An overview of the epidemiology and epizootology of brucellosis in selected countries of Central and Southeast Europe

The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the epidemiologic and epizootic status of brucellosis in selected countries of Central and Southeast Europe (Balkan region). Based on dimension of the disease problem, there is a need to establish collaboration in the eradication and prevention of brucellosis between all countries in the region. Although there were no readily accessible data concerning epidemiology and epizootology of brucellosis in these countries, the limited official and published data were analyzed. The incidence of brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in sheep, goats and humans is a very significant problem in Macedonia and Greece. In Greece, cattle are also affected either by B. melitensis or B. abortus. The disease is an endemic problem in some regions of Yugoslavia and includes B. suis biovar 2 in pigs and in Croatia, B. melitensis in sheep, goats and human is found occasionally. No problem appears to exist with brucellosis in Bulgaria. Financial well-supported brucellosis control programs of the European Union that will include all countries, regardless of the magnitude of brucellosis incidence, are needed for eradication and control of brucellosis. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Prediction of biodegradability of aromatics in water using QSAR modeling

International audienceThe study was aimed at developing models for predicting the biodegradability of aromatic water pollutants. For that purpose, 36 single-benzene ring compounds, with different type, number and position of substituents, were used. The biodegradability was estimated according to the ratio of the biochemical (BOD5) and chemical (COD) oxygen demand values determined for parent compounds ((BOD5/COD)0), as well as for their reaction mixtures in half-life achieved by UV-C/H2O2 process ((BOD5/COD)t1/2). The models correlating biodegradability and molecular structure characteristics of studied pollutants were derived using quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) principles and tools. Upon derivation of the models and calibration on the training and subsequent testing on the test set, 3- and 5-variable models were selected as the most predictive for (BOD5/COD)0 and (BOD5/COD)t1/2, respectively, according to the values of statistical parameters R2 and Q2. Hence, 3-variable model predicting (BOD5/COD)0 possessed R2=0.863 and Q2=0.799 for training set, and R2=0.710 for test set, while 5-variable model predicting (BOD5/COD)1/2 possessed R2=0.886 and Q2=0.788 for training set, and R2=0.564 for test set. The selected models are interpretable and transparent, reflecting key structural features that influence targeted biodegradability and can be correlated with the degradation mechanisms of studied compounds by UV-C/H2O2