinococcosis in Kazakhstan: an update

Kazakhstan is highly endemic for echinococcosis. Both Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are distributed widely in the country. Official records of human cystic echinococcosis over the past 5-10 years suggest a stable incidence of approximately 800 – 1000 cases per year which is 5 cases per 100,000 per year. This followed a rapid increase in the incidence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Between 2007 and 2013, 5949 cases were reported in the national surveillance data. The prevalence in sheep, based on slaughter house studies suggests between 30 and 50% of sheep are infected with hydatid cysts whilst cattle have a prevalence of approximately 7%. Rural dogs have a high prevalence of infection of between 5 and 10% with shepherd dogs having prevalences of over 20%. G1 and G6/7 strains of E. granulosus have been isolated from dogs in Kazakhstan. Wolves are also infected with one prevalence estimate of approximately 20% The incidence of human alveolar echinococcosis is less clear although estimates from Kazakhstani expatriates living in Germany and the hospital records of a single referral centre in Almaty suggest 34 or 130 cases per year (or an annual incidence of 0.20 or 0.76 cases per 100,000) respectively could be occurring in Kazakhstan. Studies suggest that in some rural dog populations the prevalence may be about 5%. The parasite is widely distributed in foxes and small mammals through much of Kazakhstan

Incidence rates of surgically managed cystic echinococcosis in Kazakhstan, 2007-2016

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. The parasite typically infects dogs and ungulates, with humans acting as dead-end hosts. Information on the epidemiology of CE is lacking from Central Asia, including from Kazakhstan where CE cases are reported centrally. This study presents data from the Kazakhstan Scientific and Practical Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Evaluation and Monitoring on CE patients treated surgically, with a diagnosis confirmed by pathology. Evaluation of data from 2007 to 2016 indicated that the CE incidence rate decreased during this time period in most areas of Kazakhstan (country-level incidence rate of 5.6 versus 4.7 cases/100,000 population in 2007 and 2016, respectively). Cystic echinococcosis had a higher incidence in southern Kazakhstan, with an incidence rate between 7.0 and 10.5 cases per 100,000 population, whereas northern regions had rates less than 4.0 cases per 100,000 population. Moreover, despite the overall decrease, CE incidence continues to increase in the south. Cystic echinococcosis surveillance is needed, particularly in the south, to help inform policymakers and orient disease control efforts

ANATOMIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL SIGNS OF A DIFFUSE-GENERALIZED HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Aim. Based on the instrumental, histological and genetic studies to show the role and significance of intracardial anomalies and morphological specifics of the special form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), that the authors name as diffuse-generalized. Material and methods. A clinical, instrumental, histological and molecular-genetic study was conducted with 16 enrolled patients with diffuse-generalized form of HCM, who underwent complex surgical interventions: by transaortal approach the extended myoectomy of interventricular sept, and by intraatrial approach — parietal resection of papillary muscles, and universal chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement.Results. There was no in-hospital mortality. The long-term results for up to 5 years show that all patients moved from the IV-III NYHA to I-II NYHA functional classes. Morphological study showed that in the base of myocardial mass increase in HCM there is neither hypertrophy, but hyperplasia of cardiomyocytes. All 16 patients showed significant signs of myxomatous mitral valve degeneration.Conclusion. Diffuse-generalized type of HCM is due to spread hyperplasia process in myocardium. The invented radical remodeling operation abolishes intraventricular severe changes of pressure and increases diastolic volume of the left ventricle, preventing diastolic dysfunction development

First Indications of Omsk Haemorrhagic Fever Virus beyond Russia

Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) is the agent leading to Omsk haemorrhagic fever (OHF), a viral disease currently only known in Western Siberia in Russia. The symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, muscle pain, cough and haemorrhages. The transmission cycle of OHFV is complex. Tick bites or contact with infected small mammals are the main source of infection. The Republic of Kazakhstan is adjacent to the endemic areas of OHFV in Russia and febrile diseases with haemorrhages occur throughout the country—often with unclear aetiology. In this study, we examined human cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with suspected meningitis or meningoencephalitis with unknown origins for the presence of OHFV RNA. Further, reservoir hosts such as rodents and ticks from four Kazakhstan regions were screened for OHFV RNA to clarify if this virus could be the causative agent for many undiagnosed cases of febrile diseases in humans in Kazakhstan. Out of 130 cerebrospinal fluid samples, two patients (1.53%) originating from Almaty city were positive for OHFV RNA. Screening of tick samples revealed positive pools from different areas in the Akmola region. Of the caught rodents, 1.1% out of 621 were positive for OHFV at four trapping areas from the West Kazakhstan region. In this paper, we present a broad investigation of the spread of OHFV in Kazakhstan in human cerebrospinal fluid samples, rodents and ticks. Our study shows for the first time that OHFV can not only be found in the area of Western Siberia in Russia, but can also be detected up to 1.600 km away in the Almaty region in patients and natural foci