Modern problems in the study of tick-born encephalitis natural foci

A new conception of natural focus as anthropo-parasitic system is given by an example of tick-born encephalitis. Problems of natural foci classification and zoning of focal territories, as well as patterns of ecological relations in these systems, are considered. Causes and factors affected expansion of the infection are analyses.     

Detection of natural foci of babesiosis and granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Russia

The use of microscopy, infection of golden hamsters and the polymerase chain reaction made it possible to find out that about 30% of common red-backed voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), inhabiting the taiga forests of the southern part of the Western Urals (the Chusovskoi district of the Perm region), were infected with Babesia microti and simultaneously (a third of them) with Ehrlichia (Cytoecetes) phagocytophila, the causative agent of granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The sequencing of 18S rDNA of strain "Mys", isolated in Russia, revealed its identity to American B. microti strain GI, pathogenic for humans. The main vector supporting the circulation of B. microti in the natural foci in the region where these investigations were conducted was, seemingly, the tick Ixodes trianguliceps, Thus, for the first time the data proving the presence of reservoir hosts infected with B. microti and granulocytic E. phagocytophila, pathogenic for humans, in Russia were presented.     

Animal rabies in Poland: epidemiological situation and methods of control

The epidemiological situation and methods of control of animal rabies in Poland are presented. Registered data on rabies cases for the period from 1948 up to 1986 are discussed. Two species of animals, namely dogs and foxes, have played the major role in the epidemics of rabies. The undertaken measures have proved satisfactory to control rabies due to dogs as a vector but were found inadequate to control wild-life rabies. Since 1967 the fox has been the main vector of the epizootics of rabies.     

Methodological aspects in the study of the natural foci of zoonoses

Conceptions of different authors on the natural focus of zoonosis infections are analysed and an improved definition of this phenomenon is proposed. The natural focus of disease is the antropoecosystem of certain hierarchic level (biosocial system), where the existence and appearance of the infection agent is supported and the disease is realized in people at certain infection rate.     

Physiology in Russia: state, problems

The issue of the content of physiology as science, its methods, directions of modern physiology, and its place in the system of life sciences is discussed. Structure of the system of regulations, the role of endocrine system and autacoids in particular, and physiological significance of homeostasis are analyzed in detail. Problems are considered concerning the applied significance of physiology, interaction of universities and research institutions, organization ofphysiological studies in Russia. Data on members in the regional divisions of Pavlov Physiological Society are presented.     

The Italian experience in the control of rabies. I. Procedural methods

Oral vaccination of foxes associated with their control has been shown to be a rapid and safe method to extinguish enzootic foci of sylvatic rabies and to prevent the entry and spreading of this zoonosis in free zones of Italy. Domestic animals vaccination with live modified vaccines in zones with sylvatic rabies has proved to be highly effective in limiting the cases, recorded only in non-vaccinated animals.     

Occurrence of natural tularemia foci in Kamchatka

The focus of tularemia in the Ust-Kamchatsky region belongs probably to the flood-plain and swamp type with muskrats and tundra voles being the main carriers. In autumn 1980 for the first time three cultures were isolated in this region: 1 from a tundra vole and 2 from muskrats. The presence of antibodies to tularemia antigen in Norway rats was revealed in the passive hemagglutination test.     

Prediction of the activity of rabies foci based on biotic and climatic factors

Investigations carried out in Voronezh Province have shown that the activity of the foci of rabies is poorly related to the changes in the fox population. For the prognostication of the situation to be expected, good promise is held in the use of such data as the size of the population of murine rodents and the climatic conditions of the autumn and winter period. Rises in rabies morbidity are observed following an increase in the number of murine rodents (26% and higher) in autumn and a sharp decrease in their number by the spring of the epizootic year, and also if in the preceding year autumn began early and temperatures in winter and spring were above the average level, flood came quickly and water levels were low. It is expedient to use these regularities for the short-term prognosis of the epidemiological situation.     

Topical problems in the study of remote effects of chemical compounds on the cardiovascular system

The main tasks in epidemiological and experimental study of remote effects on the cardiovascular system of exposure to chemical compounds were formulated. In the epidemiological respect, the most important points are development of methods for integral evaluation of the effect of the environment, including the industrial environment, and improvement of the methods of detecting early signs of cardiovascular pathology closely correlating with the structure of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The most topical experimental problem is to refine the criteria and methods of assessing the state of the heart and vessels of experimental animals so as to make possible a substantiated and adequate extrapolation of experimental data to man.