Epidemiologic situation of brucellosis in the regions of the Republic of Dagestan affected by the flood of 2002

The Republic of Daghestan is at present one of the most unsafe territories in the Russian Federation with respect to brucellosis morbidity among humans. The figures of human morbidity in brucellosis grew from 3.4 per 100,000 of the population in 1999 to 10.5 per 100,000 of the population in 2002, thus exceeding the figures for the whole of Russia 15- to 20-fold. The analysis of human morbidity in the Kizlyar region (where the interregional regrouping of the cattle was made) after the natural calamity, as well a in other regions where live-stock was evacuated, indicated that by the end of 2002 an essential deterioration of the epidemiological situation took place in these regions. In view of grave epizootological situation and the absence of epidemiological safety in brucellosis in the Republic of Daghestan the sanitary, epidemiological and veterinary services should, together with other priority tasks in their work aimed at the liquidation of the emergency situation, pay greater attention to measures for the prevention of the spread of brucellosis.     

Prevention of acute enteric infections and viral hepatitis A in the Republic of Dagestan in connection with the flood of 2002

The data on the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Republic of Daghestan during the period of high flood in 2002. The scope of sanitary, hygienic and prophylactic measures carried out during this period with a view to prevent the appearance of the outbreaks of acute enteric infections and viral hepatitis A in the Republic of Daghestan is shown.     

Experience in the work on prevention of infectious diseases in the Republic of Dagestan in 2002 in connection with a natural disaster

Materials characterizing the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Republic of Daghestan which arose as the consequence of the emergency situation caused by the high flood and inundation in summer 2002 are presented. The work of the sanitary and epidemiological service, carried out in cooperation with the relevant departments, on the organization and realization of measures aimed at preventing the deterioration of the epidemiological situation on the territories of the republic, affected by the natural calamity, is described. As shown in the presented materials, all these measures made it possible to ensure the effective control on the sanitary, hygienic and epidemiological situation in the republic and to prevent the appearance and spread of the outbreaks of infectious diseases.     

Fauna and distribution of nematodes from the suborders spirurata and filariata parasitizing cattle in Dagestan, from the perspective of vertical zoning

Cattle of Dagestan are infested with several nematode species from the suborders Spirurata and Filariata, and extensiveness of the invasion depends greatly on the altitude above sea level. Level of infestation with Thelazia rhodesi, Th. gulosa, and Th. skrjabini is 38% in plains, 20% in submontane, and 5% in mountain zone. The same tendency is observed for the species Gongylonema pulchrum--45, 22, and 10%, respectively. Infestation with Setaria labiato-papillosa is 27.3% on average. Infestation with Onchocerca gutturosa and O. lienalis is 11% in plains and 3% in mountain and submontane zones; infestation with Stephanofilaria assamensis and S. stilesi in these zones is 18 and 5%, respectively. In mountain localities situated higher than 1000 m a. s. l. only G. pulchrum is occurred.     

Epidemiology of dysentery in Dagestan]

Analysis of material on bacterial dysentery and other acute intestinal infections morbidity in the Dagestan ASSR for a period of 15 years showed high morbidity level and its variations, with reduction and elevation in individual years, and the leading role played by Shigella flexneri among the causative agents of dysentery. The greatest incidence of dysentery was revealed among children aged under one year and between 1 and 2 years. A high bacterial dysentery incidence was recorded in Dagestan throughout the whole year. However analysis of the seasonal dysentery curve showed the beginning of elevation in July, reaching the maximum in August, and lasting four months with a decline beginning in October. The persisting activity of the water route of dysentery transmission in the Dagestan ASSR requires particular attention to the organization of good-quality water-supply to the population of the republic.     

Population genetics of Dagestan highlanders

Subdivision of some isolates and heterogenic populations in Daghestan is analysed by human gene and phen frequencies. Comparative population study of phenotypic variability of quantitative characters (anthropometric, neurodynamic and psychodynamic) is carried out. Common hierarchy of variability for all populations as well as an effect of inbreeding and panmixis on variability of the above-mentioned quantitative characters in different populations is demonstrated.     

Genetic subdivision of Dagestan ethnic populations

Relationships between ethnic and genetic differentiation with respect to 54 microsatellites have been analyzed in five Daghestan ethnic groups. To detect the microsatellites, human chromosomes 3, 17, and 18 were screened with a step of 10 cM (Weber/CHLC 9.0 markers) at the Mammalian Genotyping Service (National Institute of Health, United States). Comparison of the polymorphism of these loci in Daghestan populations with average worldwide data has revealed generally low heterozygosity in Daghestan populations, which is accounted for by traditional endogamous and consanguineous marriages throughout the history of these populations. The inbreeding coefficient in Daghestan ethnic groups varies from 0.005 to 0.0134 and is close to the worldwide maximum known to date. For some DNA loci, significant differences between the offsprings of consanguineous and exogamous marriages with respect to allele sizes and their variance have been found. The Daghestan ethnic populations studied differ from one another in both the frequencies of common alleles and the presence of rare alleles that are unique for each ethnic group of Daghestan and have not been found in any other population in the world.     

Structure and Distribution of the Bird Population in Innermountain Dagestan

This paper analyses the results of bird counts carried out over the period of 1996–2017 in the Innermountain Province of Dagestan. The avian species composition, average population abundance, and ecological pattern of avifauna in a difficult-to-reach mountain area of the republic are described for the first time. Cluster analysis showed that population patterns of the considered sampling areas were not only similar, but also unique because of high heterogeneity of habitats and, consequently, faunal differences, which emerge in mountains under a lack of humidification. It is suggested that a specific pattern of the avifauna of Innermountain Dagestan is provided not only by resident communities of typical mountain birds, but also by adapted populations composed of migratory birds of valleys that nest in mountains.     

Zoobenthic communities of the Dagestan Region of the Caspian Sea

The results of bottom community studies of the Dagestan Region of the Caspian Sea were presented; key factors affecting their formation were distinguished. Special attention was paid to restoration of the amphipod Pontogammarus maeoticus, which was characteristic in the coastal zone community until it was destroyed after a rise in the sea-level. It was established that biomass of the benthos was much higher in the period of the rise in the sea level than in the years of a low sea level.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Guseinov.     

Monthly dynamics of ticks (Acari: Ixodida) infesting N'Dama cattle in the Republic of Guinea

The occurrence of ixodid ticks on N'Dama cattle was studied in the Republic of Guinea between June 1994 and May 1995. Monthly tick collections were performed on 80 animals from 14 villages located in Dabola, Kouroussa and Dinguiraye prefectures. A total of 19,804 ticks was collected and classified using standard taxonomic keys. The following tick species were identified: Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Hyalomma trunctum, Hyalomma nitidum, Rhipicephalus lunulatus, Rhipicephalus muhsamae, Rhipicephalus senegalensis, Rhipicephalus sulcatus, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Boophilus annulatus, Boophilus geigyi. Boophilus spp. were the most numerous adult ticks (57.1%), Am. variegatum adults constituted 27.4%, while 12.4% were Rhipicephalus spp. and 2.5% Hyalomma spp. Rhipicephalus turanicus and Hyalomma nitidum were recorded for the first time in the country. Am. variegatum and Boophilus spp. were present throughout the year, whereas Am. variegatum adults showed a peak during the rainy season between April and September. Immature stages collected belonged exclusively to the genera Amblyomma and Boophilus. Am. variegatum larvae and nymphs showed a peak during the dry season (October-March); no significant variation between seasons was observed for Boophilus immatures. A significantly higher infestation of cattle by Rhipicephalus spp. was found in Dabola and Kouroussa prefectures, located in the southern part of the study area, with similar climatic, vegetation and rainfall characteristics. Possible options for the control of ticks in the study area are briefly discussed.     

Genetic and epidemiological studies in Dagestan highland isolates

Interpopulation differences in the epidemiology and age of onset of complex diseases, as well as expression of some vital parameters, have been found. The relationship between these interpopulation differences and the genetic processes that have been occurring in the populations throughout their history has been demonstrated. The Daghestan genetic isolates studied are characterized by aggregation of certain complex diseases. In each genetic isolate, almost all affected subjects with homogeneous clinical phenotypes belong to the same large pedigree with a limited number of founders. There is evidence for a large variance of the population risk of schizophrenia (morbid risk) in Daghestan isolates (this parameter varies from 0 to 5%). Examination of 211 cases of schizophrenia earlier diagnosed in Daghestan psychiatric hospitals has shown that only 139 of them meet the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. The remaining 72 subjects have, according to DSM-IV criteria, various schizoaffective and affective disorders; all of these subjects are close relatives of the schizophrenic patients. The age of onset of schizophrenia in the isolates studied varies from 14 to 40 years (20.84 +/- 0.568 years). Offspring of consanguineous marriages exhibit later age at onset and a higher risk of schizophrenia than offspring of exogamous marriages. The results of multivariate genetic analysis indicate that different gene complexes are involved in the pathogeneses of early-onset and late-onset forms of schizophrenia. An association of schizophrenia incidence, its age dependence, and reproductive parameters with polymorphisms of some microsatellite loci have been demonstrated.     

Genetic markers and psoriasis in three ethnic populations of Dagestan

Analysis of clinical material obtained from the individuals (49 psoriasis patients and 357 individuals without this disease) representing three ethnic populations of Dagestan (Avars, Dargins, and Kumyks) was performed. Polymorphism of the blood group loci AB0, Rhesus (RH), Kell, P, and Lewis, as well as of the protein-encoding loci for haptoglobin (HP), group-specific component (GC), and the enzymes, including glycosylase (GL01), esterase D (ESD), 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (6PDG), and acid phosphatase (ACP), was studied. It was demonstrated that in the pooled sample of Avars and Kumyks the Lewis system phenotype Le(a-b-) and the RH homozygotes (ee/ee) were statistically significantly more frequent among the psoriasis patients (P = 0.0488 and P = 0.0166, respectively), than among healthy controls of the same ethnic groups. It was suggested that for the pooled sample of Avars and Kumyks, homozygosity for the recessive RH allele (ee/ee) in combination with the Le(a-b-) phenotype, representing homozygosity for recessive allele le, was the risk factor for the development of psoriasis.