Prevalence of ornithosis in the Lithuanian SSR

As a result of immunological examination of 658 domestic ducks of 6 poultry farms and 269 doves caught in Vilnius, antiornithosis antibodies were revealed in 3.1 +/- 0.7% of ducks and in 36.4 +/- 2.9% of doves. They were also found in 20 of 34 wild waterfowl. The causative agent of ornithosis was isolated in virological examination of the organs of a coot. Ornithosis nature of an epizootic outbreak among ducks of a poultry farm was proved by virological examination. The population was examined immunologically (2285 persons) and by intradermal test with the ornithosis antigen (80 persons). Positive specific reactions were revealed in 32.6% of persons engaged in poultry tending, and in 7.6% of other rural population. A case of ornithosis in man engaged in fowling (of doves) for their examination is described.     

Study data on ornithosis infection in the Azerbaijan SSR]

Data are presented on the study of epizootology and epidemiology of ornithosis. There were revealed natural foci of ornithosis in the Kyzyl-Agach preserve, at the Sary-Su lakes and at the Glinyany island; these foci were dihostal and polyhostal, as well as conjointed (ornithosis, arboviruses, Q-fever, Asian tick-borne typhus, leptospirosis). Anthropurgic foci were found in 12 populated localities, semi-wild dove serving as the main component. Fowl was found to be infected in 12 poultry-farms; occupational ornithosis was present among the bird-rearers. Immunological structure of the population in respect to ornithosis was studied. Patients with various diagnoses showed positive serological reactions retrospectively; there were 155 cases of ornithosis among them.     

Incidence of familial longevity among the population of the Ukrainian SSR

The genealogical method was used to study the family longevity in 220 individuals aged 80 and older in the Ukrainian SSR. The family longevity rate and total index are found to increase with the age of individuals examined. These indices in most cases are higher in men than in women and can be used as genetic markers to estimate the potential longevity.     

The biological properties of Rickettsia burnetii isolated in the northwestern Ukrainian SSR

Biological properties of two strains of the Burnet rickettsia isolated in the natural foci of the Q fever in the northwest of the Ukrainian SSR are studied. Strain "Gishin" was characterized by high virulence for the laboratory animals and considerably exceeded the strain "Politsa" in the virulent properties. Antigen of phase I prepared from the strain "Politsa" was highly active in revealing the corresponding antibodies. The high-sensitive reaction of indirect immunofluorescence has shown the possibility to determine antibodies to phase I of the agent already from the 17th day after infection. Circulation of the Q fever agent with different virulent properties has indicated the necessity of purposeful diagnosis of this sickness both among the acute fever diseases and among flaccid course, subclinical and chronic ones not excluding the etiological role of the Burnet rickettsia.     

Nocardia asteroides (Eppinger) Blanchard in the soils of the Ukrainian SSR]

The distribution of Nocardia asteroides (Eppinger) Blanchard, the main causative agent of nocardiosis in humans and animals, in the soils of the Ukrainian SSR was studied. This species was found to inhabit cultivated soils in various soil-climatic zones of the Ukrainian SSR. The isolated strains proved to be heterogeneous in their properties. N. asteroides fell into 2 groups: acetamidase-negative (A) and acetamidase-positive (B). Newly isolated N. asteroides belonging to the acetamidase-positive group were shown to be always pathogenic, whereas the organisms of the acetamidase-negative group could be pathogenic and non-pathogenic in white mice.     

Economic effectiveness of using a live measles vaccine in an agricultural area of the Ukrainian SSR

Economic effectiveness of vaccination against measles in an agricultural region of the Ukrainian SSR has been studied. At the period preceding vaccination expenses for each measles patient in the country were three times as low as those in towns. At the period of vaccination a considerable decrease in expenses covering the payment of sick-leave certificates given to mothers taking care of their sick children, in losses connected with absenteeism, in expenses for gamma globulin prophylaxis and the hospital treatment and outpatient servicing of measles patients was observed due to the sharp drop of the total morbidity rate and the increased number of school children among measles patients. In urban and rural areas the equalization of expenses for each patient occurred. In spite of increased expenses for each measles patient, the considerable economy of sums spent for controlling measles was achieved: about 70,000 rubles per annum.     

Nature of the distribution of HLA system antigens among the inhabitants of the Carpathian genogeographic zone of the Ukrainian SSR

Distribution of HLA system leukocytic (tissue) antigens among the population of Carpathian genogeographic zone and among Ukrainian population of the native inhabitants of this region was studied, for the first time. The data characterizing the distribution, gene set and relationships of HLA antigens in A, B and C loci were obtained. It will be possible to discuss the distribution peculiarities of HLA system leukocytic antigens among the population of Carpathian zone after the work in all genogeographic zones of the Ukrainian SSR is completed and and the maps are published.