The epidemiology of epidemic parotitis in the USSR.

Morbidity from epidemic parotitis in the USSR in the period from 1958 to 1972 ranged within the limits of 266.6 and 521.7 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. A 3--4 years cyclic recurrence of rises and falls in morbidity was observed. The bulk of cases of disease occur in the winter-spring period. In towns, parotitis is registered 3 times more frequently, in the mean, than in rural districts. More than 95% of patients in the USSR consisted of children under 15, while in Moscow, children aged 3--5 years were the most affected group. In Moscow in the period from February 1, 1972 to January 31, 1973, the morbidity in men was 493.2 per 100 000 and in women 339.5 per 100 000 (ratio 1:1.45).     

Incidence of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella typhimurium strains isolated in different epidemic situations

A total of 1800 S. typhimurium strains isolated in different regions of the USSR in 1968-1979 were studied. Of these strains, 68.6% were resistant to 6-8 antibiotics, 7.8% were resistant to 2-5 antibiotics, and 23.6% proved to be resistant to all antibiotics. The number of multiresistant strains sharply increased during the last 10 years. The strains isolated from different sources and in different epidemic situations considerably differed in their sensitivity to the action of antibiotics. The infective agents isolated from the hospital foci of salmonellosis were found to possess the maximum multiresistance. The study of the genetic nature of multiresistance showed that the multiresistance strains had a conjugative R-plasmid with resistance determinants CmTc, type Fin+, incompatibility group F1me. The phage typing of the strains with phages from the collection of the Tbilisi Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera revealed that these strains belonged to phagotype 2. The problems of the relationship between the biological properties of causative agents and the character of the epidemic process of the diseases caused by these agents are discussed.     

Cellular and humoral immunity indices in chickenpox, rubella, measles and epidemic parotitis in adults

Immunity characteristics at the height of the infectious process and at the period of convalescence were studied in 170 adult patients, aged 18-45 years, with chickenpox, rubella measles and epidemic parotitis. In chickenpox, rubella and measles a significant decrease, more pronounced in a severe course of the disease, in the number of T- and B-lymphocytes was observed, the immunosuppressive effect being more pronounced in measles. During convalescence the number of T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with the above-mentioned diseases approached the normal level with the exception of measles patients; in these patients the number of T-lymphocytes remained significantly below the normal level, while the content of IgG was increased. In the isolated form of epidemic parotitis no essential changes in immunity characteristics were detected, while in the disseminated forms, especially in those cases when the disease took a severe course, the tendency towards a decrease in the number of T-cells and a significant decrease in the levels of B-lymphocytes and IgG were observed. Prednisolone therapy used in such cases, though giving a good anti-inflammatory effect in parotitic orchitis, produced no immunosuppressive effect.     

Infertility in African countries: challenges created by the HIV epidemic

¹ Correspondence address. E-mail: silke.dyer{at}uct.ac.za HIV infection and infertility are two common reproductive healthdisorders in Africa. From the perspective of infertility-relatedreproductive health care, the HIV epidemic has created severalchallenges which include reduction of fecundity, depletion ofscarce health resources, creation of barriers to infertilitytreatment and increased suffering. Infertility in turn is arisk factor for HIV acquisition and a possible force in thespread of the HIV epidemic. Recognition of the reproductivehealth needs and desires of HIV-infected infertile men and womenis a prerequisite for addressing these challenges. Subsequentstrategies comprise the development of treatment guidelinesfor low-resource environments and a greater integration of HIVand sexual and reproductive health services. Where resourcesfor infertility treatment are not available, the consequencesmust be critically assessed.     

Incidence of meningococcal infection in the RSFSR]

The authors present characteristics of meningococcus infection epidemic process in case of sporadic cases and under epidemic conditions (1965--1976). A scheme of epidemiological analysis suggested by the authors permitted to differentiate and to record the incidence of various clinical forms of meningococcus infection, to present data on the age, seasonal characteristics, focality, etc. Comparison of intensive morbidity indices for 10 years, both at the individual administration territories and in the Republic as a whole demonstrated morbidity level of 1.5--2.0 to be one of prognostic signs of the beginning epidemic. The main features differentiating the sporadic and epidemic morbidity periods were revealed. The presence of group diseases, a greater percentage of children among those who fell ill, and marked signs of seasonality and territorial difference characterized the period of rise caused by meningococcus of serological group A.     

Incidence of monoclonal gammopathies in blood donors]

A routine screening of monoclonal gammopathies (M.G.) was performed in the serum from 36, 015 blood donors by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The incidence of M.G. was estimated to 0.14 per cent. About 86 per cent of cases can be classified as asymptomatic M.G. and 14 per cent as malignant M.G. (myeloma or Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia). In asymptomatic forms, heavy chain classes are only IgG or IgM with a large predominance of IgG (86,4%). It is suggested that donors in whom M.G. have been detected should not be allowed to give blood. A yearly clinical, hematological and an immunoglobulin check-up is recommended to these patients in order to defect the first sign of a malignant process.