Concerning the Allocation of Emerging Natural Foci of the Currently Important Infectious Diseases in the West of Kazakhstan

Within the period of 2000-2011, in the West of Kazakhstan, identified have been five, previously unknown in the territory, natural foci of dangerous infectious diseases such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, Astrakhan spotty fever, Crimean hemorrhagic fever, West Nile fever, and tick-borne viral encephalitis. The reason is that key ecological factors for the persistence of the infections in the local biocoenoses occurred. It is characteristic that circulation of the agents of new infectious diseases is registered in the territory of the long-established natural plague and tularemia foci. Since 2000 and on, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome morbidity is registered in the Western-Kazakhstan Region on a regular basis. There is some evidence to identification of West Nile fever patients in the territory of Russia in 2012, which came from Kazakhstan. Based on the spatial distribution of the natural foci of various infections, Western-Kazakhstan Region has been subdivided into four areas. In order to provide for the effective prophylaxis of emerging diseases, it is essential that healthcare facilities and services dealing with infectious diseases are consolidated and reinforced, and epidemiological surveillance is improved with the current conditions in mind

Tracing the Spatial Circulation of Yersinia pestis of Medieval Biovar in the Eastern Caspian Sea Region in the 20th Century Based on Genome-Wide SNP Analysis

A comprehensive analysis of the accumulated epidemiological and epizootiological data in combination with results from phylogenetic analysis of Yersinia pestis strains creates the basis for establishing patterns of spatialtemporal distribution of the plague pathogen and opens up the prospect of long-term forecasting of natural plague foci activation. Previously, we traced the distribution pathways of Y. pestis, medieval biovar, in the plague foci of the Northern and Northwestern Caspian Sea regions in the 20th and early 21st centuries.The purpose of this work was to identify the regularities of circulation of Y. pestis, medieval biovar, in four natural plague foci located in the Eastern Caspian Sea region.Materials and methods. A complex study of the phenotypic and genetic properties of 16 Y. pestis strains isolated in the Ustyurt, Mangyshlak, Karakum and Kopetdag autonomous desert plague foci in 1926–1985 was carried out. They were compared with strains from other natural plague foci in Eastern Europe and Central Asia obtained in 1917–2003. Whole-genome sequencing of 12 of those strains was performed. Phylogenetic analysis included the genomes of other 19 Y. pestis strains that we had sequenced earlier. Based on the 1717 polymorphic nucleotides (SNPs) identified in the core genome, a dendrogram of the relations of the studied strains was constructed.Results and discussion. All 16 Y. pestis strains from the Ustyurt, Mangyshlak, Kopetdag, and Karakum desert foci belong to the 2.MED1 branch of the medieval biovar. All investigated strains from the first three foci and most of the strains from the Karakum focus are in the Caspian 2.MED1 branch, and three strains from the Karakum desert focus are included in the Central Asian one. We have revealed several waves of dissemination of the strains under the 2.MED1 phylogenetic branch of Y. pestis of the medieval biovar in the Eastern Caspian Sea region in the 20th century

Dissemination of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> of Medieval Biovar in Northern, North-Western Caspian Sea Region and Fore-Caucasus in the second Half of the Twentieth Century

Objective of the study was to determine the origin of Y. pestis strains that widely disseminated in natural plague foci of Northern, North-Western Caspian Sea region and Fore-Caucasus in the second half of the XX century. Materials and methods. We have carried out the investigation of properties and whole genome sequencing of 22 Y. pestis strains, isolated between 1923 and 2003 in five natural foci of the souslik type, situated in Northern and North-Western Caspian Sea region and Fore-Caucasus. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the data of whole genome SNP-typing, based on 1348 identified SNPs. The search of SNPs in the core genome was performed with the help of Wombac 2.0 software. Phylogenetic relations were analyzed using Maximum Likelihood dendrogram, GTR model. Results and discussion. All the studied strains from the foci of Northern, North-Western Caspian Sea region and Fore-Caucasus fall into phylogenetic branch 2. MED1of medieval biovar. On the basis of whole genome SNP-analysis, existence of two groups of closely related strains, comprising the strains dated 1923-1945 and 1962-2003, has been revealed. The predecessors of the 1962-2003 strains from the Northern, North-Western Caspian Sea region and Fore-Caucasus on the phylogenetic tree are the strains from Northern Aral Sea region that go back to 1945. It testifies to the fact that synchronized activation of a group of natural foci in Caspian Sea lowland and Fore-Caucasus in 1975-1979, after prolonged 20-37 year long breaks, could be caused by the dissemination of the strains from the Northern Aral Sea region. The data of epizootic observations indicate that activation of Volga-Ural sandy plague focus in 1960s preceded the start of registration of plague epizooties in the territory of natural foci of souslik type in Northern, North-Western Caspian sea region and Fore-Caucasus

Comparative Analysis of Particularly Dangerous Infections Manifestations in the Territory of the Saratov and West-Kazakhstan Regions with a View to Advanced Epidemiological Risk Assessment

On the model of the Saratov and West-Kazakhstan regions carried out is the analysis of the current epidemiological and epizootiological situations in the cross-border territories of the two states: the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Depicted is not only the common area of natural-focal territories of old-established infections, such as tularemia, but an intense outspread and formation of natural foci of the emerging infectious diseases too: Crimean hemorrhagic and West Nile fevers. This phenomenon assumes a great deal of importance due to dissemination and circulation of previously unknown to these areas infections concurrently in the two neighboring regions. Specified uniformity of epidemiological public risks in the bordering regions testifies to the need for development and implementation of the integrated system for prevention and response to the emergency situations in the sphere of sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population in the territory of both of them

Concerning imported cases of cholera in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2017

In 2017, from October 15 to November 21, 5 cholera cases imported from India – 3 patients and 2 carriers of V. cholerae – were recorded in Almaty. The patients recovered from the disease. Objective of the study was to characterize the imported cases of cholera and investigate the properties of cholera vibrio strains isolated from patients and carriers of V. cholerae. Materials and methods. Revised were the medical records; blood sera, feces from patients and contact persons were assayed. Studied were sensitivity spectrum to antibacterial preparations of isolated V. cholerae strains according to the “Methodological guidelines on laboratory diagnosis of cholera”, dated September 27, 2010; No 252. Epidemiological, microbiological, immunological and molecular-genetic methods were applied for investigation. Results and conclusions. Consequently to molecular genetic studies, genes of specificity, wbeN and toxicity (epidemic significance), ctxA, tcpA were detected in samples from 3 patients and 2 contact persons. The isolated strains were identified as Vibrio cholerae O1 Eltor Inaba in two cases, and in one case – as Vibrio cholerae O1 Eltor Hykoshima, Heiberg group I, toxigenic, hemolysis negative in Greig test, virulent, highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, doxycilin, erythromycin, tetracycline and moderately sensitive to levomycetin. It was established that the country of export in all the cases was India. Relevant anti-epidemic and preventive measures were undertaken to localize and eradicate the foci in order to prevent possible threat of epidemic spread of infections among the population

Impact of the Present-Day Climate Changes on the Natural Plague Foci Condition, Situated in the Territory of the Russian Federation and Other CIS Countries

Climate changes determine dynamics of epizootic activity of natural plague foci in the XX and XXI centuries. Obvious shift to continentality in the Northern hemisphere can put an end to inter-epizootic period in lowland steppe and semi-desert natural foci of the Pre-Caucasian region, North and North-West Caspian Sea regions. Presently observed conjoined development of inter-epizootic periods in natural plague foci with different biocoenotic structure in the territory of Pre-Caspian Lowland gives the grounds for assuming the presence of a common cause preconditioning parasitic system depression in the region. One of the key elements of this phenomenon is a change of status of little souslik – formerly the main plague carrier in the region. Subsequent to the climate change the key role of plague carrier is more often played by non-hibernating rodent species nowadays. Thus a significant increase in epizootic potential of steppe natural plague foci in the territory of Kazakhstan and Central Asia is prognosticated. With the further temperature fall during wintertime, snow cover height increase and glacial area extension epizootic activity of the mountain and high mountain foci must drop off significantly. Alongside with this updated data on plague agent ecology, predetermining possibility of its existence in the soil biota, confirm the key role of climactic factors in the plague enzootic outbreak

System of Monitoring and Response to Public Health Emergencies of Sanitary-Epidemiological Character in the CIS Countries

The most important component of strengthening the potential for responding to biological threats both at the national and interstate levels is the formation of a unified system for monitoring and responding to emergencies (ES) of sanitary-epidemiological nature in the CIS territory.The aim of the work was to review the systems for monitoring and responding to emergencies of sanitary-epidemiological character in the CIS countries by the example of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, to characterize the main areas of international cooperation on countering biological threats and coordinating international response measures in the CIS countries.Materials and methods. Information and analytical materials provided by organizations responsible for epidemiological surveillance and control in the CIS countries, Internet sources, and publications were used for the study.Results and discussion. The organization and functioning of the systems for monitoring and responding to emergencies in the CIS countries is a state function. It includes, as a rule, the national, regional (sub-national) and territorial (local) levels, which have horizontal and vertical connections. The legal framework is made up of documents of the legislative level. Interdepartmental interaction in response to emergencies is carried out both at the republican level and in administrative territories; the basis for interaction is the integrated planning of preventive and anti-epidemic measures and the functioning of the relevant organizational structures on an ongoing basis. Since 2015, with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation, programs have been implemented aimed at assisting partner countries in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) in order to increase national response capacity and form a unified sanitaryepidemiological emergency response system in the CIS countries. The main areas of collaboration are strengthening the material and technical base and human resources of specialized institutions and scientific cooperation. As a result of the program implementation, a unified system for monitoring and prompt response to emergencies in the field of public health of sanitary-epidemiological nature has essentially been formed in the CIS countries to date, uniting more than 15 specialized institutions from 8 CIS countries

Analysis of the Current Epidemiological Situation in Natural Plague Foci around the World. Enhancement of the Effectiveness of Epidemiological Surveillance in Natural Plague Foci of the Russian Federation and Forecast of their Epizootic Activity for 2019

The paper presents the analysis of epidemic activity of natural plague foci around the world, including in CIS and the Russian Federation, over the period of 2000–2018. It was established that in 2010–2018, epidemic manifestations took place in natural plague foci where the main carriers are synanthropic (black, multinippled rats) and commercial (marmots, souslik, ground squirrels) species of rodents. Retaining of low epizootic activity of lowland natural plague foci in the territory of the Russian Federation is observed. In 2018, plague epizooties were detected in the territory of the Gorno-Altai high-mountain and Tuva mountain natural foci, the total coverage area being 2641 km2. 13 strains of the main subspecies and 6 strains of Altaic subspecies of plague microbe were isolated. Demonstrated were the prospects of GIS-technology usage for the enhancement of epidemiological surveillance over plague in Russia. Epizootiological forecast for persisting challenging epidemiological situation in Kosh-Agach district of the Republic of Altai and Mongun-Taiginsky, Ovyursky and Tes-Khemsky Kozhuuns of the Republic of Tuva was substantiated. Recorded was high probability of retention of strained epizootic and epidemiological situation in the south and central parts of the desert zone in the Republic of Kazakhstan, high-mountain areas of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Also conservation of epidemic risks for the territories of the countries in Africa (Republic of Madagascar), South (Peru, Bolivia), and North (USA) America, China, and Mongolia was noted

Epidemiological and Epizootic Situation on Plague in the Russian Federation and Forecast for Its Development for 2020–2025

Objective of the investigation was to assess epidemiological and epizootiological conditions in natural plague foci of the Russian Federation, neighboring states and foreign countries in 2019. Negative effect of the current climate warming on the state of parasitic systems of natural foci with circulation of plague microbe of the main subspecies, medieval biovar, phylogenetic branch 2.MED1 is emphasized. In 2019, local plague epizooties were registered in the territory of two (Gorno-Altai high-mountain and Tuva mountain) out of 11 natural plague foci of the Russian Federation. The total area of epizooty covered 2248.5 km2 . All in all, 31 cultures of Y. pestis of the main subspecies, antique biovar, phylogenetic branch 4.ANT and 5 cultures of Altai biovar, central-asian subspecies, phylogenetic branch 0.PE4a were isolated. The forecast for continuing tense epidemiological situation, both for 2020 and for 2021–2025, has been substantiated for natural foci with circulation of the main subspecies of antique biovar, phyologenetic branch 4.ANT: Gorno-Altai high-mountain and Tuva mountain ones. In the remaining nine natural foci in the territory of the Russian Federation epizootic manifestations of plague in 2020 are highly improbable. This prognosis is an indication to optimize the deployment of human and logistical resources of plague control institutions through concentrated preventive activities in the territories of epizootically active natural plague foci. Otlined is the necessity to put a new enhanced classification of Y. pestis into practice